IN PARLIAMENT.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1201, 9 August 1911, Page 5

IN PARLIAMENT.

4 DAILY .-SUMMARY. THE GOVERNMENT AND MOKAU. The Legislative .Council continued its Address-in-rieply debate yesterday afterneon. The Hon. C. 11. Mills demanded an explanation of the non-receipt of the invitations to Councillors to visit London for the Coronation. The Hon. W. Beehan and tho Hon. .T. Anstoy spoke on land and other questions, and tho debate was again adjourned. , ;In the House, Sir James Carroll road ,and tabled a long statement in defence of tho Government's part in tho Mokau land transactions. Legal difficulties and the fear of a heavy claim against the Land Transfer Assurance Fund, and tuo price asked for the land were tho principal reasons he. gave for the action of the Government in legalising the sale to Mr. Hermann Lewis in preference to buying the Natives' interests, taking the lessees' interests compulsorily, and lt-selt conducting the settling- of the land. . Mr. Masse'y contended that the means of overcoming tho obstacles mentioned were- provided by previously-existing legislation, and ho adhered to 'the view that, the Government'had failed in its duty to the Natives, tho public,.and the future settler*. He remarked that Sir James Carroll's narrative cf the affair did not contradict any of his statements. The actual question before the House was the constitution of the committee■which should deal with the matter. The Acting-l'rime Minister wished to refer it to tho Native Affairs Committee .which consists of nine Government supporters and four members of the Opposition, one of whom is at present out of the Dominion. Mr. Massey, on the other hand, moved for a.special committee consisting of five Ministerialists and five members of the Reform Party. This was opposed by the Minister and his followers, and after a debate which lasted until... the dinner adjournment, the Government carried its point by 33 votes to 2G. The evening was spent in the second Teading debate on TownPlanning Bill. Th<! Minister dwlt with the question of the interference of the Gov. ernment with the affairs of the local authorities by referring to the objections to tho • conferring of large discretionary powers on the Governor-in-Council as "all bimeombe." It was, however, , clear from tho interjections and from' the speeches which Mlowerl that there is on both 'sides of the House a strong feelinpr awinst the Government's policy of encroaching' tm-nn tta sphere of local pwernmenf. The debate was nnfinished Then tho House rose.