UNIONS AND POLITICS

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 861, 6 July 1910, Page 4

UNIONS AND POLITICS

INTERESTING DEBATE.

MR. MILLAR SPEAKS OUT.

t. '"I DON'T INTEND TO BRING DOWN

THE AMENDMENT."

Both branches of the Legislature held' sittings yesterday. In tho Legislative Council tho Address-in-Reply debate was continued, but after the Hons. ■Loughnau and-.(Dalian had spoken, tho debate was further adjourned. During tho afternoon sitting of the House, several important matters woro discussed. First of all camo the- question 'of .the right of industrial unions to devote- part of their funds to political purposes. Then-Mr. Davey explained his connection with tho easo in which a justice of- the peace and tho police, wero concerned at Christchurch, and tho matter was'further dealt with by Mr. T. E. Taylor and- tho, Prime Mini-, ster. The afternoon sitting concluded with a debate on the question of State banking. In the evening the Addressin Jteply debate was continued in the House, but it was noticeable that only Government supporters (with the exception of Mr. Myers, who has Ministerialist leanings) participated. At 11 p.m. tho debate was .further adjourned until this afternoon. '• ,

THE COUNCIL. ADDRESS-IN-REPLY DEBATE. The.debate on the Address-in-Reply ■was continued in the Council yesterday afternoon. Tho Hon. R..A. LOUGHNAN (Wellington) referred to tho appointment of jthe new Governor, tho death of King Edward VII, and tho accession of King George V. Dealing with the Goveruiinent's water-power regulations, ho expressed tho hope that not only would industrial concerns 6©/ supplied with cheap, electrical'power, but that such power would _bo made- available for farming operations "throughout the country. Mr. Loughnan expressed his approval of tho financial proposals of , the Government, and of the proposed .scheme of national annuities. From Ythe press and public speeches one would .dmagkio that the f aito of the ' Government, and even of the. cbmmoniwealth itself, was at,stake : over tho land question, to wh,ich less prominence was given in tho Speech. • Ho believed that it did not matter twopenpe whether-the tenure was/freehold or leasehold. Tho . question of tenure had passed away; ' the pre'sent.'tenuro'w : as on a very pro-. Stable, .successful, - and reliable footing. Unmistakably public'opinion.was ally in'favour of the optional system. It was .important l -that they should inier<w,\>'..-. ' 'oductiyeness of the land, •■■ :.'> markets" for its pro-- ' •"•■ deserved.credit i ' 'was giving to im-'. .:' - .'" ;jairy herds. By.im- ,'. . iuctiveness :of lands, :■''■' ../ketti, and improving : -'. ''.'. . } ;iild add five millions al- ; ti. ■ lately to the value of tho tcom-. .■;■'■.'•' xporfa.ii.The.-area of gahibljing". liac oeen increased by the Aot'bf' 'last, year, which legalised the . book-'' ■ ■maker." He had voted for that Act unfder. the impression that it would.deicrcase the. area-of gambling. The. ex'.periment had failed, and he hoped that would be given an opportunity to abolish the provisions legalising the bookmaker's calling.' The Hon. J. B. CALLAN (Otago) warmly congratulated the Speaker on his re-election. His Excellency tho Governor had already shown that he possessed many of tho qualities 'that went to make a popular Governor. Good work was being done by the Hon! T. . Mackenzie in the improvement of tourist resorts. Any money spent in adding, to the attractiveness of the country's show places was well spent; and ■ the tourist traffic' could be made a great -national asset. He congratulated tho, Governiri'ent on calling for tenders for an. up-to-date steamer on Lake Wakatip'u. Tlie system 1 of Crown leases had (been so beneficial that he did not see wh>- the Government should not let well alone. It would bo well for tho 'Government to rest on its present legislation ,and not venture on radical changes. If the Government resumed the water powers of tho country he hop : . Ed that.it would promptly put the matter into execution, and not tie up these powers in tho manner that was previously the subject of complaint for several years. ' ,

The-,debate, was. adjourned at 4.20 ■ p.m., and the Council rose. r.