PARLIAMENT.

Evening Post, Volume XLVIII, Issue 51, 29 August 1894, Page 4

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. JTkstkrday'h Afternoon Sitting. i,ani> for settiamkntb mill. The Hon. Mr. Montgomory movod the eooond reading of this Bill. The Hon. Dr. Pollon said tho Bill had boen heralded with so much beating of big drums and braying of trumpets, that ho bad otpectod ono very much more objeotionable. It wasevidontly the opinion of Ministers that they had made the extraordinary discovery that it was tho duty of tho Stato to sottlo the pooplo upon the lands of the colony. But lliis was not a new idea, as every succeeding Govornment— and indoed ovory succeeding Govornor, from Hobson and Fitzroy to Grey — had ondeavourod to do their best to settle the people upon the land. But the State hud not been tho pioneers of the country, for his experience had been that tho various provincos of the colony had been primarily settled by private enterprise, and tho ultimato success of the Bottlers had been i i inverse ratio to tho interference of the State If the latter only left tho settlers alono there was no fear but that tho settlor* would got along without being ooddlcd. He had heard a great dual of the ory of " earth hunger," but aftor pornsing the advertising columns of tho daily press of the colony, be found that intending settlers could acquire laud by private purchase on vory much hotter terms than those proposod by the Govornment. Tho fact was that tho Government desired to placate, or protei.d to find work for, the unemployed. Hut ho feared the Bill would not solvo that difilonlt question. If tho Bill, with its burdou of a qnarter of a million of money upon tho taxpayer, had boen placed before tho country at the last oleotions, it would not liavo mot with a favourable reception. If thoy desired a good yeomen population, they would havo to go outside the colony for thorn. Ho did not believe in these patent land laws, which ho regarded as pure waste of time and money, but should the experiment prove successful he wonld bo glad to acknowledge hifl viowß had been erroneous. Thn Hon. Mr. Olivor maintained that this proposal for settling tho people on the land was not put before the elect rs at tbo last elections ; the chief question then submitted to the country was that of Prohibition. However, although he was opposed to the breaking of contracts, such as was proposod in tho Bill, he did not intend to tnovo a dirbot adverse voto. % Ho drew comparisons between the Govornment proposals to resnme possession of land^horo and the compulsory resumption of lands in tho Old Country for railway and othor public works, to the disparagement of tho presout proposal. The security of property was, ho said, regarded in every country as tbo feature of civilisation, and tbereforo it was with alarm and dismay ho looked npon the light-hearted manner in which the Government intimated its intention of resuming possession of what had been Crown land. At tho present timo, even, tbo effect the Bill might produce was apparent. A pall hung over the land. There was a ■ sense of insecurity felt by all classes at tho proposals of the Government, and the labouring men were feeling this to be tho caso, whilo capitalists wero withdrawing their money. The Cheviot Estate purchase was only an experiment, nor could it be otherwise regarded than that for eomo years to oomo. The Bottlers on that estate might take ono, two, or three crops from tho land, and then some day thoso settlors might possibly be found wanting, and tho last condition of that land would he much worse than before it was settled ly tho Govornment. And so it would be with the Bill if it became law. Ho folt they might abandon all hope pf making this the most beautiful country on God's earth if the Bill passed tho Legislative Council. Thoro was another roason why tho Government might havo gone on acoopting offers of private lands for sotlloment purposes, nud it was that tho Assets Company had any quantify of land which it woujd be glad to place at the disposal of the Government. Ho objected also to the Government seizing the property-holder by tho throat, which proposition was scarcely a fair ono. Nor did ho think thero wero so many people within tho colony who were altogether fitted to settle upon land. He thought the Council