MR HORNSBY, M.P., AT TAUERU.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9050, 8 February 1908, Page 5

MR HORNSBY, M.P., AT TAUERU.

POST-SESSIONAL ADDRESS.

Mr J. T. M. Hornsby, M.P., addressed the electors ■■ in the Taueru Hall, last evening. There was a fair attendance, of electors, over which Mr G. Garrett presided. Dealing with the Land Laws Amendment Act, and the other measures connected therewith, Mr Hornsby showed what the difficulties were in the face of any attempt at general reform being opposed by a compact body of members. There was, however, much give and take —there had to be—but the frseholders were successful in getting to within ten per cent of their desires. There could be no doubt about the Opposition; they did not want limitation. Every effort made in that direction had their unqualified disapproval. He (Mr Hornsby) was in favour, as they knew, of strict limitation of area. This limitation must have a general application if it was to work out satisfactorily. He did not like the limitation that would be brought about by taxation; but it was all that could he got, and so the proposal had to be accepted by a great many who would have much preferred a fixing of the limit. The freehold eventually, because the same power that obtained within 10 per cent, of it would gain the whole. He had considered the matter very fully; he had been enabled to listen to all the arguments advanced for and against; and he still adhered to the opinion that with a strict general application of limitation, the freehold would be the best tenure for the dominion. One of the arguments in favour cf the leasehold —the main argument of the supporters of that tenure was based largely on what the State would obtain from what is called the "unearned incre-ment"—-the "hard-earned increment" some men must truthfully called it. The land, of course, is expected to largely increase in value in years to come. How, assuming that the State got cash or deferred payments for all ics Land for Settlements land, then the way—the only proper way—to use that money would be as follows: 1. To purchase more land for settlement purposes. 2. To advance to settlers. 3. To pay off the national debt. If used in any of these three ways, the money received would be equal to an investment bearing compound interest. The State would actually receive compound interest in the case of proposals one and two, and would in the case of number three save a great number of interest payments and set free revenue, which would be used for State purposes. There could be no doubt, if we took the sum that those moneys would amount to in, say, 50 years, there would be a much greater profit to the State than would be produced by the total land values. The State would, therefore, be better off. Holders of leases-in-perpetuity of Crown lands now had the right to convert into freehold and those on Land for Settlements land could pay up all but ten per cent, of the totafvalue. This was a vast improvement. He still adhered to the opinion that all land now remaining to the Crown should be reserved as endowments for education and old age pensions, no matter what might be done with other lands. The State had no right 'lo part for ever with the whole of the lands now left to the people. After touching upon some other matters of Smaller interest, Mr Hornsby went on to deal with Labour questions. He said the time had arrived when reform should be promoted amongst the Labour Unions. Speaking as one who believed in trades unionism, and as an old unionist, he declared that there was a way in which much that was' now vexing men's minds could be removed. The long and short of it wa3 that the Labour Unions must themselves grade and otherwise classify their own members. There were first, second, and third grade men, and there should be a proper classification. The "living wage" idea was a "living lie." He instanced the operation of this in Sunderland and other places, and said that the worker must be given an interest in his work; he must be able to identify himself with his task, and not look upon work as a mere necessity or means to an end, but do something for the "joy of the working." The first step to this reform would be classification in all fields of Labou", and then there would be no necessity for Conciliation Board;;, Arbitration Courts, nor preference to Unionists. Every employer of Labour would then insist upon the worker being an accredited member of an industrial union—they might come to have a better name hy and by. Dealing with the Asiatic question, Mr Hornsby said we were only pottering with the business at present. He did not wish to say that any treaty right should be ignored; but it was a question of life and death for the white races. The German Kaiser had realised this, arid we must realise it, too, and advocate and inculcate the necessity for universal service, and the beginnings of a navy. It must be patent to all thoughtful men that the time was coming fast when it would have to be decided who was to be paramount in the Pacific. The struggle might well lie between the United States and Japan, and if he had the choosing of the issue then he would say the "Stars and Stripes" as opposed to the "Monkey Brand" every time. He was absolutely opposed to the threecornered political business that now stopped the way in Australia. Some of the proposals of the extreme wing j of the Labour Party were absolutely absurd. Mr Hornsby pronounced in favour of tapering off or cessation of borrowing. Mr T. P. Lett asked if the speaker thoughtjjthe Government acted right in removing the tax on motor cars, and retaining it on bicycles. Mr Hornsby explained that the machinery of a motorcar which could not be manufactured in the dominion was admitted free, but if a car in its entirety were imported into the dominion duty H-ould have to be paid. Mr Lett further asked the speaker if he would support an amendment of the Electoral Act so far as it related to Road Boards and County Councils to secure the principle of one man one vote. Mr Hornsby replied that he would. Mr J. Mcßae proposed a hearty vote of thanks to the speaker, which was seconded by Mr L. Duffy, and carried by acclamation.