PARLIAMENT.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 285, 26 August 1908, Page 9

PARLIAMENT.

y X IHPHEST SIJPPIY DEBATE. ' NORTH ISLAND'V. SOUTH ISLAND. V/ELL|NCTOH AND MAfJAWATU, RAILWAY ACQUISITION. • DISCUSSION' ON TflE BIRTH-RATE. The Hon. Dr. I'indlay's contribution to ' the debate on tho birth-rate and the burdens of the Married worker was . tho principal feature of yesterday's sitting of tho Council. ' Dismissing-all othor measures as mere palliatives, though maiiy of them might be practicable and useful, tho Attorney-General strongly\advocated ''back to the land ' policy as the most effective means of saving the nation, from decadence. , ' The frimb Minister's motion giving Gov- • ernment business precedence on and after next Wednesday' gave the. Oppbsition 'an opportunity to ask for a list,of tho Bills which, the Government proposed :to -pass this scs- • sion.. Tho -feature of tho Prime Minister's reply was that for a certainty, the Arbitrai tion Act Amendment. Bill would ho put through this session. A'n Imprest Supply Bill was introduced, one. item of .which was the authorisation of £506,000 in connection with''the purchaso of iho\Manawatu railway. The remainder of the, afternoon was taken up with ,a'deb'ato on railway requiro--1 nients in various parts of the Dominion, though in effeqt the speeches wero, a series of wordy duals between , North and South Island members. ■ Tho debate was continued in the evening, on a different lino, liowevor, .' Mr.'Ell having introduced the problem,of dear rents in tho'cities, and tho high cost generally of living in tlie,'towns. It was not Until 10.30 o'clock that tho Imprest Supply Bill passed.' A number, of small measures then' occupied-the Houso until 12.23 a.m., the:hour of rising.

