THE VOTES OF MR. D M'LAREN.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1309, 12 December 1911, Page 6

THE VOTES OF MR. D M'LAREN.

HOW HE HELPED THE WORKER. INCREASED CUSTOMS DUTIES. KEEPING BACK INFORMATION. We have said, in Tccenl loading articles,, that Mr. D. M'Laren, though lie claims otherwise, would be more'correctly classed as a Sir Joseph Ward candidate than as a Labour candidate. We based'our views on an examination of "Hansard" for this last Parliament as- well as on Mr. M'Larcn's own utterauces. That source of information, though open to everyone, in tho Reference Room at the Public Library, is soldom studied by the general public, and therefore we now furnish some details of somo of Mr. M'Laren's votes. The outstanding features of these details are, first, that he was absent from on unusually largo number of divisions; and, secondly, when ho was there, he seldom, save on local matters, failed to suppo-rt Sir Joseph Ward on a "divi.6ioß" 1903. On the Aid to Public Works 8i11,1909, Mr. Allen moved that the item, "In respect of other public works, .£400,000," should be reduced by -£200,000, "as an indication that it was unfair.to the House to ask it to commit itself to a ,£400,000 loan, without any idea of what it was for." Mr. MTaron voted for Sir Joseph Ward, and therefore helped to hand over to tho Government. £400,000 of the taxpayers' money, without in tho least knowing what it was going to be spent on. When an amendment was moved: "That Government advertisements should be supplied to' newspapers regardless, of their political convictions, and. with a view only to securing tho best return, to the taxpayers for the money so'. expended" ■ Mr. M'Laren was absent. The Customs Duties Amendment Act, 1009, imposed on the "worker" fresh taxation to tho tune of £448,000, although Sir Joseph Ward's own figures . showed that only £330,000 was needed, or, allowing a fair margin, £350,000.' Mr. M'Laren voted in favour of putting this huge extra burden on the back' of Labour. When Mr. Massey proposed to exempt tobacco from this unnecessary taxation, Mr. M'Laren supported Sir Joseph Ward, and increased the duty on the working man's tobacco by helping to defeat Mr. Massey's amendment. A clause in the Death Duties Act makes the Commissioner of Taxes sole judge of the value of the property, and denies to an aggrieved person an Englishman's right of appealing to the Courts of Justice. Mr. M'Laren voted for Sir Joseph Ward, and this unconstitutional clause is now law, and will be until Mr. Massey becomes Premier. , On a reduction of vote moved in Supply, "as an indication that the Government should furnish the House with a definite statement regarding the inquiry recently hold by two Judges into the working of tho Land and Income Tax Department," Mr. M'Laren voted for Sir Joseph Ward, and in favour of continuing to keep the public from tho full facts of this scandal and the secret inquiry. On a reduction moved , by the late Mr. Baume, "as an indication that railway employees should be placed under the jurisdiction of the Arbitration Court." Mr. M'Laron voted with the Government and against the amendment. On a reduction moved "as an indication that a day should be set apart for the discussion of the annual Railways .Statement, "which would enable the ventilation of railway servants' grievances." Mr. M'Laren was absent.

A Public Works Amendment Bill contained a clnuso allowing the Government to construct tunnels and other underground works beneath a man's land and buildings, without cither buving the surface of the land or paying any compensation whatever for the present or future damage done or for the spoil removed, Mr. H'Laren supported Sir Joseph Ward, and this unjust clause is now law. ' On a reduction moved of tho vote for tho alleged Advertising Department (Post-master-General's Department), as it was proved to bo used for political purposes Mr. M'Laren voted for Sir Joseph Ward although the people's money was being used for expenses which Ministers ought to pay out of their own pockets. 1910, Mr. Massey moved "That when returns arc ordered by the House of Representatives such returns should bo laid before Parliament as soon as it is possible to prepare them" but Mr. M'Laren was absent, but ap- ■ parently only temporarily, as ho was once more supporting Sir Joseph Ward within tho next hour. Mr. Massey then moved "That when an item of tho Estimates is reduced as an indication to the Government .that the Committee of Supply is of a certain opinion such reduction shall be taken as an instruction by the Executive and complied with accordingly.- (Note: Tho Ward Government has habitually ignored this rule of Parliamentary government) Mr. M'Laren voted for Sir Joseph Ward and in favour of the continued "flouting" of a majority of the peoplo's elected representatives. Tin voted for Sir 'Joseph Ward and against tho creation of a. Public Service Board, which board, amongst other things, would make impossible such "jobs" as Mr. Millar's son's appointment, When, on the Aid to Public Works Bill, 1310. Mr. Mnssey moved that instead of tho bald statement in the schedule: "Construction of railways, £800,000," the names of tho railways should be specified, Mr. M'Laren, who pesos as a democrat, voted for Sir Joseph Ward and anainst this very proper information being given to the electors of Wellington East.

When in Supply a reduction was'moved "As an indication- that definite salaries should be allotted to definite positions in the Public Service and that increases in salary should tako place pradnally from tlio lowest to the highest position in any Department," Mr. M'Laren was absent. On two divisions in Supply, as indications to the Government .that the Parliamentary Buildings should bo restored on tho old site, Mr. M'Laren voted in favour of Sir Joseph Ward, and of the huge wasto of the taxpayers' money involved in the present wild scheme. On a reduction, moved as an indicv tion that the wages of district valuers were too low, Mr. M'Laren voted against an increase. When Mr. Massey again (for tho.third time) moved in favour of taking off tho extra tax on tobacco, Mr. M'Laren again voted in favour of keeping on the tax." When a resolution was moved "That particulars of tho terms upon which loans are floated, together with all costs and expenses of raising the same, should bo laid before Parliament within twelve months of tho flotation of same," Mr. M'Laren, tho democrat and alleged upholder of the people's right?, voted for Sir .loseph Ward, ami - against the-electors of Wellington East, bring given this very proper information (which, by I he l>y, Sir Hurry Atkinson always famished without hi-ing asked). Tliat resolution being defeated, it was

reintroduced with the period "two yearssubstituted for twelve months," and Mr. M'Laren again voted in favour of Sir Joseph Ward, and of the policy of concealment. At the indignation meeting held outside Parliament Buildings in June, 190!', Mr. M'Laren was asked why ho was not present at • the citizens' meeting at tho Town Hiill. His reply was: "I am a young (!) man, and 1 have my career to think of." Jlis vote.?, as 'here recorded, prove that he.has been very careful about his "career." Tho last Parliament held few inoro staunch supporters of the Ward-Findlay Government against every other party than Mr. David M'Laren, Labour M.P. for Wellington Dust.

When Mr. Dive moved (in connection with the Mokau report) that no Civil Servant.should'be permitted to hold the paid position of trustee for a company, Mr. M'Laren voted with 'the Ward Government against this elementary principle of administrative purity.