THE ADDRESS-IN-REPLY DEBATE.

Evening Star, Issue 12900, 24 August 1906, Page 3

THE ADDRESS-IN-REPLY DEBATE.

[From Our Parliamentary Reporter.] . WELLINGTON, August 23. -The debate on the Addness-iit-Reply Avas continued dn the House this afternoon. Mr A. W- Hogg (Masterton) Ifed off, and proceeded to pulverise dhe Opposition in his most., approved fashion. In a political sense the Leader of the Opposition to-day represents nudity dn an almost inexpressible shape,’’, he stated, after having compared Mr Massey to “a trap-door spider holding the wall against a strong hand with a straw.” A few minutes later he revived the good old‘‘ship of State” simile. “I am not going, to say that the Opposition, are the rag, tag, and bobtail of what was. once a strong Opposition,” he remarked, “ but the fact is that we hay© simply got a few of the wrecked mariners left' They have been wrecked again and again, and are clinging desperately to a raft that threatens to sink under them.” Mr Hogg proceeded to make a vigorous and effective advocacy of the Lcasenold system, bewailing the growth of large estates, and figuratively weeping at the woes of the landless. His speech was a capable statement of the views of the Leasehold members of the House who demand the cessation of the sale of the State’s freehold and the prevention of the growth of large estates, and, coming from Mr Hogg, may be taken as a hint to the new Cabinet on behalf of the Land Reform party. Mr Stallworthy (Kaipaxa) pert delivered his maiden speech. He was grieved that no Pressman should have asked him' for his views on the Land Question, but otherwise he was pleased with things in general. Mr H. 6. Hi stated that he proposed to adhere to the new Government because their proposals were progressive, and because he could not support the remnant of a party that had opposed l every advanced measure placed before the House. He proceeded to deal with general subjects, touching on State coal, workmen’s homes, and' Tariff, and demanded attention on the part of the Government to the banking ring. In conclusion, he said that he was satisfied with a policy that gave national endowments, workers’ dwellings, State coal, abolition of plural voting, and a reduction of taxation, and that would no longer give away the birthright of the people. Mr Hornsby (Wairarapa) approved of the constitution of the Government, and dealt at length-with the Land Question. He said that he would oppose the granting of the Freehold unless there was a limitation of the area any man might acquire; and he would also oppose very strongly freetrade in Maori lands, as desired by some large landowners. He made a vigorous attack on the Asiatic races; demanded the more vigorous encouragement of colonial industries; and in conclusion gently suggested economy of administration. Mr R. E. Major came next, and spoke for half an hour or so on general subjects. After that the debate nearly lapsed, but just as the member for Westland hurried in to exercise his privilege of replying, Mr T. Mackenzie stepped into the breach. He devoted himself to educational matters, with the laudable intention (as announced by himself) of seeing that the new Minister of Education was not led astray. The Minister, like a good many members, was absent, but Mr Mackenzie nevertheless went into the subject exhaustively for the full time allowed him under tire Standing Orders. 8

Mr J. C. Thomson (Wallace) spoke briefly.

Mr T. Y. Seddon replied. The yourrf nmmber for Westland had quite lost the nervousness shown, on the occasion of his first speech, and he confidently expressed his belief that tic Government would prove stable and progressive. The motion that a respectful Address should 'be presented to the Governor was carried, and after the Premier had announced that_ committees would he set up on the following day the Bouse rose.

THE COUNCIL. The whole-of tire afternoon’s sitting.of the Council was devoted to debating the Ad-dress-in-Reply. The Hon. J. Rigg, who is regarded as a labor leader, led off by referring to the infusion of Labor members in the Imperial Parliament, and said that the presence of these men would prevent the repetition of many acts on the part of the Imperial Government which had not been creditable. He opposed tho creation of an Imperial Council, which might give effect to the fiscal proposals voiced by Mr Chamberlain, and therefore should be_viewed with suspicion. Preferential Trade and Imperial Defence were bound to he discussed at the Premiers’ Conference, and in relation to the first ho hoped that this colony would have no other instalments of it. It sought to achieve a purpose for which it was utterly inadequate. As to defence, he strongly supported the creation of an Australian navy, and hoped that- there would be no increase in the naval subsidy. The Hon. George M‘Leau, who followed, advocated two training ships for New Zealand, and alluded to the probable success of the International Exhibition. As to the Land Question, he avos in favor of giving the option of the Freehold. As to Mr Louisson’s suggestion that the Government should take over tie ferry service between Lyttelton and Wellington, Mr MTean reminded the Council that the Union Company (with which he Aras concerned) had a turbine steamer under construction at Home for tho ferry trade, and had done everything they could to keep their fleet up to date in every respect. The Government would not improve the existing state of things by taking over the service. At this stage the Council adjourned till next afternoon.