A POLICY SPEECH

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10647, 31 May 1912, Page 5

A POLICY SPEECH

BY THE HON. T. MACKENZIE

IMPOBTiVNT LEGISLATION FORECASTED.

(By Telegraph—Press Association)

OPUNAKE, Last Night.

Speaking at Opunake to-night, the Prime Minister (the Hon. T. Mackenzie), said the financial result of the past year had been very satisfactory., and when compared with the previous year was ,un indication of the soundness and ;continued prosperity of the Dominion. Loan money amounting to £1,050.G00 was not raised last year, so Hint the tavaiilable public works money to start the current year, with the am<;ra:ut transferable from the Consolidated Fund, will give the Government aJbottti ttwo millions for pub&e works for the current year. It was not cons'i'ctarefl 'advisable to raise the loan .m<MQ©y jauthorised until it was needed, thus avoiding paying interest on idle money. 'Though tJhe loam was not raised, it was satisfactory to know that arrangements had been so made that ways a>n<!l 'means had been provided for tiwtSll October. It may, how. ever, be necessary to go \ipon the money market <eairiy., if the market is favourable, to seeuw the necessary funds to carry on till the end of the financial year. During the Liberal reign, a sum of £8,530,000 had been -transferred from revenue to the Public Works Fund. NOTE OF WAENIXG.

''fihe Prime Minister said he thought the Banks were right in sounding a. note of caution; but it was generally recognised that the stringency hi the money market was due to causes wholly unconnected with the Dominic:!. AIJ the figures indicated internal prosperity. Dairy produce was high, and its market assured. The latest wool sales showed an advance. The harvest was bountiful, and nowihere was there the slightest symptom of a' decline. , ADVANCES TO SETTLERS. ; The Advances to Settlers policy had been, proved to be soumKn- principle, and had been a boon to the country. The experience since the principle was affirmed in. 1894 had absolutely falsified the adverse critic•isms. The Department was ,in an eminently satisfactory position. MiMackenzie predicted a rise in the price of money for sonm-yeavs to comer. BORROWING. ' . Touching on borrowing,.the Prime Minister said that the -result 6T the public expenditure showed -on the whole a satisfactory retuni. 'it was unlikely that'loans'-wotf}* during the next icw years on tinything like as favourable terms as had been the or.ss for the past ten years. He. therefore urged caution in borrowing-

LAND AND INCOME TAX. In connection with the land and income tax, the Government considered . the present land tax exemption! of | £SOO may be increased with advan- | ■cage to settlors with families depend- | e.nt upon them. It was further contemplated to recast the rates applicable to the graduated land tax, ! with a view to casting tlie burden of taxation on .the shoulders of those bestjable to bear it. The loss of revenue from the enlargement of the exemption clauses of the Act would be provided for by an increase in the higher grades of the graduated tax. EXEMPTION FOR. FAMILIES. He favoured- the introduction of. a system of concessions to parents who were ediicatir.g and. maintaining families bv allowing £SO in respect to each child wholly dependent on a taxpayer for support.. '•■■••. CROWN LANDS. In connection with the survey and selection of Crown lands, he mentioned that for the five-year period ending March last, 8134 persons selected an area'-of 2,640,000 acres. In the pre-, ceeding five vears 8416 persons had selected 2,275,000 acres. The average holdings of the former was 324 acres, and the latter 270 acres. This was very satisfactory, and showed that the Government was aJive to the necessity for energetically preparing the Crown estate for the people. The areas opened for. selection under all Jtenure* during" the past year amounted $0,773,951 acres. The time had"arHved for an' EimeaHTmenf, of t'her-Land-'&*t; irid restrict occupation to the folUwtng limits:—4os acres of: firstrclass land; 1000-acres of second-class land; or 2500 acres'of third-class land; -the value of the land to become the ■determining factor in subdivision. Legislation would lie enacted to check the improper aggregation of lamd as far as possible with regard to the lauds to be disposed of in future by the Crown. ENDOWMENT LANDS. The education and old age endowment area leased amounted to 6,276.700 acres, with a rent roll of £BB,OOO. The coal and timber royalties produced another £90,400. The total endowment area was 8,343,700 acres. A VIGOROUS LAND POLICY. The Government would vigorously pursue a policy of placing as many as possible on.the land, as it recognised that a- large country population was an urgent necessity to ensure the progress and prosperity.of'the Dominion. During the year twenty-one estates in Canterbury and Otago- had been .acquired,., the acreage being, 55,119, and the cost £75,986; Since the Act came into force, 230 estates, comprising 13,076,150 acres, costing £6,109,690, had bean 'purchased. In view of the- action of landowners in raising the price since the introduction of ■ the Act, the Government intended to pro. vide for the compulsory taking of lands under the provision originally applying prior to the Laud for Settle- „,. übiiiiui ni i»»» iiißiimillllwu

meiti Act of ,1908. The Land Settlement Finance Act had been a success. Twenty-five associations, with 160 members, have 'been, formed, and 24,526 acres settled. The Act could .advantageously be made more elastic.

