NEWS AND NOTES.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 533, 14 June 1909, Page 4

NEWS AND NOTES.

THE LOAN BILL. Tho Prime Minister expects to introduoo his Loan Bill and make a statement ontho financial position to-day. , Tho PQlfoc Farce. Mr. Arnold (Dunedia Central}, who urged; recently, that a, commission should bo appointed to inquire, into the condition of the Police Force, bxpects to nuke some intereet}ng reyekitipns. on the subject in tho House to-day,, : '..''. ; , ■ . '.: ' ; : ; A Mixed Cabinet. : ■Whilst, the: Hon.. A.. W. Hogg (Minister for Customs);.was. strongly' upholding the JeJiseholdrsystem, iii' the.course of his speech (iiv tho Address-iri-Roply ' debate, on Saturday, the Hon. 'j,V Mackonzie (Minister for Agriculture) ( who is a pronounced freeholder; -entered' the House, and 'walked ■ towards his seat, "l'ahi glad that the Minister . for Agriculture ventures to sit beside you," interjected Mr. Bubhaiian, • member for Wairarapa. Mr. Mackenzie, who ovinped little interest in the proceedings, turneH' on his heel and left the Chamber, amidst ;.an puiburst of laughter, ; .. i-■ ■ : ■■ An Inopportune Banquet. Tho banquet held at tho opening of the Public' Trust Office wo? referred to in terms pf scathing criticism by Mr. Malcolm, member for Qlutba, on Saturday afternoon. ■ ''A email affair, people would Eay. The banquet meant an expenditure of only, perhaps,-£XOO or so. . (A Member: £300.) Well," said Mr. Malcplm,. "I dare say it will bo £300. (A Member: £400.) I say it is not sq mubh a question' of. tho amount of ospenditure, as of the character of that expenditure,, and at a time like this, when the Government is having to. tarn men out of their billets by the score, at least it shows an entiro want of consideration that the Goverqmont should flaunt its extravagance in that public way before the pepplo." Mr. Melcolm added that he had hoard that, after the banquet, champagne was being Eold at 2s. a bottle. Annual Reports. -.■.-;. _ It is hardly possible, the Prime Minister informed Mr. Masaoy on Saturday,, for the defence and railway reports to bo brought down this cession. ■ . Mr. Ngata's Position, In support of liis statement that tho Prjme Minieter told an Auckland reporter that.the position of tho Hon. A, T. Ngata was Analogous to lihst of a Parliamentary Under-. Secret*™ at Home, which Sir Joseph /Ward denied, Mr. Mftssey read the interview ne it appeared in the "Now Zealand Herald." Tho Prime Minister, in replying, , ,said that no one could have deleßated to him tho power of a Minister of 'tho Crown. As regards tho Pnijlio Trust and Government InEnr&noe Departments, which were under his chargo, Mr. Ngata was delegated to net for hhn in rospoct . of their government, but thero were those things which he could not do: he could not authorise expenditure, or appoint anyone to tho Departments, or do anything thut cnllod for tho- nction of a Minister of tho Crown. He could, however, ' assist in the ndministratjon of tboso Departments, and that bo was s doing, and doing well. ' '■■.■■•..'..■ ■ ' Opposition For&earanca. Tho wilh'ngnoja of tho Opposition to facili. tate t)io dispatch of business wae oxouiplified on-Saturday night,. after notice of mo. tion bad boen given that the House go into Committee of Supply. Mr. Mhssey pointed ont that if the Opposition had desired to block tho business they could easily have done so by moving an amendment, on which .they could have talked till twelve o'cloolf. At twelve o'clock Mr. Speaker would havo left tho chair, and, under tho Standing Orders, the Houso would not rosumo till 2.80 on Tuesday. Ho thought that his party should havo some little credit for the generosity they had shown. • "Lord Bluff of Awarua." . An exjeta among some members of tho Houso that anno hi(?h hon> our in in store'for Sir Joseph Ward, if ho goes Homo to tho Imperial Conference. Mr. J. P. speaking of tho Governor's residence on Saturday morning, said ho did not care whether Sir Joseph Ward cam'o back as Governor, or who was tho next Governor, but a fitting residence should be provided. In in© afternoon Mr. G. M, Thomson (Dunodin North), in referring to the Primo Minister, said: "I was going to call him his Excellency. Perhaps that will come." It was reported that Sir Joseph would eomo back a« a peer of tho realm. "If he doos so,' , said Mr. Tlipmson, "I would like to suggest to him a titlo which I am ?uro will nleaso everybody in this conntry. I would'siiggost tno title tof 'Ix>rd Bluff, of Awarua. , " (Laugh, ter.) Who AsUed_Mr. Massey? In the course of his drolleries on Saturday Mr. Hogg referred to the suggestion teat Mr, Massey ehould accompaify Sir Joseph Ward to tho Naval Conference. "It oanio from your party," exclaimed Mr, Maescy, airnd "How, liears" of his supporters. . ■ * Mr. Hogg denied tho assertion, which was repeated by Mr. Maesey. "If tho Govornment ask me to say who asked mo to ro Hqmo, I'm willing to tell them and tho .opufltry, , . , dockred the leader, of the Oppo.

