PARLIAMENT.

Clutha Leader, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 21, 15 September 1911, Page 6

PARLIAMENT.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12. WELLINGTON, Sept. 12. <■ The House met at 2.30 p.m. LEAVE OF ABSENCE. Six days' leave of absence was granted Mr E. H. Taylor (Thames) on account of ill-health in his family, and four days' were granted Hon. 6. Fowlds ' on account of urgent private business. REPRESENTATION BILL. Th£ Proportional Representation Bill was read a first time. GOVERNMENT BUSINESS. Sir Joseph Ward gave notice to move that Government business be taken on Wednesdays for tin remainder of the session. VARIOUS BILLS. The Hauraki Plains Amendment Bill was reported from committee with amendments. The Administration Amendment Bill, providing for the exemption of the English Public Trustee from an executing bond in administering New Zealand estates, was read a second time without discussion. The Tramways Amendment Bill was brought on for the second reading. The debate was' interrupted by the adjournment. FINANCIAL STATEMENT. W 7 hen the House resumed in the evening the debate on the Financial Statement was begun.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13. WELLINGTON, Sept. 13. The House met at 2.30 p.m. ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS. Replying to questions, Ministers stated as follows: The periodical revision of sub-post-masters' salaries was almost complete. Under this revision an increase representing the improved business will be paid at offices where such increase is warranted. Crown lands in the neighborhood of Otautau will probably be open for selection in February or March. The attention of the Minister for Marine has been drawn to the statement of Mr Bishop, S.M., that the steamship companies are gradually whittling away every right that passengers have had conserved to them for years past by common law, and the question as to whether there should be further legislation in the matter is now under consideration. It was never intended that a State Superannuation Fund should accept liability in respect to persons who have once been contributors to the fund but who subsequently left the service. The present principle could not be departed from in connection with the Railway Superannuation Fund. THE FINANCIAL DEBATE.

Mr Hine (Stratford) continued the debate on the Financial Statement. He said he was sorry he could not see anything particular in the Statement. It appeared to be simply a vote-catcher. He mentioned that Sir Joseph Ward's statement gave the amount spent on railways as £25,000,000 and Hon. J. A. Millar made it £30,000,000. The amount spent on roads and bridges was the greatest condemnation a Ministry could have. He cited the case of a backblock farmer who had been 11 years on a section and had no track thereto. The farmer in question had eight children, and when the case was brought under the notice of the Minister for Public Works all the symapthy the man got was "Why don't you abandon your section ! J " There was, Mr Hine continued, an entire absence from the statement of the two most important matters of the day: they were land tenure and the cost of living. He stated that since the Ward Administration took- office £970,308 remained unexpeiideij out of amounts voted for roads arid bridges. Mr Stallworthy (Kaipara) denied the Opposition suggestion that the statement was a vote-catcher. It was only natural that every good proposal should catch votes, just as rotten plattlsplost them. The people of the country recognised good proposals when they saw them, and that fact accounted for the continued return of the Liberal party. With reference to the cry to "Open up native lands," he would like to see both native and other lands put together and dealt with collectively and not as at present.

Mr Mander (Marsden) said, in reference to remarks which were always directed towards the Opposition that they did good work in propping the Government up and in making suggestions which the Government usually took up. With regard to loans to local bodies, he suggested that the Government should guarantee to the banks money to be voted local bodies before the Estimates came down. This, lie contended, could be easily done, and local bodies could have access to the money at an earlier period than at present. ' He held that both Maoris and pakeha should he similarly treated in respect to taxation. The former should contribute towards the cost of ->orks through which they derived bej ifit. He instanced the case of the Mail. Trunk railway increasing royalties on timber on native lands from a penny to two or three shillings per hundred; yet natives paid nothing toward the cost of upkeep of the railways. If the Budget programme was carried out he saw no reason for two parties. His objection was vrhat had been left out and the bad administration of the Government.

The House adjourned at 5.30 p.m and resumed at 7.30 p.m. Mr Scott (Tuapeka) in continuing the debate pointed out that in no way were members on his side of the House land monopolists, but poor, hard-working farmers. He indicated that there should be a good market in Java for New Zealand frozen meat, and he asserted- that Australian produce was available there. He suggested! that the great importance 'of afforestation warranted the employment of two thoroughly competent men, who s/bould be placed in charge here. Ho considered the Department one of the most important in the State. Dealling with the subject of immigration, he averred that farmers were willing to pay any wage for efficient labor.

Mr Glover (Auckland Central) urged, the Government to itfake early provision for old soldiers, who were rapidly thin* | ning; also to bring down the period of old age pensions for females from 65 to 60 years. He drew attention to Janguishment of some of the industries of the country, particulnrly: the ii'bh iudustry. He complimented; the Governs ment upon the proposed insurance against unemployment. Mr Noswortliy (Ashburton) sought ex-; planation of what he took ttj be conflicting statements in last year's and. this year's Budgets concerning the national debt. He stated that the Governinent was absolutely afraid to bring down a land policy. They were destitute of a land policy of any shape or form. He was prepared to support co-opera-tive banks if the State protection and assistance indicated could be supplied to farmers without State aid'. He asked why large city firms were not burst up just as large estates were, when small men could get a living. The whole Budget appeared to him to be a dose of i chloroform for the electors. Mr Poole (Auckland East) considered i that the Budget was the most progressive one ever placed before the country. He was sure that an honest attempt was being made to settle the native land question. The broadening of the pension system would be hailed with delight, and he believed that the spirit of humanitarism was so strong nowadays that such legislation was imperative. He welcomed the Budget as an instalment of progressive legislation whidh would rule out that conservative and retrograde section of the community which was not prepared to give the rank aad 4k a chance. On t\ motion of Mr Dive (Egmont) the House adjourned at 11.20 p.m.