HOUSE OP -REPRESENTATIVES

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 13231, 26 September 1908, Page 11

HOUSE OP -REPRESENTATIVES

Frwxy, Sfii'TKiinEß 25.

AFTERNOON SITTING.

I MONDAY BITTTNGS. : On the motion of tlio PIUME 311X1Sit was resolved tiia.t on and afior Al on-day irnxt, tbo liouso -hall meet on .Mondays at 2.30 p.m. IMFREST SUPPLY. An Improst Supply Bill far j£79B,CGO was introduced by Governor's mttuugo, and tne usual ait-round di_aiUasion took place. -Mr ELL dealt at considerable length Wiith the opeu_tio<n of the rating on Land Values Act, 1896. 3ir C. Al. GRAY adrooated at some length tho electrification oi Uie Ohrkit-chu-reh-Lyttelton line, and quoted _vudonco and figures to _a_w that at Home, on tho Continent, and in America, tho tendency was all in the direction of electrifying railways, and with excellent results. Ho aiso referred especaaily to electrification in oann&o tion with tuainels in France and olsowhere.

Mr HOGG- referred to the scarcity of currency, and said tho lack of caputal impeded very soriously the operations of country settlers. Money lenders mado mercile&s uso of their opportunity, and general distress ensued -upon the unemployed. It was tho duty of the Government to assist settlers freely by means of loans.'

Jlr MASSEY, referring to the fact that Mr Donald Roid was not standing for re-election, said no member was more popular- (Hear, hear.) He hoped ho was only leaving Parliament temporarily. Replying to Mr ErU, he said the effect of rating on unimproved values was to reduce tlho rates and taxes of many rich people, who were ablo to pay thorn. Ho thought very grave injustice had been done by altering tho terms of tho Land. 1 Act in regard to grazing runs. Ho said "renewing of leases went by favour. He declared, that tho Lands Department was administered in a very unsatisfactory manmor. maal services, he thought a service via Mexico would be better and chdapor than via San Frajv cisco. -,'• Mr McNAB said regarding tho leases referred to by Mr Massey, the rule was not to ronow if runs were sruifcablo for srubdiv-ision.. The discussion was interrupted by th© dinmor ad.ouraniont. I