TW suggestion that tho overture in regard to Mr. Mnssoy caino , from the Opposition Bido ,was denied by Mr. Buchanan, when his turn camo to spoak. The Primo Minister, Who had entered dii tho interval, said ho oonld name tho member on. t]io Opposition sido of tho Honso who had mado representato the Government on tho matter. "Not in tic first instance," declared Mr. Buchanan. He repeated that no ono in a position of responsibility on that srido of tho Houso over suggested euoh a thing, Hβ knew what he was stwaking about, and he challenged members of tbo other party to put mm to the proof. : A Covernmtnt View of the.Cabinet. "I can quite understand," said Mr. .Grattam, a. Government mereber, on Saturday, why fho Primo Minister did not wish to go to Engird and leave Ills colleagues to carry on tho business. It ia tho most iaoonernous Ualnnet ttafc I havo soon duraig my sixteen .voars experience; as a member of this Houso. niAn Pr ' mo " SKnister elected to go to the Ojd Country now tJiero axo only about two of. tea .colleagues in this Chamber that he could roly npom to carry on tho work with credit to thorasolves and to tho country, and c y .would be over-weighted by the balance of Miniftera whom ho could not depend upon to carry on tho business." Ho would not like any fiasco to occur during Hho Primo Minister 8 absence, which would put the Opposition m power. . ■ • ' Mr. Massey: Wβ promised not to take ad. vantage of it. .. '■ . ■Mr. Graham: Yes, you did, bat it would take a great deal of troiibte and forbearance on your part. (Laughter.) '." ' ! S Mr. Hogg as a Humorist. Mt. Hogg made some remarks in lirfiter vein dnrmg the debate on the. Addrels4nEeply on Saturday. Ho domed that the Ministerial members wore dumb dogs, There Tras, however, a great dj/ferenco between the upposrbon and Government ' membors.' On the hist nde a.ey would hear all the growls, Ho had boon celled by tlio Reader of-the Opposition a fly ia amber, and he was quite content to occupy that position rt present.. He was afraid that the' Leader ra ™o Imposition wns a fly out of amber, and wj■ disapwuted at seeing, him c-jwhrWd, because there was such a broad lino of diflerenco Between them on evory eubiect, air I .£&«*: 'Tfou* Heaven,"). Hβ f poen liurpmsqd at hw eJoratinn to Ministerial Sf' *' as npt surprised at nnynever acted tho partof She catarpffiar ou the gooseberry bush, creeping and onwlja ß . Hogg they can't beepme flics in amber. ffir' , h ° i lf an \' deader of th o Opnoeition would prefer to see me, not in amber, but m molassos, whero there mi<*h» be a chance of my being drownsd,"

