IN PARLIAMENT.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1195, 2 August 1911, Page 5

IN PARLIAMENT.

DAILY SUMMARY. THE ADDRESS-IN-REPLY, Both Houses opened their debates on the Addreis-in-Roply last evening. Mr. Jennings, who moved the Address in the lower House, devoted his speech mainly to, land settlement. Mr. Witty, tho seconder, was controversial on quito A number of subjects, but broke very little new ground.

Mr. Massey spoke next. Ho dealt politely but firmly with Messrs. Jennings .and Witty, and then passed on to tho question of the Mokau land transactions. Ho restated effectively the grounds on which he has demanded an inquiry, making incidentally one or two now points. What had been done appeared to him to bb one of the most disgraceful transactions in tho history of New Zealar.4. A flat contradiction of the chorgs against the Government was about all there was in Mr. Fowlds's reply to Mr. Massey on tho Mokau dealings. The Minister declared with much emphasis that "any rational inquiry" would result in proof that tho Government's action in the matter was altogether commendable But the/most interesting feature of the whole sitting was tho closing part of Mr. Massey's speech. In a fow clear sentences, uttered with unmistakable feeling, lie made an unqualified withdrawal of a certain allegation concerning the late Mr. T. E. Taylor—an allegation which he had been prevented from speaking publicly upon when he recently visited Christchurch. The ;House received Mr. Massey's statement with apparent surprise, and with evident satisfaction. Of the preliminary business of the sitting one of the most interesting items was tho reading of a petition for the removal of Captain J. E. Smith from tho office of Resident Commissioner of the Cook Islands, and for the appointment of a Commission to inquire into his administration. In the Legislative Council, the Hon. Mr. M'Gowan gave an explanation of his position as temporary Leader- of that Chamber. His statement did not appear to the Hon. Mr. p Rigg to fully cover the situation., The Hon. J. R. Sinclair opened the Addresf-in-Reply debate with an interestim? and characteristic speech, and wns followed by the Hon. S, Thorno George.