MEMBER FOR MASTERTON.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 10 July 1913, Page 6

MEMBER FOR MASTERTON.

ON THE ADDRESS-IN-REPLY. (Speaking in the Address-in-Reply debate in the House, of Representatives on Tuesday, Mr G. R. Sykes, member for Mas terton, said the burden of . the Opposition; 'criticism had been thatt the Speech wos devoid of verbiage.. It was time that the , Speech was not profligate of promises, •■. bul)se : promises, ife.di^^ It.Outlined _a progr4*Jit^' %hat'j : wiiijld . k&ep" ' tfie'House busy for "m'uiy fcbntlis. For the settlement of iulduistrial disputes, Mr Sykes recommended the adoption of the Canadian system, under which thirty days' no--1 ticfe had to bo given by either mas'* ters ormen in the event of a strikb or lock-out as tli9 case .might be. He strongly urged the secret, billot in all cases where a- -strike was p,ro"r jeofced. Married women, also should be allowed to have a vote in such ballots, because they and their children were the chief sufferers when a strike, occurred. He denied that land taxation had not increased, and defended the purchase .of in portion of the Bee r i)Wfi Estate, in the Wairarapa. It Was an impossible thing, lie said, to" purchase" first4'h&B land 1§ ffitfes from one of the be.., Markets In Now' J Zealand at £1 per acre, but half of the land purchased was ploughablej and would repay the application of ■ fertilisers. He felt sure that this j purchase of 500Q acres wa® an excel-1 [lmt bargain for the State. MixV or five settlers would, make a good living on the block! Mr Russell: How;an<uoli will it cost to manure it? ~-■ "" ...... - \

Sykeis; About las much Mat RiiiiAnga. Mr Russell: Well, I will sell you Runanga at £1 per acre! Mr Massey: Will you sell it at the Government valuation? ■liT Russell: Well. I wil] oonsider iliat if yott wiUjak© It uttsl§f .tlie.eoni. i*uls6ry provisions. !Mr Massey: That is not answering my question. Mr Sykes went on to emphasise the desirability of opening up the Eastern Wairarapa by means of a line of liglit railway.* He contended that at .present taxation pressed with undue severity upon roamed people with fa.mi-', lies. . The policy outlined in the Governor's Speech wag a good policy. It was one>that would.oiiake for tljo' good of the people iaia a whole.