, Observations on the Party system, lo 'lw !^ asoa ly l am * weak party nmn is that tho party system tends to tho .' wfcpinwti of. an autocracy in the demo-' This now ivßs expressed by Mr WneW, member for Wellington South, dnrl fa the AddrHw-p-Bepi, debate on Saturday. Mr. Wright went on to say that it £»s Tery puzzling to new members to tell the difference between the Opposition and the Uovermnent Upon the Opposition sido b0 sa l and leaseholders, and njron the Government side the same state of affairs existed. Tho line of demarcation was not to bo found ia-regard, to tho land question. Then-again, tho Minister for Agrieul-. ture, who onco was on the Opposition eide, was I 5 0,?, on * e GrOTernment side. What he would hire to-know was what pwticnhr process one had to .go through iii order to be- , o^tie-firom. a waotijnsrT-a truo'. Liberal. (Hearty laughter.) Mr. Wright went on to Bay Wat there were land monopolists on the Government .side, as well as on the Opposi■?Sm u lb \ s "ssortX"! was mot with cries of I\o and 'Who?" from Government raemi Pers._ ; Pr«seod oa to the member or members to whom ho vss referring, Mr. Wriclit wawsrodi: 'Mr. Dillon/the hon. momborfor HawWs Bay." When the applanso and up, roar. Jjad subsided, it was noticed that Mr. Dillon bad risen to liiYfcat. He was so excited that ho could hardly crave nerrcisBion to mako a personal explanation. When he was allowed to proceed he said: "What does the hon. member mean? Hβ says-that he hag no land:J>erhaps he w not ambitious to get eome.. Has ho worked harder than I have to got a pjeco of land? It was un,n/i 5 n Jl w P^ - Subsequently , Mr. Wright tiddefl that up to last soßsion one of tho largest lend • monopolists in the whole of New Zealand was on the Government sido of tho • Hoiise—he referred to tho member for Hurnnui. "What abont Mr. M'Knb?" was a, question 'whioh was also asked by members on the Opposition. B ide. Unparliamentary Language. There- wne. tchaioji' for' a. few minutes in tho House on Saturday afternoon, owins to a remark of tho Hon. T. Mackenzie. %o trouble aroso while Mr. Malcolm'wes. referring to the subject of retrenchment. Tho m.oinbor for Glutha vras pointing out that it I the errors of tho present Administration I last had, rciKforcd ths present retrouchmeiit Sir Hsrry Atlcinson, on tho other., hand, had to oerry out r retr«inhmont sohomo thp necessity for vnioh vjib not of his own makine. At this' stage the Hon. [TJios Maokenwe interjected 'Wly, ,f to I which Mr. Massflv replied: "Yon are'steting what 15 incorrcct,' , Afe T a sharp interchange of oontrsdictiona between the two members, Air. Thomas Ihojrentie ejtelainied: "You we stating that which you know to be absolntely false." (Cries of ,, Oi-der I order 1") .Mr. Mftssey.(heatedly): J moyo thnt those •words bo taken down. I am not going to ■takpjhnt statement from him or from any other, member of this House, ■ Air, Speaker: What were the wbr<fe ? Mr Sfasaoy ..explained that-. % iuuii ■ membor had cbarged him with mulring , a statement that was absol«toly fake. .The Speaker; jj, p JJinistcr must withdraw tliftt.word,; Ho nnjst know it is unparliamentary... ■■.-.. , Mr. Mnckenzio: The hon, gentleman jumps at oouoluMoßs . (Cries of "Withdrawl withdraw.!") ■? ~ The Speaker: You must obey tho rulinc cf i tho Chair,. ... •■-.■.. I