might modify tho composition of the Purchase Board, and limit the area proposed for settlement. Thcso, with a few other questions, if dealt with in a moderate spirit, would render the Bill, ii it became lair, less noxious tlmu it at present appeared to be. Sir H. Whitmore considered the Bill woe vastly superior to that of last year, but thai the area was still too limited ; in fnot, he thought tho area should be made illimitable, Ie the earth-hunger was so great as it was stilted to be, he thought the Govornmoni Bhould tako power to buy out every large land-owner in the colony. Tho basis ol taxation should be the guide to the Government in the purchase of lands, together witl 10 per oent. added. This would be something like fairness. He quite agreed with « statement of the late Lord Shaftesbury thai State-aided farming was a failure. How ever, aa the popular feeling appeared to b< that purchase of land for settlement wai needed, ho should like to sco the Govorn, mont ask Parliament for double or treble the amount asked for under the provision: of tho Bill. Tho Hon.. Mr. Pharazyn remarked that th< Bill waß a dangerous mcoauro, as it struct at the root of property, and. especially landec property. It used to bo recognised that anj ajttaok on property not only retarded civilisa tion but raised a feeling of insecurity whiol inevitably must injure every class of thi community. This state of affairs would, hi believed, follow if the Bill became law. Hi quoted statistics to prove that thero was an; quantity of Crown lands open for aettlemew in the oolony, and in addition every paper ii the oonntry showed that land was to be hac by everyone at a moderate figure. But thi waa not what was desired by the Govern mont. What was wanted was land in certaii favoured localities to bring about a squalii system of Sooialism which wonld never ad< to the wealth of the people, who would gaii perhaps a bare livintr, but certainly nothirif beyond. In fact, the Bill would 'have thi effect of dragging down rather than levellini up the masses. The idea tbat Land National isation waa a panacea for all evils, was in hi opinion a great mistake. Evening Sitting. The Hon. Mr. Pharazyn continued thi debate. He thought it wonld be folly t disturb the security of the country for thi sako of the 250 persons spoken of, whi perhaps might be reduced to 50. The un fairness of the proceeding so far as the selle to tho State was concerned was apparon whon it was borne in mind that the Govern ment could seize a man's property no matte what tho state of the market might be. Hi regarded the measure as one of confiscation lho Bill was on the sliding scale, and no long henco even the small prosperous farme would be required to give up his little hold ing at the demand of the State. Nor wou)i this be the only evil likoly to acomo Small landowners who wero not B^cpessfu •would be by the provisions of the Bill de barred from selling their bits of land to thi capitalist. Then, again, if the Bill passei it would be pood-bye to foreign capital, an( this wonld be far ''more injurious to thi oonntry than I 'the settlement of a compara tiyelyfew'flo-cklled settlers. He regarde( With suspioion the fact that Ministers tool powers under the Bill to enable them t< reduce rent. Taking all the provisions o the Bill into consideration, he believed thi loss to the oolony, both materially am morally, if tho Bill passed, would be incal cnlablo. He believed that tho present Ac T*as Buffloient for the requirements of in tending settlors. He admitted that then wore a number of Ahabs and Jezebels whi wore desirous of acquiring tho goods o their neighbours. la faot, the only thini he wondered at was that a schedule wai not added to the Bill repealing thi Tenth Commandment. He did not bolievi that _ tho oonntry, from a national pom of view, was aware of the provisions o tho Bill. However, it would, no doubt, bi agreed to, and the country would inevit ably suffer therefrom. It would not onlj injure the working man, but wonld also in" jnre the credit of the oolony throughout thi commercial world. The Hon. Mr. Bigg supported the Bill. The Hon. Mr. Stevens said this was ihc fourth time the Bill or one similar to it hac been before Parliament, and he hesitated U Bay whether there had been a popular ox pression of opinion in favour of this