THE COUNCIL. THE CREDIT OF THE STATE, Tho Legislative ' Council; met yesterday afternoon at"'2.3o. •• '. The; Hon. -J; RIGG (Wellington) gave no- .. fcice to move:—" That the Government be- , recommended to 'introduce' a Bill to provide an efficient means of utilising ;tho : credit of the Dominion 'in times of financial panic, so as to: restore public confidence." ROMAN CATHOLIC EMPOWERING BILL.. The Hon. C. I3i* JOHNSTON .(Wellington) moved ( ' tho second-reading of the Roman Catholic Archbishop ;Of,-.Wellington Empowering Bill, which . had- already passed tho Lower. House.-:-.'-,. '■■■■■ ', ■• ,- :■ ; -, '.■:-. The motion. waSj,carried without, discuseion. .■•• -, ■-.-■ :S ■:' ....'■■■. ■ : . . ■ ■-. :;■■■. . WELLINGTON HARBOUR BILL; The Hon.'T. ; .K. iiACDONAijU (Wellington) moved the second readili'g of the private Bill-entitled the Wellington Harbour Board Empowering Bill. , He s.tated that all-the controversial matter had been'placed in the local' Bill, and the provisions of the'present • measure had been, agreed on botween the Pa Th?Hd'n'. J.'rE. JENKINSON (Wellington) eaid the Bill appeared to givo tho Harbour Board power to'make certain streets, as it thought fit.- Had there been any. agreement between the City-Council and tho.Board as to how the streets we're t0,.b0 made, in view 1 of the Council taking thorn over 'afterwards? ' The Hon. T. K. ~%L ACDONALD' replied" 1 that the two bodies were, working quiteamicably in the matter, and the -Bill.-.was the sutcome of an understanding between them. Tbo second reading was carried. the Birth-rate and'cost of : / LIVING. '■:' ,■ MR. BARR'S. MOTION CARRIED. Tho Hon. F. TRASK (Nelson) resumed tho debate on the Hon. J. Barr's motion calling oh the Government to deviso' means of encouraging parenthood by; lessening- tho cost of living to married workers. : < Hb opposed tho motion, which,-he said,; appeared to bo , designed to increase the population by encouraging tho poor to bavo large families. Considering the-.trials'.that a working man's wife had to endure,- : he did not favour such . schemes, and- would prefer to seo the population increased by means -of immigration. The mover had put no definite scheme beforo the-Council, and he (Mr. Trask) did not . think it lay within the power of the ■Govern- ' ment to solve tho problem. ' - ■ The Hon. C. LOUISSON (Canterbury) vprotested against: the views jtist expressed, and spoko of parenthood:as a blessing. Any ."- 6tops that might lead to an increase'of the ■' birth-rate should command sympathetic "cenBideratiqn. He quoted President Roosevelt's dictum,': "Kit your -cradles," and declared (amidst:- cries of "Hear, hear") • that • tho Council generally sympathised with Mr. Barr's .motive iu bringing the 'subject up. Thero should be many ways of giving married men some advantage over tho single. He did not Bay; that employers should bo compelled to pay'higher wages, to married than-.to single men, beeaußO it should: bo for ' the Government, not for private persone, to ; grant the aid .<■ required. -- .'■'•• The Hon. :W. BEEHAN (Auckland) also objected to the lino taken by Mi\ Trask, and suggested that good results might flow , from an inquiry by-a--Royal Commissions The Hon. A. BALDEY (Otagb) congratulated Mr. Barr qii having-brought forward tho motion. He advocated .the sotting aside by t]ie, Government of 1000' acres of land in connection with each college in the Dominion for practical agricultural .instruction. As the populalidn^increased, every foot-of land should be brought into/cultivation, and ah extended system ;of small holdings, would, 'dp.more than anything' clstf to help the married worker. '"."■. " ; " .■••-. Speech by Dr. Fin'dlay.; i< \~ The ATTORNEY-GENERAL (Hon. Dr! Findlay) said it was not necessary for. 1 im to'.enlarge upon ; tho importance of maintaining a national birth-rate... Mr. Barr had suggested certain methods, all more or. lc3S practicable, for. securing this'end -by .lighten?ing the burdens of the married worker. The Government had: do'nu much, but .it must do more.' Ho would direct attention to ; tho proposals in the.-Budget for .substantially -helping the low-vi'ago married :; worker. The do-: ' clino of our birth-Vate was pno of the gravest national dangers. Wo. wore altogether too small a handful;'for this magnificent country. Normally; a nation should doublo its population in-twenty-five.years, but.at the present rate New Zealand would, only do so in forty-two years; and only in half a century, .excluding immigration, would our population reach two millions. If our normal birth-rate'. of. 1878',■ had , - continued, the population to-day, exclusive of Alaoris, would have bean 1,280,647, whereas it was only 908,726, and this.included peoplo who hf.d come into thp country 'in tho meantime, and tV-ii- offspring.; Had the birth-rato of 1878 Continued, there would have been 15,000 more children born in New..Zealand last year. If the! decline wont on, New Zealand would in a few years be like Franco, a decadent nation. Dr. Findlay then quoted.tho last annual report of Mr. E. Tregoar, Secretary for Labour, to shoiy.'tlie marked effect of the • falling-ofl of tho birth-rate upon.tho supply of labour for .the industries of the Dominion. Neo»W!althusisnism. . .-.-•- Tlio birth-rato question touched religion, economics, sociology—all tho great sciwiccs of life. ■ which began to spread in Europe in 1877, and reached New i Zealand soon afterwards, was the ciiief caiiso of tho decline. He had been told that if the general rate of wages were raised the birth-rate would increase. (Hear, hear.) On the contrary, if the general rate of wages in New

Zealand were increased for the next ten years, tbo birth-rato would bo still further reduced. ' M. Leroy Bcaulieu and other authorities had shown that a low birth-rato ivas' accompanied by high wages. Statistics' justified the formula: "The birth-rato of a class varies inversely with its wealth." But if tho strain upon thoso who had already assumed tho burdens of parejitago could bo relieved, it would bo right from tho economic and every other point of view, that the Government should do so, especially if tho number of our native-born could be thereby increased, ..

The Deeper Causes. He did not, liowevor, attach much liopo to such measures. ■ Tho causes of tho 'evil lay deeper. Chief among them was inodprn city life, with its lowering of vitality, producing a dread of pain, its discouragomcnt of domesticity, its rent t problem, which forced peoplo into lodgings and boardinghouses, and made children more of a burden. Lifo on a farm was different in all these respects. Tho woman who spent too much of her time in social functions could not have such an intenso love of her children as the home-keeping mother of the rural districts. Tho salvation of the modern peoples lay in going back tq tho land. There was, however, a drift in the opposite direction, and /New Zealand statistics showed that it was going on in this country as ill others. Honco the wisdom of tho Government in making land for settlement ono of its main objects. In every possiblo way country life should be made attractive. - The Primo Minister's scheme for assisting persons to form special settlements, as outlined in tho Budget, would be of tho greatest value in this direction. 1 Farrii Life to Save the State. " Tho remedy for national decadence was to keep tho people in tho environment' that would give them the most vigour, tho host health, the best morals', and if we could develop our educational system, tho best education also. Now Zoaland would never bo a 'great manufacturing country, but tho farmer, should receivo every oncouragement. Hon. J. T. Paul: What about the farm labourer?