NATIVE LANDS.

Tlie settlement of "the Native lands was proceeding rapidly. Lands for Maori occupation were being allocated, and the surplus thrown open for jEuropean occupation. Of 6,795,832 ;acres of Maori land, over four million acres was not profitably occupied, and ■most of the balance was not fertile. 'The Native Minister was working hard om the Native land question, and the Department was pushing on the settlement of" idle lands. The natives interests would be carefully conserved, and tlie natives would be given assistance to develop iamd farm the lands they themselves would nasel. A -complete -plan of native lands was being prepared, and would be kept up-to-date. AGRICULTURE. Referring to agriculture, Mr Mac- . kenzie ssaid the encouragement of this industry was one of the Liberal ' Party's main planks. Stock disease i had /been largely stamped out, and the J Inspectors, in addition, to their inspectorial/ duties, were doing valuable J work as instructors. The cheese exports had increased from 8819 tons , to 25,214 tons in five years, and the quality had improved. "Fis'hiness" in butter had been mostly eradicated, and New Zealand butter was highJy appraised in London. The Department I had 'helped the primary producer in i every possible way. Tlie veterinary j laboratory at WaHaceville was. doing (valuable work, and the experimental farms were now showing monetary profits, besides conferring inestimable benefits on the agricultural industry;. The profit last year was £4600. An effort would be' made to establish farm training schools. The supply of better dairying and the breeding" pf stock would be fostered by the Department at the* State farms, and the stock would be sold cheaply to farmers. Four hundred, fanners were working in conjunction with the DepartI ment to provide practical lessons in I improved feeding methods. Poor and | apparently unfertile gum and pumice lands were being experimented*- with, and fruitgrowing throughout the Dominion was making good headway. I The orchards of New Zealand were remarkably free from dangerous' pests. RURAL EXODUS.

I The"rural prospects of tlie Dominion I generally wejje,most eftcouragiiig, bpt as)was-.being done in older ilie country pbpiil^i^in^NeWi : Zeaiand v was 150 to>;-i."oo"*iu-\ boroughs;? lul ,1911 itvwas only:99^100. Country'."life musi be made more' at-;'-"fra'btivej-. :*®^; and comforts: The Gov- ' eminent was working in this direction, having improved the rural mail deliveries. The erection of country telephones, parcel post, etc., good roads, and improved railway services, were being proceeded with. DEFENCE.

Referring to defence, the Prime Minister said the registration of Territorials and the attendance at camps had been successfully accomplished. There were 6309 youths under-twenty-one serving, while 22,227 were registered for enrolment. There were 30,704 Senior Cadets, including those serving, t'he grand total: being 59,240. The cost of the system was, however, proving greater than was expected, and the Department was investigating, how to reduce the cost without unduly impairing efficiency. OUR DREADNOUGHT. , The Premier referred bv.iefly to New Zealand's Dreadnought, and said NewZealand had consented to the Imperial Government's request to allow i!:o battleship to remain in Home waters. IRON AND STEEL. Dealing with the iron and'-steel industry, Mr Mackenzie said its import ance to an isolated country coukl not be exaggerated. The development of iron meant an increased sale "for coal, two tons of coal being necessary to produce one ton of iron. The introduction of "bounties in Canada and Australia had given a great impetus to this industry. Although there was a good deal to be said hi favour oi the nationalisation of these industries, it must be .remembered that on account of the absence of an outside market the works, would;be on a smail : scale; grow slowly v ?so ,tliat ! : the -cost,vofprodMction«- ; would, be f than if there was'a huge output.- Th< ! State was different from private o.vnjers, as it could not give long credit • on cut ratesj.etc. ; : ~, | THE RAILWAYS. Regarding the railways, the Prime ' Minister said this" Department showei ' successful working compared witl 1911. The passengers carried had in creased last year by (590,000, goods bj 45*000 tons,.-, and the , revenue, v ty £182,327. The earnings -exceeded th< estimated, revenue .by £151,909, anc equalled £3 19s per cent, of the capl tal. The suburban' services were be ing improved, and over 150 miles o lines had been rekid with heavy metai the latter work costing £2,250,000, which was charged to working expenses. Many more and improved-loco-motives, carriages and trucks ware being built. During the Liberal regime the following railway concessions ha i been granted: Rates and charges, ovw;- .£] ,000,000,; additional.train services, costing £885,000; increased pay -to • staff. £870,000} totfal; £2,755,000 This year £500,000 had been authorised for improving wagons raid experiments would soon- lie made .'.vitli selfpropelled oil motor cars. No railway waggonsjiad been imported since 1901.