Bill The proposition for the cempulsory takint of land had been accepted by the colony For this and for no other reason he shoulc accept the Bill, and it was the duty ofth< Council to agroo to it. Speaking of the Cheviot estate, he said that rather mon tnan half had been divided into small gra2inc inns. He could aay fiom experience thai in tho past the owners of poor land were after a 80 years' struggle, no better off thai when they commenced. All ho hoped was that the Government, if it intended sottlini people, would see that only good land woi token. He feared, however, that poor peopl< would, take up land too distant for morkei purposes, and this would result in their ruin lne second reading was agreed to on tin voices, and the Bill was referred to th< YT»ate Lands Committee. FIRST KKADINGB. A number of Local and Government Billi were rcoeived from the House and read th< first time. FACTORIES BILL. j£fBasar tayiiMwid the seo ™ The Hon. Mr. Jenkineon thought th« Connoil should express an opinion as to th< •hortemng o f the hours of labour. I( would be idle to send the Bill tc ft committee unless it wero an instruction to the committee what should be &Ci;w °. onn « otion - He thought tht employes were. The Inspector of Faotoriee BSKLi*w *?¥ t0 look after Government m 5& Workshops, many of which were ?tn3 ?r man - trtt P<»- Girls should be ♦W? pe i? M J. lln K. n< ««]»pers or matches, and OrL °rt°?, WW 1 ™"*" the selling of Wai hot^L Hallo l I ? 3a V aBSe8 ' who we «* into •o ail S? qneB V onablo h °««a ™tn a view *c- aelltheir particular organ. He objected workW^T w } i . oh Panted boys from w^t ( Tf n f^ onn I <f " e8 more than « hours a weeK. if the clanao were passed it would X?'£ t B& fc * n liv i n *' beoauße boys mSst WtaSteLM orde ?- f °r instance, in it?. enft We men io work. the MlP °° nd r r adin ? was a K r "cd to, and Commuter Wferred *° the *■*« «I» *— ">*K,INGTON CITT DRAINAGE BILL LOCAL BILL. m T *V^ aTelook cc ° m <nonago Act Amondment Bill passed committee and all stages - Tho Counoil adjourned to next day. HOUSE OP REPRESENTATIVES Ykstkbdat's Aftmnoon Sitting. SHIPPING AND SEAMEN'S BILL. -Stall!!?** Seamen's Act AmendCC a t«rf WM TVT V . MB6d '?? the mo «°n of the Umslorfor Labour, after brief discussion

BirOFS ANT) SHOP ABBISTANTB. Tlio report of the Committee on the Shops md Shop Assistants Bill was also considered, md the Bill finally passed, on the motion of hho Minißtor for Labour. COMMITTEE OP SUPPLY. The House went into Committee of Supply . o consider the Estimates. The various votes for the Colonial Seoretary's Department were considered. Evening Sitting. On resuming at the vote .£16,096 for Miscellaneous Services in the Colonial Secretary's Department, Mr. Allen objected to the amount of the item contingencies, .£7OOO, and moved that it be reduced by .£SOO. The motion was lost by 30 to 17. Mr. Wm. Hutchison attacked the vote for the Now Zealand Institute (printing the " Transactions "). Mr. T. Mackenzie defended the " Tranßnc'ii/iis." Mr. Gco. Hutchison moved to reduce the voto by £1, as an indication that it should be roduced by tho Government. The Colonial Treasurer accepted the amendment, which was carried on division by 37 to 21. Mr. Meredith moved to Btriko out the item of .£IOO, house allowance to the Hon. Mr. Carroll The Colonial Treasurer said that it was only just that Mr. Carroll shouldhave Mb oxponecH paid while ho was in Wellington. Mr. Hoiio Heko considered that tho position of tho Native Member of the Executive should bq dono away with altogether. There was nothing in tho position. Mr. Stovons considered that there should bo special representation for the native race in tho Cabinet. The Minister for Lands said Mr. Carroll's norviocs had been most useful to the Government. He had saved his salary to the country many times over in assisting in the purohaso of native lands. Tho Hon. Mr. Carroll said that it was for tho House to say whether his services to the colony wero not worth what he was getting. He would not consider it consonant with the dignity of his office to retain office for less. Ho had been ever since 1887 endeavouring to got reform in native affairs. The solution was in the plaoing of both races on the same footing. As to the amendment, they should go to the root of the thing, and abolish Ministerial allowances