Mr. Mackenzie: I'll do so, but I understand a_momber has the right to explain-™ iho Speaker: Yon must comply with tbo raiing ol the Qhair and explain afterwards . .Sir. Mackenzie: I did not say ho ooasitlorwl it was false. What I meant was that the statement that Sir Harry Atkinson' Lad nothing to do with doficits previous to his retrenchment echemo was incorrect; Tff« Atkinson Administration had previously beon responsible for deficits. I • hiow that - t he hon. gentleman would not knowingly have niado a statement that was falec: T meant that too statement about' tlio previous noits of tho Atkinson Govornmont wasrin," corrcct. ■ ■ _ Tho Speaker:. Thai, expression is miite Parliinnontary; the other ivag not. . - A Surprising speeoh. •' The violent speech of tho Hon. A. W. Hope on Saturday morning, in trhich ho attacked tho freehold system ml tbo largo landowners, created considerable surprise and resentment among members of tie Governnwjit party. ■ and-thoy s rq not few, who■ Bupport the' frcelwld. Mr. Hogg dtclared • that the large landowners were %e folloOTiig-FaueV'.-thoy wcro "delighted to s«o tlie BWflgger and tho' sundowner nr»i« Eoin"about tho. country, ,, and he also spoko in this connection of "domestic murderers' trying to stoal tho people's homos." Tho timo wts rapidly approaching, said' Wr. Hogg, when tho l»nd would bo redistribute Tho land question w.w going to he brought up again in a moro formidahlo form than it bad over previously iissumed. The wjd6 disparity between Mr. Hors's views nnd Uiose of his colleague, tho Hon. T. Mickcivio who js a strong freeholder, was quicklv pointed out. It has also to bo romombcrecl that 'tho head of tho Gpvemment has given no indication yot of what its laud policy is to bo, and that a majority of the new ParJia.