The question would bo considered oE constructing light-lines to ctherwisr: inaccessible districts. CUSTOMS.

Touching on Customs, he said th-:**) in twenty years £6,300.000 in concessions liiad been made, and of this ,£2,235,000 had been made in the la.r, five years. The preferential tai'ff had proved a great success, and the proportion of British import-; hid increased marvellously.

MARINE

With reference to the Marino Pepartment, a. complete survey would shortly be made of the Fr.enctL Tass and Jackson's Head. METEOROLOGICAL. The Meteorological Department hai: been instructed to send daily- weatherforecasts to one hundred additional' inland places. LAI3OUR AND COST OF LIVING.

The year had becsn a good one fjr labour, and the Department had again done valuable work. A Cost •.•f Living Commission had been set up. .Seventythvee forkers' dwellings had been built during the year. The Acts affecting shearers' accommodation, sawmill workers' accommodation, scaffolding, and industrial conciliatior. and arbitration would be improved. The immigration of domestic servants was being arranged. The question of social insurance would be thoroughly gone into, and friendly societies would be coi-operated with. As far as p0..--sibto the ftiendly societies would te encouraged and stimulated. The National Provident Fund was progressing, and when its benefits were appreciated it would doubtless be ev»nmore widely patronised. In consequence of the proposed enlargement of the .scheme,. friendly societies would: be placed on ia much,sounder financial [basis, land; increase ,their contribution iMite without calling for increased payments "frorii members. OLD AGE PENSIONS. Regarding old age pensions, last year £416,530 was paid to 15,9 c J whites and 665 Maoris, the average pension being £25. The gross payments to date totalled £3,556,660, and the cost of administration was only £55,563 in thirteen years. Nine hundred and fifty out of 1283 widows claims for pensions under last year's-: enactment had been granted. 591 of the widows being New Zealand bom. SECOND BALLOT ACT. : N The .Second Ballot Act must be repealed, and the Government proposed to introduce afcchcr.e of preferential voting.' LOCAL GOVERNMENT. ■' Regarding the "Local ' Government Conference, this had shown .*he need for abolitioi) of a number ct superfluous local bodies, for the re-arrange-ment of boundaries, and for a review of the system of payment of grants. HOMES AND NURSING. --" Rest homes would be established for persons suffering from what might be _ termed temporary mental aberration. .The St. Helen's maiternity homes -were proving valuable, and the Government was encouraging the residence of midwives and nurses in the backblocks districts. ';■';' STATE FmE Mr Mackenzie referred eulogisticalk' to the good work done by the State Fire Insurant' Department, which he . estimated had resulted in a saving to the general public of £1,250,000 since its inception-. . ... TOURISTS RESORTS. « Thetakings at the various tourist - resorts had been; a record/'and X.)-.> Department bad .undertaken.';, various new duties, wlricK had proved of great convenience to the travelling pulj'ic. '•■■'■■ POST AND TELEGRAPH: Referring to the Post and Telegraph Department, Mr Mackenzie eulogised the great work done by Sir ; Joseph Ward,' who, was throughout the world regarded a's one of the foremost postal authorities. The present Government was providing' many fac 7 . ilities for settlers in sparsely-populat-ed districts, and was also attending 1 o the wants of townspeople. Several reforms were proposed, and would soon be gone on with. It was proposed to inaugurate-the delivery.--of ... fish and fruit-bv post, and anyone could go to tlievncaVest post -office a case iof/fruit from the. ■■most,.. convemcut ■" ffeit-giwvijrg-'district. Fish would be carried by tlie postal authorities at' ■ [special rates, -and if, those controlling--the fisb. industry did not assist tire ' Government he would recommend tne Government to establish Government, »■ fisheries. The .Savings Bank had had I a successful year, and at the close or i the year the deposits totalled £10,040,- - 186. V The post and telegraph i-evenue 7 had risen from £084,878 to £1,086,90u ■ in s>ix years. [ EDUCATION. - ' Referring to education,, the Primo ; Minister said the recently appointed Commission would enquire into the > possibility of improving the system.

LEGISLATION BY INSTALMENT^. Tlie legislative proposals mentioned in the recent Governor's Speech would be dealt with in, instalments,'as opportunity offered. ■■-■ ■ '■;■'' CONCLUSION. Mr Mackenzie concluded by stating that lie and his colleagues stood for progress and liberty, and worked for the benefit of a>l classes, ami although there might be criticism or their methods, and attempts made io> discredit them, that would .not deter them. They trusted themselves w.itlt confidence to- the judgment of the people.