PARLIAMENTARY.

Grey River Argus, 23 August 1912, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY.

HOUSE Of REPRESENTATIVES

tPer Press Association.)

WELLINGTON, Aug. 22." The House- met at 2.30. p.m. GENERAL BOOTH'S DEATH. . The Hon. Mr Massey, in referring to the death of General Bootli", said that he had forwarded a .cable . " to.Bramwell Booth expressing regret and condolences at the death of. the General. By his death, said the Premier, the world had lost one of its greatest men. He was a" philanthropist, a great organiser, and a wonderful man in the widest sense of the term. By his pietyenergy, force of character he had lifted thousands frorA" a life of degradation. He hoped^ that the great work initiated by him would be carried on. Sir Joseph Ward endorsed what Mr Massey had stated, v" ' THE BUDGET DEBATE. Mr J. H. Scott (Pahiatua) continued the debate on .the Budget. He contended that the Crown should have acquired the Mokau estate instead of allowing a r syndicate to- exploit the public. The time had arrived wlien outside banking concerns should be allowed to operate in New Zealand and bring in their available capital. Dealing with the co-6perative works, he thought men should be allowed to make as much as they liked; also to choose their own mates. Under this system good men would be got together and the best work would consequently result. He favoured small contracts and piece work on co-opera-tive works instead of day labour. He applauded the Government's proposal to bring down a local government bill, and be hoped that the opposition woulc! assist the measure when it was introduced. He Avas bposed to landlordism in any form, and thought that crown tenants should -be given the freehold at the original value.

Mr J. C. Thomson (Wallace) said that the new government had taken office under very happy auspices. There was. a full exchequer, a prosperous country, and a contented people. Government had been supplied with the brains of the trlinking people of New Zealand inasmuch as the proposals, outlined in , the Budget of the two previous governments were practically all included in the .Massey budget. The new government had shown that it was prepared to support the proposals advocated by the Liberal party, and which the present government both in the House and on the platform had condemned ,time and again. There was very little mention of reform in the Budget. He advocated the abolition of the Upper House and would support a revisory chamber as evisted in Canada. '

, Mr H. J. H... Okey (Taranaki) saifi that it was the duty of the finance Minister to re-instate a^ soon as possible the Loans to Local Bodies Act. Many districts would not have had roads had it not been for that Act. The -scope" of the old age pension scheme would have .ben extended to include thrifty people who had saved say up to during their life time. Something would have to be done to establish a universal pension scheme. EVENING SITTING. The House resumed . at 7.30. Mr Okey, .continuing 'the budget debate, dealt with tariff revision. Every manufacturer, was pulling to get an alteration, and it could hardly be expected that the new Minister of Customs should bring in a bill during the first session. If/ the Minister were given to study during the recess he would be prepared, to bring down alterations next session. People might do much by supporting local industries. ■'■'."■/ THE MEMBER FOR WELLING-TON-EAST. iDv. Newman advocated the nationalisation of oilfields and water power energy/ He further saw a possible addition to the- cqun try's funds by the establishment of r a mine "is New Zealand: • ■.■.-■.■ ' „> THE MEMBER; FOR -STAFFORD. .Mr. J. B. Hine, said the Budget_had been, pi'aised from one end of New Zealand" to the, -other. He believed that no Ministry should take out of the. pockets of the people move money than was actually._ needed- for requirements of tlie country. If money .were needed it was needed for building up works for future generations-, and should be taken from borrowed money. Referring to the Customs taxation he. saw the Government was unable, to do anything until it received a report of the Cost of/ Living Commission. .Personally he ".bought that taxatiph. vvas^ being levied on an altogether wrong basis. It was. regrettable that food stuffs and wearing apparel were taxed. * . THE MEMBER -FOR THAMES. Mr. T. W. Rhodes said he hoped the day would come when Advances Department would be able to do without borrowing. '" He hoped the second Ballot Act would be rescinded. He advocated the prosecution of deep level mining, holding that with the assistance of the Government much- good could be effected in that direction. There, was no reason, to believe that the wealth of the country had been exhausted from" a mining point of view. • ..,'•- ."■ : ' ..'' *. ' ! The debate was adjourned and the' House adjourned at 11.30 p.m. '