THE WAIMATE ADVERTISER. SATURDAY. JUNE 3. 1899.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume II, Issue 3, 3 June 1899, Page 2

THE WAIMATE ADVERTISER. SATURDAY. JUNE 3. 1899.

Tits address that Major Stewn-ti on WeJne^'liy evening Ur-'r, was undonbtclly a hi^id and ple-i-funtly delivered n-sniao ox the political progress of the last yea v r and the principles of the Liberal party since their accession to power, There were lights and shades in Ills speech — a fine, bold exposition of the boons that thepresent Government have conferred on the people ; "while tlioir little tioubles over the Horowhe-' ihu Block 4, and Bushy Park, and the move recent charges o!" corruption in connection with the Marine scaudil, ;uvl also" the Wrigg, decoration alCiir were passed over with a delicacy of touch indicative of a master-ham? in politics. The Major did not say what he should not have said — he admitted errors on the pan, of the adminititraiion, ■ but wo would have liked to have heard a much fuller explanation than our representative vouch -*af<jtl v?. There is no blinking the fact that an opinion prevails that tl)e adminiriU'ation of the Government is very faulLy — 'Whother the chief blame rests on the shoulders of individual ministers, or on those of the Premier only, whose conduct sc&ma unusually autocratic xt time?, opinions diKer. However, the events of recent yeais have amply proved that any means rhat could be deyised for the abolition of, or at leasfc the i diminution of, i.he evils of Party ■ Government should be most arI dently welcomed by the people. The psrsons who;, vigorously oppose it, as. was pointed, out, arc those who are in power, and th,ofc< who expect to have the^distrilra tion of the "plums a^ a la^er dat^ la it not evident ths& itL'i3:,tfi pgqplc who must foi'^e tk^irjlegii •lators to reduce .ik^^pf^^^

the friction (the loss of time and money caused thereby) in the political machinery, which groans and croaks in its slow progression. If the progression were slow it might not matter ; but the introduction of so many sides issue or irreiivant circumstances ! in determining hove individuals shall vote on this or that Bill, reduces their powers to act in Parliament as they should do, and as they are sent to do, namely, as representatives of the people. In this way the wish of the electors id frequently thwarted, and it is j for the people to impress this on I he-ir members. The member,:) can hardly be expected to bs unselfish enough to load the people. With liie principle of Major Steward's yioctivo Executive Bill we are in hearty accord* It may not be passed this session nor yet for ten years — but it, or some modification ol it is bound to come, and there is every reason that our member should receive active assistance in his attempt to break down this party system— a system regarded as a most imperfect piece oi mechanism in pracricaliy all countries that at prcjoiifc submit to its rule. On the question of freehold tenure the speaker was more interesting than on some other subjects. It is perfectly ! "videni that a denrind for freehold bytho;o\vho are taking up the leases in perpetuity of the Government, is in the air. The opposition party have raided a cry which is inevitable — it is early in the day to raise it — but that the crown leaseholders will ultimately earn from the Government that helped them on to the land, and will welcome any change of Cabinet that will assist them in turning the present system of tenure into a freehold, ceems almost a certainty. It is well, therefore that the present Government should trim their sails to suit the Aviud. The Major has already thrown out a proposal, suggastcJ, he says, by Mr Wanon, an Opposition membs) 1 , that present leaseholders should be allowed to buy their present holding h up to a certain point, but there should remain a small balance due to the Government as rent — s.iy ]p. per acre — with the result that transfers of land so held not be made except by G ye sanction. By this mean* the aggregation of lavgv areas might be prevented in the future — the great danger anticipated of granting the freehold tenure in its oa+irtfy. On the face of it this seems a reiponable proposal* bnf no doubt w"> will hear more o' i in the coming session of Parliament. At Auckland, .-poking on the same evening, the Premier, ref erring 1 ! o tfie mut- \ ter; is reported to have said that his "Government would sUrulJ firm and go out. of .office." in d'e-~ fence of the. lease, in perpetuity rallier ttharn r "be & \j3CSrfcy_ to a"

system which would prevent poor men from getting on the land." Within the next five years we think ~ the Premier will have modified his opinion. Would it be right that a law should be made for those who have to borrow that the capital could never be paid of! — that the interest must run for 999 years — notwithstanding that the borrower has the ability to pay it off ! The leaseholder is simply trading on money borrowed from the people of the colony and purchased a lease in pepetuity — but he will soon object to have a millntone round his own and his descendants' neck for such a long period when he has the means to cast it off — why should the people object to the return of the money to their pockets — if ,the aim of the Land Settlement Acts is accomplished and if theprinciciple of division into smaller holdings is retained ? In what way would the poor man suffer by such an arrangement ? It is, we take it, not likely that any great movement in this direction can take place till those settled on the land by the present administration have grown well-to-do, this giving rise to a desire for freedom which can be gratified by means of a balance at the bank when permission isgivpn sotodo. Thucdoes the pendulum swing—^from absolute freedom of contract in the land laws, to abolition of all freedom in regard to ownership— then wereveit not to the first position, but to a modified first — practical ownership in fee simple with just Fufluclont restriction to prevent the abu^e that aro^e under the old syrtciTi — with a swing, now this way, and a swing now IHvt, however, we get good, pound and substantial progress. We have been experimenting \vi:h land laws in i-Tew Zealand for years' but who wiJl say Ihat we are not getting horror that perfection which it is tho ahix of the legislature to strive after c