The Hon. Dr. Findlay quoted tho recent Wellington Labour manifesto as showing ■ that the farm.labourers' wages had increased at- ; a greator'rato without the aid of tho Arbitration Court than thoso of city workers with that aid, and insisted that farm labour-ers-were'able to become farmers.

\ Hon. W. ,W. M'Cardlo: So they are. \Cpntinuing, the Minister declared that the supply of farm labour Was far from equal to tho\demand, and advocated a system of assisted immigration of farm labourers. Hon. J. E. Jenkinson: That's dangerous ground. Contract labour! Dr. Findlay retorted that -when a farmer wanted'men there could be no harm in getting them for him in the' O'd Country, and bringing '|liem out here, -subjjet to all our labour laws. As for our Not/ Zealand city workers, his own recent observations at Cheviot had shown him that it was not difficult for city, mechanics to become successful farmers. -.This country owed very much to its farmers, and would yet owe them much more. (Applause.) Mr. Barr in Reply. : The; Hon. J. BARR (Canterbury), replying •to the discussion; insisted that the measures he had suggested! even if they were, as Dr: Eindlay suggested, only palliatives, would yet bo. valuablo. ' Land settlement could not qbmplot-ely solye tlio problem, because there must always be city workers. He recognised that; differentiated wages for married and single men 'were < impossible under competition, and this also showed, the need for suchpalliatives as he hadVsuggested. After replying to some of the remarks of ' other speakers, Mr. Barr said lie fully realised that .the land question lay >at tlio base of the Whole problem. Land, would have to be taken for the people. ' Compensation, such as the whole people, though not perhaps the owners, would regard as sufficient, would havo to be given. . ; \ The motion was carried-,without expressed dissent. - •,. y The Council adjourned at 4.45 p.m. IMPREST SUPPLY.Tho Council sat again fori, a few minutes during tho evening, and passed tho Imprest Supply Bill, Which had justi been received from the other House, through all its stages' without debate. ■' . . , 1 '

I THE HOUSE, WORK OF THE SESSION. " ■ i The House of Representatives ; met at 2.30 p.m. yesterday. ,' • \ '- ■ , ;Tho PRIME MINISTER moved in accordance,' with .'notice, -'"That after August 26, and for the remainder of tho session, Government business tako precedoncß on' Wednesdays.". \ ;'Mr. MASSEY (Leader of the Opposition) asked the Premier if he could indicato what j legislation the Government proposed to put through this session. A good many importaiit measures outlined m .tho Goyernor'a ( Speech had yet to be laid beforo tile House. ,Tlio country was also anxious to kiiow what tho policy of the Government was 'going to bo in regard tb tho Arbitration Act: Amendment Bill. Regarding that' measure 1 there was a rumour,that the Government were not it. • .. \ ; . '.Tho.Prime Minister: Where did that rumour coirio from? _ 1 . Mr. Massey said there existed such a rumour. . , ■ 1

Tho PRIME MINISTER rccogniscd tho right of the Leader of the" Opposition to ascertain what tho. Government proposed to do. - Tlio time, however, was just a| littlft early for him to' say what measures the Government proposed tb' put through 1 , His intention was, however,' tb ask the Government to put through tho wholo of. th'o imV po'rtant'Bills. (Hear,-hear.) Ho believed they could do it. (Hear, hear.) He would remind riiembers that tho Government had ! not wastod a day or an hour of tile time of thd session so far, and good work had been done. Tlio Government would not bo in a position to make up tho Public Works Statement until the ordinary Estimates wero out of the Way. The Estimates would have to. bo got out- of the way beforo proposals in tho Governor's Speoch could bo goiio 011 with. As to tlio Labour proposals, tho policy of the Government had been before the House, since tho circulation of. tlio Bill. Ho pointed out that they 'must wait for the foport of tho Bill from tho Labour Bills Committee, beforo more was said about the _ matter,, but- lio declared it was tho intention of tlio Government to ask tho House to ' put ' tho Bill ' through • this session. He had 1 not heard of the rumours referred to by Mr. Massey-—thoso he had heard were in the direction of expressing the hope that there would be difficulty and turmoil'in getting it through. If these ruipqurs wore correct, it was a very bad state of affairs, and he urged that an important Billot this kind should not be'twisted and turned into a party matter. Ho thought 'all would be opposed to that. Ho thought Chat when tho Bill was before tho House tiiey would all suggest what they believed to be ill the best interest of the country. Ho would be prepared in about a fortnight' to indicato what measures tho Goyernment proposed to • put through this session. If they wont to work properly, they should bo able'to put through all tho important proposals. (Hear, hear.)

