PARLIAMENT.

Clutha Leader, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11, 11 August 1911, Page 6

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. TUESDAY, AUGUST 8. The Council met at 2.30 p.m. Hon. Sir G. M. O'Rorke and Hon. B Harris, who were reappointed to the Council, took the customary oath. ADDRESS-IN-REPLY. Hon. W. Beehan resumed the debate in the Address-in-Reply. He defended he Auckland and Wellington WorKtug Men's Clubs from reflections made upon iiicli clubs as a whole by Hon. J. Barr, and maintained that the institutions wore well conducted by the pick of the ivorking men. A large percentage of tko members were total abstainers. On the land question he said something would have to be done to provide for the demands. A Board should be set up and a price fixed at a rising value of land. hau. C. H. Mills dealt with the Coionation invitations and expressed wo:ider why the invitation originally recehed by the Government for eight members of the New Zealand Parliament to attend the Coronation had not been sent to members of the Council. Hon. J. Anstey dealt mainly on the land question. Referring to agricultural colleges he said he hoped the Government would not establish any more, as for practical inspiration for farmers they were little better than useless. There was only one place to teach farming and that was on the farm. The Department could do an immense amount ;if good by appointing instructors who could spread experiments among the farmers. He criticised the administration of Crown lands by the Lands Department and land boards. He gave an instance where out of 28 runs 14 were offered at auction and 14 bv ballot and

laid speculators and aggregators were asked to come in and compete. They were there without the slightest intention of settling on the land, their sole object being to sell out the goodwill. Air Anstey closed by urging the necessity for the Government having a strong, bold and progressive land policy. The debate was adjourned and the Council rose. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 9. The sitting of the Council to-day was brief. A motion recording the valuable, services of the late Air Eraser (ex-member of the Council) and of sympathy with his family was adopted on the motion of Hon. .]. AlcGowan, seconded by Hon. G. Jones. Hon. G. Jones moved the sec«nd reading of the Field Divorce Empowering Bill, which was rejected. The ballot for chairmanship of committees in the Council resulted in the re-election of Hon. W. Carncross. Hon. J. Rigg was the only other candidate. Hon. J. AlcGowan, in traversing the speech on the Address-in-lleply, contended that in order to give an incentive to. settlement of land every farmer employing a man should be compelled to give that man a portion of his land. This would result in the land being utilised to the fullest extent. Hon. J. R. Sinclair having said a few words in reply the address was agreed to and the Council adjourned until the 10th inst. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. TUESDAY, AUGUST 8. i he House met at 2.30 p.m. Sir James Carroll (Native Minister) laid on the table an official amendment setting forth the dealings in connection with the Mnknu lands, and moved, "That the statement be referred to the i Native Affairs Committee to consider and report." ? r r Afassey moved as an amendment that the statement be referred to an independent committee, and after a lengthy discussion (reported elsewhere) the motitm was carried by 33 votes to j 26. ' The Hon™ adjourned at 0.30 p.m. | In the evening Sir James Carroll made j sympathetic icferenee to the death of I Air Eraser, ex-AI.L.C, and moved a resolution recording appreciation of his , public services and sympathy with his I fr.r.ily. The motion wsm carried in silence. I The Wanganui School Sites Amend- | ment Bill (Hon. G. Eowlds) was read a ■ second time. ! TOWN-PLANNING. Hon. C. Eowlds moved the second reading of the Town-planning Bill. In general principles the measure followed on the lines of the Bill introduced in England by Mr John Burns (President of the Local Government Board), and provided for planning areas held by two or three local bodies. The Board to be constituted under the Bill was for sui>ervision of schemes promoted by any local body. Its main duty was to give the, benefit of experience and advice. He hoped the House would give the Bill serious and careful consideration. Mr Fisher (Wellington Central) said that the Bill should be referred to every local body, and that the expert opinions of their engineers should bo obtained before the measure was placed on the Statute Book. He asked the Alinister to refer the Bill to a committee to get expert evidence. Air A. M.-Myers (Auckland East) supported the Bill, which, he said, could not be put into force too soon, but he thought the Minister wrong in applying the Bill only to places outside the present cities. Mr Fowlds informed Mr Myers that he did not propose to separate town areas from the provisions of the Bill, although this could be done later if so desired. Mr Alyers suggested bringing in an artistic town planner. Air Luke (Wellington Suburbs) congratulated the country on having such a man as Mr Fowlds in charge of matters of this description. Mr Luke said he would not support the building up of a board consisting of Civil servants. Mr J). McLaren (Wellington East) deplored the conditions obtaining in slum areas, and said he hoped the Bill under consideration would tend to alter ill'.- unsavory and evil state of affairs existing in those parts of the cities. He appreciated to the full the importance of the Bill, and considered that a sound foundation should be laid for such a measure.

