Parliamentary Notes.

Bruce Herald, Volume XXXXIV, Issue 60, 2 July 1908, Page 5

Parliamentary Notes.

ADDRESS T N REPLY. The debate on the Addieea in-Reply wbb continued by Mr James Allen, who oritioised Ministers for travelling about the Dominion for six months before the eleotions, and making all sorts of promises, which were never fulfilled. Why did not Ministers pay such visits in the first or second recess ? The reason was obvious. Ministers tried to force their candidates upon the constituencies. After referring to the methods of making appointments to Civil Service positions, Mr Allen expressed the opinion that the Superannuation and Provident funds should bo placed on a proper actuarial basis. He went on to complain of the habit of the Government of taking credit to itself for all that was done by the House. It forgot that it was the House which passed the laws and voted supplies. The speaker went on to show that Mr Massey was right in his contention that to the Opposition credit was due for the schemes for advancos for workers' homes. Continuing, he said the Prime Minister had complained of misropre* sentations, but Sir J. G. Ward had misrepresented Mr Massey the previous night in regard to the exemptions to farmers. With regard to the Prime Minister's reference to finance, it waß a fact that the Government had sought-to obtain money from every conceivable source. In connection with the renewable lease those requiring land had to set it on what terms they could, but would they be satisfied with that lease ? No. They were not satisfied with the lease in perpetuity. They wanted the freehold, and would have it. Mr Allon criticised the Government's method of disposing of land, which did not encourage the small settlers. Referring to the audit, he said he did not know what the proposals of the Government were, but the post*audit would delay the presentation of accounts to Parliament, whilst the pre-audit allowed the Auditor-general to check the expenditure before it was incurred. Referring to Dr Chappie's speech, he said the member tor Tuapoka had rofetred to the Liberal party's gift of the lease in perpetuity, but that was a compromise on the part of the Government, and it was not to be thanked for it. He believed in the option, and so did every settler; but even the lease in perpetuity had gone. The fact was that the Government was progressing towards land nationalisation. Dr Chappie had spoken of the Government's vigor, but there was a lack of vigor in many directions—in arbitration, irrigation, and even in roads and bridges. Mr Allen went on to assert that the Opposition were true Liberals, and they had originated most of the leading liberal measures. Men like the Hon. C. C. Bovven and the Hon. W. Rolleston were true Liberals. Mr Allen went on to criticise the Government's expenditure. He said the Government had not spent sums voted for roads, bridges and mines, and yet just before the election the Prime Minister promised £200,000 a year for roads in the backblocks for five years. On the other hand, more was spent on the Tourist Depart* ment than was voted by Parliament. Mr Allen (Bruce), resumed the debate on the address in reply on Wednesday morning, and Messrs Wilford, Flatman, Poole, Ell, Jennings, Reid, Davey and Major spoke, and Dr. Chappie replied, and the address was carried, Amongst the bills given notioe of, is one to amend the Arbitration Act. —" Taiboa " Ministers.— " Two Taihoa Ministers sitting together," said Mr J. Allen this afternoon, as he pointed to the Hons. J. Carroll and J. M'Gowan, " the first is the ' Taihoa ' minister for Native lands, and the other is the ' Taihoa' Minister in regard to mines." In pursuing his reference to the last-named Minister, Mr Allen said: "We have given him over £24,000 for expenditure on goldfields, and what has he done with it ? He has got it in his pocket—(Laughter.) In his departmental pocket 1 mean." He did not, he said, know why any member should feel constrained to refer in terms of praise to the assistance given to the mining 1 industry by the Government, this remark having reference to the member for Waikato's laudation of the Mines Department last evening.—Times cor« respondent.

MILTON P.O. APPOINTMENTS, ETC. In the Press Association report of the Parliamentary proceedings occurs the following j The Prime Minister made a personal explanation to show that that the hon. member for Bruoe had been misinformed regarding the circumstanoes attending the non-appointment oi a lad as postal messenger in Milton who had been stated to be first on the list. The Prime Minister stated that the appointment was in the hands of the postmaster, who passed the boy ovor as not boing strong onough. With regard to tho hon. gentleman's assertion that he had recoived a deputation on a Sunday in Kaitangata, that was absolutely untrue. Ho denied it wholly. He neyer received Reputations on Sunday. He always refused to do so.