IMPREST SUPPLY. ;' RAILWAY' POLICY. . Imprest Supply Bill No. 3 was introduced by Governor's message. , On tho usual motion to go into Committee' of Supply to discuss its provisions, Mi-. HERRIES wanted tp know what railway policy the Government would adopt when the Main Trunk railwaj; was completed—that Was" supposing they still occupied tho Government benches. Ho went on to advocate the claims of the East Coast railway. ' Mr. MASSEY supported the statements, of Mr. Hen-ies regarding the potentialities of, tho Bay of Plenty district for settlement, and' tlio necessity for having railway communication thero. , ' Mr. GRAY (Chnstchurch) hoped that tho Minister for Public Works would not forget that there was also a South Island Main' Trunk lino, and' spoke in advocacy of - its claims.

Mr.' BATJME (Auckland) said Mr. Gray's remarks had called him to his feet. Ho described Mr. Gray's method in taking advantage of Mr. Horries's claim as political effrontery. He ; showed that tho increaso in the population of tho North* Island was considerably greater than that of the South, arid the railways there exceeded those in the North. Now that tho Main Trunk line was nearing completion they would ask for their rights regarding North Island railMr. . POOLE (Auckland) also spoke with emphasis on tho claims of the northern districts in tho matter of lines. The unfair action of tho southern'members saddened him.

Mr. WITTY (Riccarton) said tho Auckland membors wore what Mr. Poolo had described the southern members as being—viz., vultures sitting round waiting for tho North Island Main Trunk to bo completed. _ Why condomn Mr. Gray because ho had rightly advocated tho completion of i»n important work. Ho, for one, at the same time was not going to dccrv Auckland's claims. Mr. LAURENSON (Lyttclton) was tired of hearing tho parochial complaints of Auckland. All the House recognised tho tremendous potentialities of the Bay of Plenty district; and tho Auckland districts had always' been well treated. Ho said tho_ parochial feeling characterised representatives from Auckland at conferences of friendly societies, labour societies, harbour boards, etc. (Laughter.) ' Mr. HANAN (Invercargill) spoke in similar terms; and showed tho largo expenditures in tho Auckland district.

; Mr. RUTHERFORD (Hurunui) said tho attitude of those who urged the rights of certain districts in tho showers of Government blessings reminded him of thoso peoplo who prayed for raiii, as if an All-wise Providonco was not fully aware of what was best for them. (Laughter.) Mr. HOGG (Masterton) referred to tho " practically .useless " expenditure over, tho Otira tunnel. • (Laughter.) Ho advocated two small lines ill his own district. Mr. J. ALLEN (Bruco) spoke of tho claims of the South Island to a dairy BChool. Remarks by Sir J. Ward. The PRIME' MINISTER, in referring to the remarks regarding tho East Coast railway, said that what had been said was rather surprising, seeing that there had been a timo when somo members of tho Opposition had not only not supported that work, but had actually opposed it. Mr. Massey: No I Sir J. Ward:' I did not refer to the Leader of the Opposition, but to somo other members. He deprecated the tone that tho discussion had taken, saying that this was not tho placo nor tho timo for debating tho claims of various public works, all of which had been already considered by tho Government. The cry of North v. South was one of tho most detestable features of Parliament. This wretched parochial, provincial spirit did a great deal to woaken the causo of thoso who took part in it. Tho Government, he said, was not going to allow members to electioneer in this way. The Ministry, ho, said, was not. going to bo influenced by speeches of tho kind mado that afternoon, but would, continuo to allocato tho public moneys fairly and. impartially as it had always done.' Ho deprecated districts' being pitted against each other in tho way that they had witnessed that afternoon. He wished to make it understood that no speeches made in tho Houso had' any influcnco with tho Government in this connection; as to tho East Coast railway, that ho said had always had a most loyal and consistent supporter in tho Native Minister. '/i-Kind of Providence.