Mr C. H. Poole (Auckland West) I moved the adjournment of the debate, and the House rose at 10.30 p.m. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 9. The House met at 2,30 p.m. Sir James Carroll referred to the death of the late Mr John Bevan, of Hokitika, at one time ft member of the House of Representatives. He moved, "That the House place on record its appreciation of the services rendered by the late gentleman and tender its sympathy to the widow and family." Mr 0. A. 0. Hardy (Selwyn), who seconded the motion, Mr T. E. Y. Sodden (Westland), Hon. It. McKenzie and Mr J. Colvin (Buller) spoke in appreciative terms of the services rendered to the country by Mr Bevan, and the motion was carried. ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS. Ministers in reply to questions stated: That the Government was considering the advisability of giving £IOO,OOO worth of oil to the Imperial Government for use in the Navy in lieu of the annual cash contribution of £IOO,OOO. That the new police regulations would be issued shortly. That the legal position and powers of New Zealand in the direction of ridding the country of emissaries of the Mormon faith would be inquired into. That there is no reason to feel the slightest anxiety with regard' to New Zealand's legal position in the matter of wireless telegraphy. That the Government did not consider any action neoessary with the behaviour of the Minister of Public Works when waited upon by a deputation headed by the acting-Mnyor of Wellington to discuss the tramway regulations. That the matter of less frequent alteration of the electoral boundaries would be considered,

That provision for the re-hearing of the Eliugamite inquiry would be made in the Shipping and Seamen's Amendment Bill. That it was not intended to introduce a Bill this session to assist local bodies to finance current accounts at the lowest possible rate* or make it optional whether they have one or more banking accounts. That legislation would be introduced this session, if time permits, making wages a first claim upon a bankrupt estate. That the Government was considering the question of the duty on imported butter with a view of deciding whether it was a matter which should be brought under the Monopoly Prevention Act or be included in the schedule of the Commercial Trusts Act. That is was not intended to make any alteration in the Land for Settlement Act, 1908, at present. The remainder of the sitting was devoted to discussion ou the answers to questions. The House adjourned at 5.30 p.m. The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. and the discussion on answers to questions was continued until 9.30. This resolved itself mainly into a general advocacy for more lands for settlement. Hon J. A. Millar (Minister for Hailways) said that members on the Opposition benches were asking for extra money to be paid to railway employees. They objected to fines and tariffs being raised, and they complained regularly about the way in which the public debt was piled up. The Wanganui School Sites Amendment Bill was passed through Committee. TOWN-PLANNING. MrC. H. Poole (Auckland West) continued the debate on the Town Planning Bill. He asserted that the early setters had not considered the possibilities of some towns when they were set out. The first consideration in connection with a town-planning scheme should be given to congested areas, which were a menace to the well-being of communities. He was sure that it the Bill were carried it would quicken the action of local bodies in carrying out necessary reforms in their towns. Mr G. W. Russell (Avon) said he thought the Bill dealt more with town planning than with town reformation. The Bill dealt with towns, cities and boroughs now in existence, but made no provision for future towns. He suggested the circulation of the Bill amongst local bodies. Mr Masscy (Franklin) said that the incorporation of a town-planning 'scheme in the Opposition platform was intended to show people that the party recognised the necessity for such a scheme, and they intended to pursue it if plaeed in power. He objected to the centralising tendency of the Bill. It contained too much interference with local bodies. He supported its title, but not its details. He thought there was far too much Governor-in-Council in the Bill. Mr J. T. Hogan (Wanganui) pointed out the necessity for providing for roads where now there were only suburban areas. . He thought the measure was an excellent one and should be put through this session. Mr G. W. Forbes (Hurunui) moved the adjournment of the debate and the House rose ab 11.15 p.m.