THE BUDGET DEBATE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10700, 22 August 1912, Page 5

THE BUDGET DEBATE.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESEK* TATIVIS (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Last NightIn the House .of Repremitatives this evening, Mr J. A. Young (Waikato) continued the Budget debate. He urged that tin aggrieved person should have renresentatnn at tha Land Assessment Courts. He criticised the method of latnl ballots, and maintained that onco a man had been, successful he should he excluded from further participation. The man in y the country should he encouraged, a nd agriculture should ho huilt up. If that was accomplished, more wouM be found seeking to go upon the land. Mil J. VIGOR-BROWN. ' '

-Mr J. Vigor-Brown (Napier) after referring to the Tongoio estate, inHawke's Bay, which had been described as only fit for blackberry growing, but which was now running one* and a half shee:> to tho acre, weirb on to say thai ho would like, to .->eo a complete revision of the Customs Tariff, and the duty removed from a.l essentials, Whatever deficit there was •in the revenue should ho mado up by an increase in land tax. He hoped the Minister would proceed to revise the tariff at once.

MR MANDER,

Mr F. Mander (Marsden)-regretted the language Mr Isitt had used m the previous night's debate, remarking that it was not in keeping with the high traditions of Parliament. A» to the charges made against certain, members for changing parties, under similar circumstances ho would have felt quite justified in reconsidering his position, and doing what he considori ed best for the people of the country. Ho did not think they would, ever settle the land by the ballot system. They could not put a man', without a means on a rich piece of land alongI side a railway. There was no land where a man could make greater progress than' Git a bush farm. He maintained that the natives should ■1 e treated like men and not, like children. He believed that the gospel of work was the gospel that would save tho Native race. He would reserve sufficient land for them to enable them to subsist. The rest they could sell. He did not believe in cooperative works, where the good workman had to carry the poor workman on his shoulders. Tho railways were not run to the best advantage, and more up-to-date methods should be adopted. MR WITTY. 1 Mr G. Witty (Riccarton) contended that it was the natives' land the Government wanted to collar, and not the land held by Europeans.' .The Government had backed down on alrimportant questions —the' land, racing, and licensing questions. If the Government really desired to assist lanu settlement, they should take over the whole of the main roads of the Dominion. MR CAMPBELL. . Mr H. CtUiipbell (Hawke's Bay) praised the • humahitfti'iaii proposa? contained in the. Budget. The valuation scheme wanted an ending. At the present >iime sufficient w r as not allowed for improvements, and • the working generally was not satisfactory. He pleaded for -urgency in the matter of roads and bridges. The cooperative system which was in force ivas altogether wrong. He favoured sir nil contracts system. The House adjourned at 11.35. on the motion of Mr Es:cntt. .