'Mr.. MASSEY said that, according to what the Prime Minister said, members should look upon- tho Govornment as a kind of Providenco, and should not dare to uphold tho interests of their constituents. Ho (Mr. Massey) claimed that any member who did not avail himself of every opportunity of supporting tho claims of lus district to anyparticular public work that _)vns required would be failing in his duty. As for paroch-' ialism, ho desired to say that ho always looked at matters , from .a colonial, and not a parochial point of view. As to tho statement of tho .Prime Minister .regarding the East Coast railway, it was quite unreasonable to say that tho Opposition as a body had opposed it, simply becauso some member of tho party at sonio period had expressed disapproval of' tho line. 'Tho Hon. <T. CARROLL said that when tlio Govornment first proposed tho construction of a railway from Gisborne to Kaiaka and Rotorua, it met with very little encouragement, and in fact it had been even suggested in his own district that tho. Govern-, meiit was not in earnest in tho matter. After, however, the work had been commenced, moro interest was taken in it, and for some time past tlio Auckland people had co-operated with the Gisborne people in urging tho speedy prosecution of tho line. Mr. BAUME maintained that a member of the House was- entitled to voico the claims of his constituents, and when the cry of North v. South was raised by a Cantorbury member, he felt bound to advocate tho tight of the North to justice. Mr. HERRIES, referring to tb.e assertion of, tho Premier that the Opposition had themselves opposed the East Coast Railway, quoted from 1905 Hansard to show that Sir William Russell's latest opinion had, been favourable to the railwaj',. Ho hoped that whoever followed _the present. Opposition would be equally insistent as they had been in urging on the Goyernpient the necessity of completing the railway. Further Remariss. Tho PRIME MINISTER objected to be misrepresented as he had been by Mr. Baume. Ho took no exception to members advocating the claims of their electorates at any timo in tho House. But what he did. say was that 110 one could expect tho Government to frame its Public Works Estimates upon the suggestions of members in Imprest Supply speeches. Ho went on to quote figures to show that tho Government had treated tho North Island quito fairly in the matter of railway expenditure and other allocations. Mr. Baume had complaincd upon all occasions that Auckland was not treated .fairly, but Auckland had always been treated fairly and well.;

Mr. WILFOBD: Quito recently; too! (Hear, hear, and laughtor.) The PMME MINISTER added that the Government ,wcre doing .what was fair for all parts of tho Dominion, and wi?ro not likely to bo affected by such remarks as had been made regarding-NotUi v. . South. As to the particular lino mentioned, it would bo no breach of confidence to say that an allocation had been ,spt aside for tho last three weeks as far as the Government wero concerned. ■"•■'■ Mr. Baumo explained that ho had not for a moment contended Auckland had been treated unfairly.

Tho Premier's Constituency,' The Promior said he wished to say that for tho 21 years during which ho had represented liis constituency five or six public buildings had been erected in his 'electorate, but none had cost £3000.- Not ono lino of railway had been constructed, though requests for lines had been made. (Hear hear.) Ho know certain statements had been made, outsido tho House, about his electorate. THE BILL. • WELLINGTON AND MANAWATU \ RAILWAY. The PRIME MINISTER, in explaining tho lipprest Bill, referred to an item of "£500,000, for tho special purpose of payments in cbnlicction with and in'anticipation of tho inquisition of tho Manawatu-Wollington Bailway."., Tliis provision was for tlio payment from the Public Works Fund for special services in connection with tho acquisition of the lino. Ho was not in a position at pre-sent-to make, a .statement as to tho ultidocision of the Government as to the acquisition, but tho payment of tho £500,000 was part of an arrangement with 'the Railway Company; made some timo ago', when 'debentures that were current required to be provided for at a period close to tho time when tho agreement for tho purchase of the lino by tho country required to be carried' out. It would have been unfair to have had long-currency debentures • reissued by- the Company, and anarrangement had, thereJoiq, been entered into between the Company

