PARLIAMENT.

Clutha Leader, Volume XXXV, Issue 2140, 31 July 1908, Page 6

PARLIAMENT.

TUESDAY, JULY 28. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. The Legislative Council met at 2.30 p.m. The Address-in-Beplj; was conveyed to the Governos. The Hon. J, Barr gave notice to move to the effect that the Government should consider the question of devising further practical means of lessening the cost of living now borne by married workers, so that the' rearing of children may cause less anxiety than at present and parenthood be thereby encouraged. The Incorporated Societies Bill passed through committee with slight amendments. The Council adjourned till 8 o'clock. The Council resumed at 11.30 p.m., and received the Imprest Supply Bill from the House, and the Bill was passed through all* stages without amendment. The Council rose at 11.35 p.m.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House oi Representatives met at U.3U p.m. Replying to Mr Witty, the Minister for Agriculture (Hon. H. niicNab; said tne strong wish on the part of members had delayed the gazetting of tne new regulation** The Prime Minister laid a return on tne table askea lor by Mr lzaru, and mentioned that the amount advanced to local bodies uy the Trustee during li/U5-06 was and j.2>,0V0 the following year, iiio Government Laie J-usurauce Department auvanced respectively, in the some years t , xlb.ooU and Tne total amount advanced to local public bodies to d"te oy tne Puuiic Xrustee was jLI-is,iiys, and uy the insurance Department j118U,003. A debate ensued upon tne report by ( the Public i-etiiions Lommitiee on a petition ior a grant for the improvement of roaus in tne Otau uiociv, Auckland. Tne prune Minister condemned tne principle oi getting a committee to report lavomably on petitions asking for expenditure on roaus, bribes and railways, us aosoiuteiy reprehensible. Tne Government gave every consideration to the public works proposals, but would not gi»e precedence to ' any recommendation of the committee. Tne presentation of the petition, ne declared, gave no superior right to consideration. Applications coming m were iar in excess oi the appropriations. Mr Massey (.Leader oi the Opposition) disclaimed any attempt to obtain advantage. The settlers had the right to petition Punianieiit, una it was the business of nieiniuers to do the best ior their eouatituents. He contended that all applications ior works suould go beiore a committee.

Mr fisher (.Wellington Central; moved an anienuinent to tne eiieet mat all petitions ior the expenditure of public money snould be referred to the Government direct. Alter further uebate tne Iriuie Minister said he never wished lo deny the right to petuion the Houte, but desired to make it ciear that it was unfair to- give the impression that by petitioning parliament the petitioners would be specially favoured. Applications for expenditure snouiu be made direct through the local public uodies or members. Cnaos would result Li liie Government gave precedence to requests by petition tor expenuiiuie. Mr Jiassey Ueciared that under tne present system, which was bad aud corrupt, thousands of pounds were spent and worked to ensure political support. .Ultimately ■ the amenuinent was lost £ and the report ordered to tie on the table. On the report of the committee on the request from [i'aumaranui for ■s. separate school for European children, which stated that there .was no recommendation to the Hun. G, Eowida (Minister ior Education.;, replying to criticism, protested against racial distinctions oej.ug made. The policy of the Uepa.rtment was that as soon as European children attending .Native schools exceeded the number of isative children, such schools were handed over to the Board of Education, but he was atrongly opposed to separate schools, holding that the best interests of both races were consulted bringing the children together in thesome schools. .The House adjourned at 5.3U p.m. The House resumed at v.bu p.m. On the motion to go into Committee of Supply on the Imprest Supply Bill No. 2, Mr James Alien (Bruce) urged the necessity of making adequate provision for the defence of the Dominion. Garrison artillery, without a proper held iorce and proper coastal defence, was valueless. More harbor defences were required, and more 6.7 guns, it was the duty of every citizen to be held in the defence of the country and make himself fit to do so. Mr Wilford (Hutt) contended that the citizen army was indispensable, and quick mobilisation was absolutely necessary. The next war would be fought in European waters, and our contribution or proposed contribution to the British Navy must be given in the spirit of a son keeping the father. Mr Fisher (Wellington Central) scathingly denounced the Volunteer service as utterly inefficient and valueless. The transport system was quite inefficient, and numbers of inefficient infantry corps were kept at the expense of artillery, ambulance and transport. Mr Major (Hawera) said great consternation would be created if the Government came down with a proposal to spend two or three millions to reorganise and equip the defence forces. The Prime Minister dissented from the view of some members that we were, at the mercy of any foe descendintr upon our shores. Any foe attacking us was attacking Great Britain. In view of our small population such expenditure as that suggested was out of -the nuestion, j ( even if the alliance were not renewed, |; but members overlooked the entente