Mont of freeholders. It is suggested that Mr. Hogg's outburst mil not improve tho relations of members of tho Cabinot, which aro suspected te l>o strained in more than ono direction. 'Hie opinion has oven been ox-pressed by Bomo members thai Mr. Hogg's frank declaration of his individual yiows may have tho effect of shortening his tenure of Ministerial office. In addition to his statements on the land ijnestioD, Mr. Hogg expressed his belief that, bank 'notes should bo issued by tho Stato, "instead of a fow bank dirqotorij." Ho f)ldcd t|bat ho did not believe in an inconvertible paper issue Analysis of tlio Voting, . There T/as little difference in tho voting at the informal mooting, and *!«) division in tho Hoosq on tfco adjournment qnestion, Oq tho first occasion, it was agreed, by 45 votes te 30, tiiat Parliament should adjourn during tho absence of tho Prime Minister; on th« ■ sooond occasion, tho deoisioh w«a arrived at by 45 votes to 29. When the \n>ta was talcon in tho Hotmso, Messrs. Glover, lU>mingion, and Kaihau,.i7lio were not present at the informal meeting, votod with tho Government. Messrs. Guinncsa and Hall, bowoTer, did not record .their votes on this occasion, whilst Mr. Meld formed one of a "pair." The opponents'to tlio proposal were strengthened uy the presence of Mr. Horries, but lost a vote through the absence of Mr. T. E. Taylor, whilst Mr. Mine, who opposed the proposal at the informal meeting, paired dh this occasion. It is Torfty of noto_ th,at Messra. Witty and* Lulce stuck to their opinion that it was not in the interests of tho country that an ad ' journmeut should tako place. - Questions. ' Mr. M'Laren will ask tho Minister foi Public Works , whether ho irill make inquirict inte the manner, of engaging' workmen ij , connection with the erection of the ■ Gov» ornor , ? rosidenooP pJotci,— The information Mr. M'liaron has received is to tho (iffeot that a start waq mado with the work sovej' days boforo tho Labour D(3partn>ont hean _ et tho matter, and that men aro being en« gaged by tho architect, the Labour Depart* '.■' molt, and tbo foreman pn the.job.] Mr. Okey (faranaki) has ciwn notice to ask the Primo Minister, (1) effect was not given .to thorcconimcndatians coiitameq-. in tho report of the Publio Petitions Oonn mittee of tho Legislative Council, wbioh ns» oommonded that tbo Government elxoutdap. point a Royal Commission or other competent tribunal to inijuire into the merits ol the petition of Mr,, Jpabun Jones, in respect to certain deaSqps with tbp Mokau-Mohakr>i tino lands, and in tho moanthne to prevent further dealings with the'said Iwde; and (2) whether the Goremmont yyill now gin} < cifeot to sucli recdmmerjdations by appoint ing a Royal Commission or other conipotonj tnbfliial to make the inquiry? ; Mr. Guthric (Oroua) will ask tbe Post. whether he will'place on the Estimates a vote for the oreotion of a poet ';■'" ofSoo at Rangiwahia, where th,o buainess of the 'Postal Beportment is nt present conducted.in a: very'unsuitable building. Mr. Okcy (Taranaki) will i,sk lib© Minister . in charge, of tho Publio Trast Department ' whether his attention has been diwvn-to the . ease, Tinker v. Publio Trustee, wherein Mr. Justice Cooper has given a decision thatbnshfoiling and grassing is not an improvoment under the Act, and if he will tako the necessary steps to remove*any doubt in th<s matter, so that leaseholders may know the exact position they are in. Mr, Okey also wants to know whethbr, in' order to assist the petroleum industry, the Minister for Railways will instruct his offlcors to have one or more engines altered for tho purpose of using crudo petroleum as fuel. Mr. G. M. Thomson is to ask the Minister for Mines whether ho 'will tako etepß to prevent the Public Analyst from entering into competition with private imajyfita thronghout tho Dominion, and catering fpt private business at publio expense and o4 cutting rates. ... ■■. ■■ -■■.'■ . Notloee of Motion.. Notice of intention to wove tvas givon oa Friday as follows: —. . . . . Mr. Netnnan: That, thoro bo laid 1 before this Houso a return showing—(l) CJost of Old Foxton ..Wharf (a) to tho- Publics Works Department when built, (b) in maintenance and repairs (if nny) to tlio Railway Depart, ment, and the nature of such-since 1886; trad {21 the receipts to tho Railway Department fro.n all sources for ench financial year sincoisss. -'.. :. ■ . . ./■ : Mr., Malcolm: That in tJio opiniou of this '. House tho time has arrived when the fin(J Court of Appea) should bo within the boundarios of the Dominion, . • Jottings. Mr. H. Kaihau, mcnibor for tho WeetonJ . Maori district, wes sworn iin on Saturday, and took his seat for the first time. ■ "There is a great deal of 'djflsatißfoction with the present Government, I know, , !, declared Mr. Poolo, Wie member for Auckland . on Friday. Then he added: "Per. sonally, I do-n't wholly approve of tlio reoon- 1 structed Cabinet. It is not a. morement tha(| ' is' popular in, tlw north. ' . ■ ■ /

Before Mr, Hogg bccemo a, Minister, ho confessed on Saturday, one of his ohief worries wae tho "patronage" of people who told him ororywhero thai ho was dwtksd to that end. .' ' '