and tho Government that tho sum of £500,000 for which tho Bill asked should bo paid to tho Company 011 August 31. That step would provent tho reissue of debentures, which might liai'o boon bearing a high rate of interest. The country would have had'to pay that interest, and as it, was a certainty -that tho lino would bo taken over by tho Stato tho Government had undortakon to advanco tho monoy- necessary to meet tho debentures. Tho Company would pay interest on tho monoy at tho rato of 4 por cent, until tho purchaso of tho lino had been completed. A Statement Promised. In a fortnight or threo weeks ho hoped to bo able to mako a statement regarding tho acquisition of tho CompanyJs property, but in tho meantime bo could not go into tho question. Ho explained that tho proposed step would enable tho country to take over tho lino frc-o of any complications, and to arrango its o.wn finances. Ho could say that tho'negotiations had all been carried out in an amicablo spirit. Mr. MASSEY said that be bad no objection .to the proposal. Tho time had arrived when tho lino should be taken over, aud he was glad to hear that tho negotiations were proceeding smoothly. Tho Government bad simply to balance tho scales evenly between tho shareholders and the country. Would it he necessary to introduce a special Bill this session to enable tho lino to bo acquired? , Tho Prime Minister: Yes. Mr. IZARD (Wellington North), in congratulating the Government on having opened up negotiations, said if it had not been for £600,000 worth of. debentures at six per cent., tho Government would years ago liavo acquired tho railway lino. What was now proposed was quito right. The prico asked for tho lino should bo paid. Tho Primo Minister asked that tho matter bo not discussed at this stage, q'n oppor-; tunity would come later. •

Mr. Izard: "Very well." He would go into tho matt-er at a futuro 1 dato. He would then have something to say.

Mr. FIELD (Otaki) expressed satisfaction at the statement of tho l'rimo Minister. They nil would' hope that tho acquisition of tho lino would bo effected without trouble on either side, or any bitterness whatever. Air. HERRIES wanted to know if roads and would suffer from tho £500,000 coming from tho Public Works Fund. Tho PRIME MINISTER said tho proposal had nothing whatever to do with tho moneys available for the Public Works policy. If ■the line were constructed in tho first placo tho money would como from the Public Works Fund, and the proposals could only, therefore, go through this fund. All that they actually wanted was authority to mako tho payment, and they did not expect to liavo to spend a single shilling of tho money available for Public Works expenditure. It would liavo been bad policy to have takon over tho debentures at their-interest. As-a matter of fact 110 had already arranged for tho monoy, not taking -any portion of it from tho Public Works authorisations. He did not desire to go into details now.. The member for tho Bay of Plenty could hardly believe him to be so simplo as to'incur the possibilities he had mentioned. High Rents. ' Several members then spoke on matters relating to social problems, tho high rent in tho cities, and tho general expensiveness of living. The flocking of country peoplo to tho cities was also introduced. Tho PRIME MINISTER, in replying, said this problem of. high rents in tho cities had become almost intolerable, but how to get over it was tho difficulty.' To overcome it the Government must liavo tho co-operation of the worker. Ho said tho choap rutes offered the worker. on tho railways to get into tho suburbs, were not availed of, even when workers' dwellings wore provided in tho suburbs. Could lion, members explain why workers travelled to their work at cither Petone or tho Hutt, and then returned to their high-rent cottages, and living in-Wel-lington at night?

The greatest succoss ill this matter so far had been in _ small settlement associations. Replying ito Mr. Herries, the Primo Minister said that tho suburban rates were cheapor in New Zealand than in any of the Australian States. Whether the Government should further encourage suburban residenco by extending tho workers' tickets to a groater area was a matter for caroful consideration. Tho question was one necessitating deep thought and consideration, and should not bo fought out on party lines. It \yas a problem, tho solution of which should bo sought for tho good of humanity.

■•'The Imprest' Supply was' passed at. 10.30 p.m.

