THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. THURSDAY, JUNE 26, 1913. MR SYKES' SPEECH.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 26 June 1913, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. THURSDAY, JUNE 26, 1913. MR SYKES' SPEECH.

The pro-sessional address delivered by Mr O. It. Sykes, M.P., in Masterton last evening, though not characterised by a display of pyrotechnics, was a most interesting and instructive review of the political situation as it is to-day. The references made by Mr Sykes to the beneficent legislation passed during the Liberal regimo wero both just and generous. Nobody can deny that during their long term of office the Liberals placed a number of very useful measures upon the Statute Book. But, asMr Sykes well pointed out, the Party that waa once so strong numerically, and no full of initiative and good intentions, has succumbed to those effects winch are insuperable from'the exercise of uncontrolled power over a lengthy period. The description given by tho member for the district of the state of the finances of the country when the Reform Party took office was apt and telling In spite of the assurances given by Sir Joseph Ward and Mr A. M. Myers to the contrary, it ig unfortunately too true that the finances a few months back wore in a chaotic condition, and tho commitments made were greater than the Treasury of the Dominion could meet. The result, as we all know, was that the publio works policy had to be considerably curtailed and loans to local bodies Kind private individuals lestructed. Fortunately, through the efforts of the Hon. James Allen, the position has been improved, and the '.stringency relieved, though the period of anxiety i 8 not yet past. Mr Sykes was entitled to claim that in its first session tho Reform Party did quite as much as could reasonably be expected of it to redeem the promises made at the general election. The Public Service Act in itself is a measure that none but patriotic and unselfish .statesmen would have dared to pass. The sacrifice of that patronage which comes of Ministerial control of the Publio Survi«e is in itself an eloquent tribute to the statesmanlike ideals of the Reform Ministry. Mr Sykes made brief referenda to other wjaroron placed

upon the Statute Book, those which had uoen oi b<iaefit to farmers a-ud roilwy He indicated ta-t a fmiiio; amendment of the Old Age i'.mw.jus Act would bo made, «o that- nou;ou migh; qualify for old ago pensions at the ago of sixty instead oi oixty-five. Ho further suggostod that a compulsory insurance scheme against mCi noss and invalidity was likely to bo brought down. With a viow to pro moting industrial peace amd of restoring public confidence, Mr Sykoa urged, js we have frequently urged in these column*, that the Arbitration Act should either bo wipod entirely off the Statute Book or substantially amended. It is to be feared, kowever, that the Government will not be prepared thi« session to go a» fains public opinion in the country demands. Most people who have a knowledge of the subject will agree with Mr Sykes that the time has arrived when the system of making giants to local bodies in a haphazard manner should be discontinued. Whether the setting up of a Public Works Board, whose duty it would be to distribute subsidies, would meet the case, i« a matter for discussion. In any case, a Local Government iteform Bill of a oomprehen«ivo character is urgently required, and it will be tlio duty of the Government to introduce legislation on the subject thif session, even should it be necessary to postpone its discussion for a year. We are thoroughly in accord with the sentiments expressed by tho member for Masterton in regard to the Customs tariff. Tho Protective duties at present in operation aro cruel and unjust, and are a burden that tinpoorer peoplo with families cannot much longer hear. Whether th Government will substantially reduce these duties remains to be seen. We aro inclined to tho opinion that it will not do s o this session, though it may remove the duty on Australian flour and other produce. Mr Sykes b» a good de.il to say on the land question. Possibly tlio most interesting suggestion he made in this connection was that provision should be contained in tho Land Bill for tho advancing to bu-sh settlers of money in payment for bush felled and other improvements effected up to a given point. This system is in operation in Western Australia, and i s giving quite a stimulus to settlement. The i alternative suggested is that the Government should fell, grass, fence and road bush lands before throwing them open for selection. We cannot .see maich distinction between tho two proposals, for in each the Government would tie required to find the money. Possibly tho West Australian system would be the best, for it would ■ find. employment for men who liave the desire to become permanent settlers'! On the question of reafforestition, Mr Sykes was perfectly sound. His appeal for a more equitable system of taxation will be cordially endorsed by a considerable ■section of the community. He cliimv and rightly so, that "the burden of taxation on the man with the family must by some process* or other be reduced." The scheme'outlined in these columns a few weeks back for the imposition of a graduated income tax ha s apparently appealed to Mr Sykes, for he says that the suggestion is "at leist worthy of consideration by those in authority." Taking la»vt night's speech as a whole, it was one of the best yet made by Mr Sykes. It showed that he is deeply interested in the welfare of the country, that he appreciates the debilities suffered by small farmers and working men, thai he IS making a close study of the economic questions of the day, iand that he is imbued with a desire to make this Dominion "God's Own Country" in deed as well as in name.