POLICY SPEECH.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10037, 6 May 1910, Page 5

POLICY SPEECH.

SIR JOSEPH WARD IIT

WINTON.

OPTIMISM RUNS RIOT.

WITH SURPLUS THROWN IN,

By Telegraph—Press Association WINTON, May 5.

The Prime Minister, Sir Joseph Ward, received a very cordial welcome when he delivered his policy speech at Winton, to-night. He commented on the progress of Southland, which was well shown by the increase of population—some 14,000 in nine years—and the value of imports and exports ot over £70,000 from the ports cf the Bluff ahd Invercargill. A MISCONCEPTION. Reviewing last session's work the Premier outlined the Legislative work which had been made law, and in referring to the' Special Settlement Finance Act he said that a miscon- I ception existed regarding the lia- | bility of each member of the associ- j ation taking up land. He wished it i clearly understood that there was no ! liability whatever on the part of the associations save for the purchase rconey of the particular piece of land each settler took up. The various \ots, including the Native Land Act, were reviewed at length. HEALTHY INCREASE.

The Customs revenue and trade returns showed a healthy increase. Imports totalled £15,362,081, leaving the excess of exports over imports at £6,128,438. The estimated revenue tor the year was £20,630,000. The actual revenue amounted to £20,671,125 or £20,399 in excess of the estimaU:, LAND SETTLEMENT. The prog.- of land settlement during the paei year had been steady, and has bt-tn net with, 2,270,184 acres of Crow.: lanJs being thrown open for gelecticn. iMine estates had been acquired during the year for closer settlement, and eight opened for selection. The revenue from land during the year was £675.000, or £16,48 7 ever the estimate. The postal revenue showed an increase of over £46,000. A STORY IN FIGURES.

There was deposited in the Savings Bank £7,611,000, and withdrawn amounted to £9,599,000. Ten years ago these figure;: were £3,650,000 and £3,417,000. EMPLOYMENT FOR THE WINTER.

This winter employment for ths willing workers shoulJ hefairly plentiful. The Government could always ba depeudeC up-en to do its best to keep the distress down to a minimum. Too much was made of the unemployed trouble last winter. IMMIGRATION.

The arrangement withjthe shipping companys trading from the United Kingdom was still in existence, and the first vessel carrying agriculturists would be the Tongariro, The Government had made arrangements that the Dominion should not be flooded with immigrants when labour was scarce. THE RETRENCHMENT POLICY.

Referring to the retrenchment policy, Sir Joseph said he was glad to be able to announce that in consequence of the greatly improved position in the public finances, and still better prospects for the present year, there was, in his opinion, now no need for further retrenchment. A CURIOUS RESULT.

There had been a nett saving of £98,978 made last year, owing to retrenchment in five departments, though owing to the increase .of business in two or three departments, an increased expenditure had to be made of £IIO,OOO. INCREASED TAXATION. With regard to the cry about increased taxation, the Premier pointfid out that the mass of the people were taxpayers only through the customs. Only about 41,000 people paid land and income tax, and during the last seventeen years their aggregate wealth had increased by about 250 million pounds. Both the Graduated Land tax and the Dreadnought vote had been supported by the Opposition. A SURJfLUS OF £432,316.

Last year's was a record revesue, and the surplus for the year was £432,316. There was a financial improvement in the country., Bank deposits had increased, and the railways last year paid £3 15s 7d per cent.

THE RAILWAYS AND THE SETTLER.

The hours of the men had been shortened, ana their pay increased. It was better tor the railways to help the man on the land than to bring a high percentage, as they could easily do from the users of the railway. EDUCATION.^

In connection with education, the speaker stated that something would be done next session in the way of amending the Act to assist the finances of schools. (Cheers). DEFENCE. In regard to defence, New Zealand had in duty bound done iier share in th2 all important matter of self protection. The sum of £IOO,OOO per annum was to be contributed to the Admiralty. X he s l° arms and

field equipment had been duly augmented, and the defence force Itself had steadily increased in numbers?. Two qualified officers of the Imperial staff had also been called, and part of their duty will be to organise and supervise the necessary schools of instruction.

Lord Kitchener had inspected the

forces, and reported, and after careful consideration it had been decided to adopt his rccommendatious. Sir Joseph here outlined the probable svailable number of officers and men in the Dominion. In five years they would have a total of 39.800 fully trained men. The cost for the year 1910-11 was estimated at £350,000. WE OWE 70 MILLIONS.

Sir Joseph said New Zealand now j owed about seventy millions, which I by an annual repayment of £156,000 invested at 4 per cent. would be repaid in 75 years. He intended to submit to Parliament a comprehensive scheme to set aside annually a sum sufficient to liquidate the whole of the debt at 75 years. THE COMING SESSION. | In the coming session the question of local government will be considered, and probably the number of public bodies now existing will be reduced. He reviewed the Native Lands Act of 1909, and said there was at present a total of 420,000 acres in the North l3land under consideration and negotiation. Great difficulty was 'experienced in coinection with the ptesenl system, of valuing land, and he advocated a fixed period every four years to have the valuations of lands throughout the Dominion effected. The National* Annuities Bill and Anti Trust legislation would have attention. Back blockers would also receive greater attention during the coming year. The old order of strikng non-voters off|the electoral rolls will be reverted to, the post audit system would be submitted to Parliament. A Bill affecting an improvement in the procedure of local bodits who required to borrow money would be submitted, and legislation for the complete control by the Government of thejrivers and lakes ft r water supply power purposes would be considered. SILVER COINAGE.

In concluson. the Premier referred to the silver coinage question, the libel law, which he admitted was unsatisfactory, and the encouragement of beet sugar growing. At the conclusion of the meeting a vote of thanks and confidence in the Premier was carried.