NEW MEASURES. The Local Bodies Amendment Bill, the Public Revenues Amendment Bill, and the Government Advances* to-.- Settlers Act Amendment Bill were introduced by Governor's message. ACCOUNTANTS BILL. Tlio amendments made in tho Legislative Council to tho New Zealand Society of Accountants Bill wero adopted, PAWNBROKERS' CHARGES BILL. The House went into Committee on tho Pawnbrokers' Charges Bill, and the Civil Service Amendment Bill. Tho former was passed without amendment. Tho Civil Servico Amendment Bill - was also reported . without amendments. A NATIVE RESERVE. Tho HON. Br. M'NAB moved tho second reading of the Taupo No. 2 Block Bill, ivhich repeals legislation making an area oi? nine acres of-Native land at Plimmerton a scenic reserve. The Minister said that if that Bill were passed tho land would revert to tho original owners, who intended to subdivide it and sell it in small lots. The second reading was agreed to. PUBLIC HOLIDAYS. The Public Holidays Bill was read a second timo. pro forma, oil tho motion of 'the Premier, and referred to the Industries and Commerce Committee. , t6wn boards. The HON. J.?A. MILLAR moved tho second reading of tho Town Boards Amendment Bill (So. 2), which has already passed tho Legislative Council, and which provides for any town' district with a population of 500 being taken out of tho county, and for county roads within such district being maintained by tho Town Board. Tho second reading was carried. . POLICE OFFENCES AMENDMENT BILL. The MINISTER for JUSTICE (Hon. J. M'Gowan) moved the second reading of the Polico Offences Bill, which gives powor to a magistrate to impose, a fine not exceeding £20 as an alternative to imprisonment with bard labour for a period not exceeding ono year in cases under section 2<i of the Polico Ofi'cnces Act, 1884. The Bill also amends tho same section by omitting the word " grossly before tho word " indecent." It was stated that tho magistrates desired this chango.to facilitate Court proceedings. The second reading was carried. SECOND READINGS. ' Tho Inferior 'Courts Procedure Bill (Hon.. J. M'Gowan) and tho Acts Interpretation Amendment Bill (Hon. R. M'Nab), both of which originated in tho Upper House, wero read a second time pro forma, and referred to the Joint Statutes Revision Committee. The House rose at 12.23 a.m.

.NEWS AND NOTES. THE EDUCATION BILL. The Education Act Amendment' Bill was reported to the House yesterday by the Education Committee with' a number of amendments. _ _ Clause five (dealing! with the number of teachers in each school) is amended by the addition of a .new sub-clause which provides that " the staff of any public school shall not at any timo before the full number of the said additional assistants has been appointed bo les3 than it would havo been under the principal Act had not this Act not been passed, .and tho- additional, teachers (if any) , rotruirod iu.order to conform to this require-

mcnt shall rcceive salaries of sub-grado A' as determined by tho first schedule hereto." An addition to sub-clauso five of clauso seven provides that a teacher " shall rcceivo tho first increment of salary 011 the same dato as if ho had continued ill tho position from which he was so transferred." A now sub-clauso (8) is added to clauso seven as follows: — "If any public, school is at tho beginning of ajiy year placcd in grade 1 or a higher grade, and that school is thereafter .reduced .in grade, any teacher who remains in the samo position therein shall for two years after tho reduction continue .to receive tho samo salary as if 110 such reduction had taken place, but tho school shall nevertheless at all times bo staffed in accordance with tho grade or sub-grado to-which it belongs for the time being."' In tho second schedulo an amendment has been mado by providing that " at least threo of tho first six assistants in any school must be women." Tho Bill as introduced provided " at least two." Tho grades for district high schools have been increased by omitting "12 to 30" and substituting "12 to 20" and "21 to 30," tho first boing placed in salary grado 111, and tho latter in IV. Footnote A to tho district high schools scale has been, deleted, and tho following substituted: — "To tho toacher of a district high school there shall bo payablo an amount of £30 per annum in addition to any othor amount payablo to him under this Act'." CIVIL SERVICE JUNIOR EXAMINATION. Last night tho Hon. R. M'Nab submitted tho following return, showing tho disposal of candidates in the Civil Servico Junior Exami- ' nation list for 1907 and 1908:— 1907. 190 S. i ■ To July 10. Appointed (boys 140, girls 6) ... 146 132 Declined (boys 219, girls 14) ... 233 104 Did not wish to enter service ... G 62 Girls, 110 suitablo vacancy ... 280 182 No vacancy in selected department 14 — Already in servico ... ... -37 — Over and under age, unfit ... 3S — Over and under, ago, unfit ... — 44 No reply to offer of appointment ■ 5 — Totals ... . ... 759 524 Number of names on list not yet dealt with ... — 419 Total on this year's list 943 No. 3 IMPREST BILL. Tho Imprest Supply Bill, introduced and passed yesterday, mado provision as' follows: —First schedulo: The Consolidated Fund, £450,000; tho Public Works Fund— for goncral purposes £200,000, for tho special purposes of payments in connection with and in anticipation of tho acquisition of tho Wel-lington-Manawatu Railway, £500,000; tho Loans to Local Bodies Account, £10,000; the Land for Settlements Account, £1000; tho Stato Forests Account, £2600; tho State Coal-mines Account, £30,000; tho Scenery Preservation Account, £1000; tho Hutt Railway and Road Improvement Account, £6000; tho Railways Improvement Authorisation Act Account, £7000; the Maori Land Settlement Act Account, £500; the AVaikaka Branch Railway Account, £4000; total £1,212,000. Second schedule: The Government Insurance. Account, £7000;-tho Government Accident Insurance Account, £1000; the' State Fire Insuranco Account, £1500; tho Public Trustee's Account, £3500; tho Government Ad- . vances to Settlors Account, £800; tho Government Advances to' Workers Account, £200; total, £14,000. ■ !;