Mr. J. Craigie (Timaru) was granted loavo on Saturday to introduce-on., tho next sitting day tho Timaru Borough Loans Consolidation, Bill. : . • , Leave of absence:for a week was granted on Saturday to Mr. T. E. Tnvlor (Christchurch North) on account.of illness in hie family, and to Sir William Steward (Waitaki) on account of absence from tho Dominion, on nrgent private business. ' Referring to' tie Government's pro Dc-sal tq proTiido bush-filling for, the unemployed, Mr, Wright on Saturday asked how it was ex. pected men who had boon brought up to qtrill-driving could' undertako busk work. "Idonbt whether.the Minister for Agricak turo could fal] a tree," ho , added, amidst merriment. >..-.. . . According to Mr, Tooje, the member for Auckland' West, it. is a positive disgrace to the. responsible authorities jn this connfery to seo tho magnificent areas of Native lands that are, allowed to go waste.,: This observation was greeted with a chorus of hoar, , Jieare, '■I was impresacd," said Mr. M'EaTen on Saturday, "with the appeal made to our sentiment by tho seconder of tlio Addrees-in-lleply, when ho said we ejiould lovo" tlie Mother CWuntry, and that we should honour our father and our moth&r, that our davs may bo long.. Bnt, without wishing to bo ■pynical, I am afraid that wo aro more inclined to.honour our unole than any othor roktion." ; . Prior to the taking of thp division on the adjournment question, the. Government Whips were- much in ovjdonco. Thero was unrestrained laughter when Mr. Juawonsoa led Mr. Kaihau,. tho burly member for tlxs Western Maori district, out of tho Chamber through the "Ayes" door. Of course, Mr, Laurennon may simply haro wished to converse, privately with Mr. Ksihau, but it looked very like as if ho werp giving hira ; "a trial spin." Humorous protests' made by members on the Opposition eido foil on, deaf cars., ".Wo-have-had oiioußh bad legislation,, butwe need a lot of good legislntion,' , wa'g- tho cornTOoiit of Mr. Jas. Allen, 1 tho niembor for Bruco on tho proposal Uiat there should bo a losislntivo rest.. '■'........ I Diuring tho debate, Mr. .Ths. AlH'i crorossed the opinion tJiat tho colonies should relievo the Motherland of tho upkeep of the Australian Navy."' It was his opinion that; threo aririoured cruistrs —two from Australia , and one from Nw 7/Mknd—would bo moro sorviooiible than the present navy in these watera, . "Wbat I Tould like to seo Mtablishcd st the. Imperial Doichco Coiiferenoc," ronwrhd Kr. James Allon, inoinber for Brace, "is an empire Ej-stcm of defonoc,. uridc-r whioh everv nhlo-lwdicd man shall bo taught as part of his cit'iaen lisht3 that it h part of his duty to holp to defend his country if wcassary. 1 ' "Thero nro indications of a considcrablo revival of trade m this country," remarked tho Hon. T. Mackcniio, Minister'for Industries and Commerce, during tho Address-in. Reply debate. Mr.. Maokeuaio added: "If the poople_ ml] only dovote tlwtnBelvoa to industrial their

taboar.and »k£Q into something that they can toll or'eat, the future of this country will be emrired. What 1 'wish to emphasise is tto.tiw young should not be encour•ged to.QoTOte.tiM \7holo of their time to SpilMrivingand type-writing." .

"That is tbe point, , 'chorused a number, of taembers, when Mr. Fisher stated that supporters of publio service reform raised no objections to the Government's retrenchment. echemeV 'Dft'hat we .object to," Mr. Fisher. «dded, ;"are the causes which have led to the need for, retrenchment." . . '

:.,'%> rt because the King would not Eke to Bee another man try on the crown that the Parliament is not to sit during the absence of ; thet'Prime'Minister at.' the conference?" , remarked yesterday. '...'-.•■■

V Mr.' Newman;: r the member; for Manawatu, decjared;'.;.'.|that'-v - be'" ,; :, i had.;' ; ne7or known a.time.wheh there were more unemployed in the Dominion than there were at present. He had heard-that free soup: kitchens had been opened by .private individuals. "That is the Tory :yarn," ';'interjected the< Hon. R. M'Kebzie> : ' To'this Mr. Massey rejoined: "Well, it is absolutely true." ■.•.•-•■";; : ;

'. Among a large number of interested auditors in the House of Eepresentatives on Friday . evening' was Mr. the Chinese Consul for/;tho Dominion. : ■; •" '•'