THE COUNCIL.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 239, 2 July 1908, Page 9

THE COUNCIL.

. THE ARBITRATION PROBLEM; IMPORTANT SPEECH BY THE HON. J. RICC. HOW- TO MAINTAIN THE ACT V, . J? Council yesterday afternoon , tho Address-m-llqply; debate was begunTlie Hon. 0. LOOISSOX (Canterbury), in moving the Address-in-lleply, ■ expressed appreciation - of his. Excellency's practice of travelling extensively- in tho Dominion. Hq was thus able to form opinions on the condi-' tions existing in tho country'.without relying Bolely upon, information furnished by others. ■ When tho time, unfortunatelv, camo for the Governor to England, lie would un- , doubtedly use ■ for :tho ,_bonefit: of, New :Zea'i : ail 4 .t" e knowledge /which he ' was obtaining in,this way. His predecessor, Lord Ranfurly, was doing so, and the - Dominion was particularly fortunate in tho fact that tho'former Governor had consented to. represent:it at the, tercentenary "celebrations to bo held ill Canada.-, ... - . . • ' v Tho Hon. J % -E: ■ Jenkinson (Wellington): It should : lmvo been somebody.in the colouy. : ine Hon.. C. , Louisson, continuing, said tnat no one could have been selected from withnr or the colony who would I serve New Zealand better on: such a mission than her worthy and esteemed ox-Governor • (Applause.) - . Tho American Fleet. - •Raring next to tho forthcoming visit that ft e t n f a Mr. Louisson 'said that it must bo of the; greatest adva'ntago n CoU "i ; i ry i £ o the most friendly relations n ith tho great and rapidly growino- . American nation, which was so closely akin to ourselves Ho foresaw great possibilities of trade between and tho United States, and was glad that the Government and people - of' this country had decided to give tho fleet a fitting welcome ' ! tt; '!, 7-™ rd '• t ° t)l0 of tho iligii Commissioner, -ho siiKEestGd thof {+ , might advantageous Reeves to visit New Zeajand after- hi 3 long absc n --e bo - as to himself at first hand wiclr the great had. taken placr. i„ Lof rf" i y - 1 samo time-Mr. Eeeves oTliiwhiKl nn vf of a thorou eli knowledge ot Lngland, and if a -successor wore appointed fincl I " mself V erv much in the position of a new chum' Morp - ° n j, r ' ? I J" beeves, had kept himself thoroughly well informed on events in the Dominion His appointment for a further term was n wise step. , (Applause.) as a Housing sf Parliament.

P tho destruction or Parliament Buildings, Mr. Louisqmi feclared that the Gbverniiiont' was entitled to the very best thanks of Councillors for he splendid way .m which such comfortable arrangements had-been -made for the temporary location.; Scarcely a detail had been Wi"rJ 'St 3) IVon ? erful transformation had been effected.. .. As to tho rebuilding lo "*> *4 +l,!?L H i° n ' ? Ir 'i L .?» isson . Proceeded to say that ho hoped a building worthy of tho great country they desired this to'be would bo erected. Local bodies and companies had put up magnificent, buildings in this country" such as thj \\ ellington Town Hall. ■Stucco! S " . Tlloni ° Geor S a (Auckland): The Wellington Hospital and other buildings were also instanced by Mr. Louisson, who further stated that the magnificent Victorian Houses of Parliament woro built when that State had a smaller population than l\ew Zealand to-day. The great risk from fare at tho wooden Government Buildings dictated the adoption of a; system of spparato buildings with fil-o-proof construction Ho considered that a great mistake was mado recently by the Government in adding to the groat ivooden building a now wing of tho Banjo material. The Attorney-General (Hon. Dr. Findlav) and other members: Hoar, hear. Labour, and Capital. Ho was very glad tlio Government had modified its policy in regard to tho utilisation of water-power for . generating electricity.

Hon. J. T.i Paul (Otago): And I'm very sorry. 1 '

Tho Hon. Mr. Louisson said that his lion, friond, as an advocate of the interests of Labour, and a very ablo and pleasant one, should bo glad.of-anything that; would result in tho providing of a great deal of employment. "It is for tho general good; your friends aromy'.-friends." Coming next, to tho industrial arbitration problem,, the hon.. - gentleman declared that though now an employer, lie had himself been a labourer. - ,\ A Councillor: You don't look' it: Hon.' S.' T. Ge.irgo: You'ro labouring nofr; (Laughter.). ■ . Tho mover went on to say that lie hoped the Government"would bo ablo to snow capital and labour how necessary they were to each other, and devise,.means to' induce them to work amicably togothor fov the good of tho wholo community. Cu!ye?den Esfsto.' ,' ■ ? . Tho emploj-ces preference, clauses of ;tho iLand Act of 1907 were, adversely criticised as giving to'o .groat' advantage to men who wero already in a better position than many other applicants. The subdivisions of estates acquired for settlement should be ; niado smaller than was tho caso at Culverdon. An expression of confidence in Sir Joseph' Ward as Minister of Finance followed next, but Mr. Louisson questioned whether it would not' bo better to collect a little less in taxation and havo a Smaller surplus. .' Hon. J. T. Panl: Hear, hear. Hon. It. A. Loughnan: You'd got-a'-bigger surplus. 'Mr. Louisson went on to say that the Governor's statements concerning teachers' salaries and tho. sizo of school classes, the proposed increaso of the naval subsidy, tho application for a larger training ship, wero welcomed, and the-necessity for ending tjie unsatisfactory position'in regard to statutory holidays was strongly urged. The'long list of Bills to bo introduced this session suggested the idea that thore would be no election this year, and that Parliament would continuo.to sit'for tho next three years.: ■ ■ Tho Attorney-General :■ And introduce an exertion wage for member*, of Parliament 1