TOWN AND COUNTRY; "I want to take advantage of- this opportunity to again speak of the high rents prevailing here, and in other cities of tho Dominion," said Mr. Ell last evening, on tho third reading of tho Imprest Supply Bill, and ho proceeded to speak for half an hour on tho subject. Mr. Barclay alp aired onco more somo of his cherished views on cheap and dear living, arid he was followed : by Mr.Laurenson. After these speakers came Mr. Lewis, who wanted to'know from Mr. Laurenson how ho reconciled two of his statements, viz; That the rates of living in tho cities were so high compared with tho/good times in tho country and yet the people were flocking to the cities.- Tho debate then became more or less general amongst members who hold sot viows on social questions. It centred chiefly round the question of providing cheaper ' suburban dwellings for city labourers. Mr. Hogg, in submitting reasons for tho tendency of the backblocks' settler to c'ome to tho towns, drew pictures of the hardship's of tho country dwellers, the absence of enjoyments and, pleasures, and tlm hardly-earned few shillings that como his jvay. If not for his own sake, for tho sako of 'his little ones, tho settler sola up and went again to tho towns. Tho speeches came to an end a few minutes before the supper adjournment, and tho Premier briefly' replied.

LOCAL BODIES BILL. Tho first portion of tlio Local. Bodies Loans Amendment Bill introduced last evening contains a scheme whereby local authorities, instead of procuring loans from tho "Government, may raise loans from tho public on debentures guaranteed by tho Government. No such guarantee is to bo given except by Order-in-Council, and the aggregate amount to bo guaranteed in any ono year is not to exceed £500,000. In respect of every ■ guaranteed loan, the local authority must establish a sinking fund iii the'hands of tho Public Trustee. The annual payment into tho sinking fund must bo not less than 1 per cent, of the loan, half of this amount being paid by tho local authority and tho other half by the Government by way of subsidy. Clauso 16 of the Bill provides a simpler method of settling objections to the special roll of ratepayers which is prepared when a loan is charged on a particular part of tho district. At present all such objections have to bo hoard by an Assessment Court under tho Rating Act. Clauses 17 and 18 are intended to remove a defect in the principal Act by reason of which a local authority canuot raise a loan to pay off an existing loan if-the annual charge on .tho district is thereby in any way increased (seo Section 15 (b) of tho Act). The amendment enables this to' bo done with tho consent of the ratepayers in the .samo manner as in tho case of a loan for a public work. Clauso 19 provides that in respect of all future loans raised by local authorities under the Act tho Public Trustee shall bo the solo Commissioner of Sinking Funds, and that all sinking funds so vested in him shall bo invested in Government securities. Clauso 20' exempts land situated in Native townships from tho rule which prevents loans from beii)g granted under Part I! of tho Act in districts where a certain proportion of tho area consists of Nativo lands. PUBLIC REVENUES BILL. Tho official memorandum attached to the Public Revenues Act Amendment Bill states that the purpose of the Bill is to substitute a system of post-audit of the Public Accounts in place of the existing system of pre-audit. Under the proposed system vpuchers for tlio expenditure of public moneys will be audited by the Audit Office after payment instead of before payment as at present.! Tho only other material alteration proposed by the Bill is the increase- of the Unauthorised Expenditure from a maximum of £150,000 to a maximum of £250,000.

In the course of bis remarks last evening on railway matters, the Prime Minister referred to a criticism which had been made of the Now Zealand Railway administration by Sir. Lo Rossignol, an American critic. He said that gentleman-had made a mistake-to the extent of £2,300,000 which he had since admitted by private letter. Though, in his Auckland speech, he had mentioned this letter,' admitting the mistake, neither tho Opposition nor the Opposition Press, which had made use of the criticism, had published tho error. Later, at tho request of tho Opposition, the Prime Minister read an extract of tho 'letter from Mr. Le Rossignol, in which the error was admitted,

"You see as much spent oh a lady's hat as would buy a fine horse," declared Mr. Hogg Inst evening, with a glance at tho fashionable and full gallery. The House expressed great amusement. -