altogether. Mr. Hone Hoke said that there should not be two offices held in the ( abinet in referonce to the native affairs. Instead of the Premier holding the portfolio of Native I Affairs, it should be handed to the Hon. Mr. I Carroll, who was quito capable of filling it. If the Government had any consideration for the native race, that was what would be done. As to Mr. Carroll's position as a Native Member of the Executive, Mr. Carroll now represented a European conßtituoncy, and therefore did not speoially represent natives. Mr. Allen also considered that Mr. Carroll should hold the Native portfolio. Tho Premier said it was impossible to increase the number of Ministers without a special Aot. Mr. Bell said that as Mr. Carroll was representing a European constituency he could not be held to bo a representative of the Maori race under the Aot After further discussion tho amendment wns lost on the voices. The total vote of tho Colonial Secretary's Department, -£G7,982, less £1, was then passed. Tho votes in the Colonial Treasurer's Departments, .£26,722, were passed. At the Justice Department votes, Mr. Willis nrgod that tbo salaries of District Judge Kettle and other Jjistiict Court Judgos should be increased. Mr. Geo. Hutchison said the services of a Judge like Mr. Kettle were of great service to tho colony, and hoped there would be provision fur an inctoase to tho District Court Judges. Air. Stevens bore high testimony to the valuo of Judge Kettle's services, and considered thorn inadequately paid. Dr. Newman said all classes on tlio Coast wero thoroughly satisfied with Judge Kettle. Tho Premier said two offers had been mado to Jndgo Kettle which would have improved his position and salary, and he had refused them. One offer was a Validation Court Judgeship. Mr. Bell said Judge Eettlo did not consider himsolf competent to fill tbo position. Tho Premier said he was satisfied, from what he had soon of Jndgo Kettle's work, that he would havo been thoroughly qualified for the position. Tho Government had tho matter in viow. Air. Geo. Hutchison said the offer would have broken up Judge Kettle's home and deprived tho West Coast of an excellent Judge. Mr. Pirani « egrettod to hear that th« Government had endeavoured to take Judge Kettle from the West Coast. Mr. M'Guiro also testified to the value of Judge Kettlo's sorvices. The Minister for Justice said that though Judge Kettle travelled over much oountry he travelled by railway. He was an efficient and hard-working Judge, but there were others who had also to be considered. The total Justice votes, .5122,574, were passed. The Postal and Telegraph Department votes, .£312,503, were passed. Tho Legislative Department votea ( i6l6,o2B, wero passed, less .£l6, tho amount representing tho difference of salary to-tbe Sergeant-at-Armß for four months botween .£250 and .£2OO per annum. This was moved by tho Premier. The Customs and Marine Department votes, =£Gl-,845, wore passed. A motion by Mr. Pirani to striko out the increase of £2H lo tho Secretary to the Customs were loat on the voices. The Lands Department votes were considered. Mr. Pirani moved to Btriko out the increase of .£25 to tho salary of the Under-Seuretary for Crown Lands. The motion was lost by 38 to 13, and the voto was passed. Mr. Pirani moved to Btrike out tbe increase of .£25 to the salary of the Commissioner of Crown Lands for the Taranaki district. The proposal was lost on the voicoa. The Lands and Survey Department votes, .£133,091, were passed, as were the votes of rates on Crown lands, iitlJOG on State I orests Account, and .£13,527 Cheviot Estate Aeooxmt. The Dofonco Department votes -were next taken. Mr. Pirani moved to striko ont the vote of .£7OO, salary of Commandant, and JB2SO travelling expenses and forage, &o. The motion waa lost by 33 to 18. Mr. Hogg moved to reduce the whole vote by .£3OOO, -as tho expenditure on defence was too great. The Promier said the Government had already reduced the amount by .£3OOO upon last year's vote and liability". After discussion the motion was lost by 37 to 11. The Defence vote, .£62 727, -was passed. The. Folioo Department votes, .£98,135, { were atao passed, after some discussion as to tho removal of constables. Progress was reported on the motion of tho Hon. Mr. Mitohoteon, aDd tho House roae at 1.20 a.m.