PARLIAMENTARY.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 150, 6 July 1901, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

Legislative Council. [By Telegraph—Press Association.] Wellington, last night. The Council met at 2.30 p.m. The Shops and Offices Bill was read a ecoud time pro forma, and referred to the jabor Bills Committee. The Council then adjourned till Tuesday. House of RepresentativesThe House met at 2.30 p.m. AD D RKSS - IX - RK PL Y. Mr Barclay resumed the debate on the Address-in-ldepply, expressing general approval of the proposals in the Governor s Speech. On principle, he objected to titles, and protested against the recent honor accepted by Sir Joseph Ward, although ho admitted that Sir Joseph Ward really deserved the distinction. Mr McNab urged the necessity of the preservation of our forests, and suggested the re-planting and making of fresh forosts for the future use of the colony. Mr Laurenson said that one of the most alarming features in Now Zealand was the fearful fall in the birth rate, and he would like to see legislation introduced to prevent chemists and hawkers selling eortain things. Mr E. G. Allen pointed to tho necessity for opening up more markets for our produce, and said the lines of steamers should be handsomely subsidised if by’ this means profitable markets could bo opened up. Messrs O’Meara and l-'ield spoke generally in approval of the Government policy. Tho debate was interrupted by the 3.30 adjournment.

EVENING SITTING. Tho House re-assembled at 7.30 p.m. Tho debate on the Addvess-in-lveply was resumed. Sir Jotepli Ward confined his remarks to a defence of tho charges brought against the Railway Department by several of the speakers in debate, particularly to a defence of the action of the Department in sending out of the colony- for rolling stock. He quoted figures to show tho enormous development of the Railway Department during tho last few years, and said that Government had to get rolling stock from America and England because tho local workshops, although working at top pressure, could not cope with tho demand, and but for the foresight of tho Government there would have been a state of affairs. Government intended in future to make such arrangements as would ensure tho manufacture in the colony of all rolling stock required by the railways, and to that end the workshops would bo enlarged. They could turn out quite as good work as the imported article. In conclusion, lie said his acceptance of a title would not cause him to change his nature or disposition. Mr Thomas Mackenzie dealt at length with the export produco trade, and suggested necessary remedies for tho evils that existed in connection with it. Mr Massey said that the Government was very much mistaken if it thought tho Opposition members wore going to keep silent. They were going to exercise the right of full and free criticism when they liked, each in his own way. Mr Gilfeddor advocated a colonial scale of teachers’ salaries, and favored a system of progressive borrowing in order to carryout a progressive policy of public works.