| cordiale between Great Britain and { France, which indicated the coining together of two great nations for t mutual advantage. He read a letter ,he had written to the Governor on March 16, to the effect that the Government proposed to increase the naval subsidy to £IOO,OOO as from October 1 next, and that no conditions were imposed as to the situation of the fleet or the direction thereof by the Admiralty. He reiterated his view, expressed at the Colonial Conference that the British Navy was the strong right arm upon which we had to rely. Public opinion, Sir Joseph maintained, was not yet ripe for a citizen army, any premature attempt at which would set back the volunteering system for a long period,. On the motion to go into Committee of Ways and Means, Mr Massey (Leader of the Opposition) criticised the financial and borrowing policy of the Government, maintaining that it was improper for the Government to be stockbrokers. As to local borrowing he asserted that when the Prime Minister said he had only borrowed 1$ millions in the colony in live years he overlooked borrowing from the Post Oflice at the rate of half a million yearly. He complained of the Government underpaying its best ollicers, who were snapped up elsewhere, instancing among Mi- Gihuth. Mi- Mcftab said he had received no communication from the ohicers of the .Department indicating dissatis, taction, and he count take no notice of rumours. As i 0 Mr Gilruth, he nad received no communication from him as to his intended retirement. Ao ohicer was indispensable. The Minister replied at some length, explaining how conversions are carried out, and denying that any loss had been inane on these transactions. Tne motion was carried.

Further debate arose on the moUon ior the second reading of the Bill, but it was eventually put uirough the hnal stages. The Education Adnendment (Mr Fowids), .Workers Compensation (Mr Millar), Declaratory; Judgments,' Corporations , Contracts (Mr Mc--Nuu) were rea d t,he second time pro forma. The Coroners Amendment Bill passed the final stages., The House rose a>t 11.45 p.m. ~± ■ WEDNESDAY, JULY 29. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Tl«e Council held a short sitting, and adjourned at 3 p..m. till Friday.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House sat at 2.30. The Auckland and llanukau Canal D 11 and the Huwera Technical School Site Exchange Bill were read a lirst time and reierred to the Local Bills Committee. Mr Laurenson withdrew the Licensing Polls Absolute Majority Bill, and stated his intention to introduce finother in its stead. '1 he remainder of the afternoon was occupied in discussing reports of the Petitions Conimj ttee and the weekly, budget of questions. UNDERGROUND WORKERS' HOURS. The Hours of Underground Workers' Bill, the second reading of which was moved by Mr It. Mckenzie for the lion A. J_{. Guinciess, limits the hours of work underground for miners to eight hours per day and provides for nail an hour crib time. The Premier thought it was a pity that a private member should have brought down such a measure, although he did not question the member'?, right to do so. The Go'vernniei\t proposed to settle the matter definitely this session by bringing down an amending Act. He suggested that the member in charge of the 'Bill should withdraw the bill in favour of the Government measure, which would be circulated in a day or two. After discussion, the bill was read a second time on the voices, and referred to the Mines Committee.

FLOUR DUTY ABOLITION. Jlr Hogg moved the second reading of the Flour Duty Abolition Bill. The duty on flour was an infliction on that portion of the community which was least able to bear it. In this country wheat growing hud been on the decline ever since tl le frozen meat and dairy industries hegun to flourish, the reason teimg that the farmers found that sheep and cattle raising paid better. Large (quantities of flour were being imported, and why should jt be subject to an import duty of 20/ per ton ? Such a tax was cruel, unjust, and impolitic. The merchants responsible for exploitation of the poorer people he called "privileged brigands and freebooters." "And they go to church on Sunday," he added, "hut outside of Sunday they are robbing and plundering the people." No othor members spoke to the Bill, and on the second reading being put, it was lout by 33 votes to 21. ;••

OTHER BUSINESS. The second reading of the Destitute Persons Act Amendment Bill (Mr .Fisher) was carried on the voices. Also the Auctioneers' Amendment, Bill (Mr Witty). Sir J. G. Ward's Local Elections Act Amendment Bill was read a second time utter brief discussion. The House rosie at 11.4.0 p.m.