NEW ZEALAND POLITICS.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume II, Issue 251, 26 September 1912, Page 4

NEW ZEALAND POLITICS.

MIL JONES [FEB PRESS ASSOCJAHOX. .; Wellington. Sept. 25. The Legislative Coum'il met nt 2.3 n. On the motion of the Minister in charge of the Council, a Select t'ommitten was appointed, loii-asting of Messrs. Anst-ey. George. Luke. Paul, and Rigg, to inquire .into the petition of Mr. Joshua Jones, of Moknu, and to report within 2) days. VAHIOI S. BILLS. The Dunedin District Drninnge Sewerage Amendment Bill (Mr. Paul) and the Mokau Harbour Board Empowering Bill (Mr. Samm-B were read the second time. The Aged and Infirm Persons Pro- y*. teetion Bill passed the final stages Tin* Births and Deaths Registration Bill was reported with amendments. Tlie Council then rose. PROFIT SHARING. The House of Representatives! met at 2.30. Mr. Wjlford asked the Prime Minister whether he would obtain information relative to profit sharing and company paitncrship. Mr. Mass-*v replied that he would look into the mutter, and give effect to the resolution passed last session in connection with it. FIRST RE\Dl\gs. The County's Amendment Hill (Mr. Herd-nan) and the Public Trust Office Amendment Bill (Mr. Herdman) were lead the first t me. CAPTAIN \TWOOh'.S PETITION 'The (’hairman of tin* Public Petitions Committee reported that the committee had reported on the petition presented on heltalt’ of Captain Atwood for consideration. The committ co strongly and unanimously recommended the petition to the Governmeti; for favourable eonsid oral ion.

| Mr. Wilford, v. ho had present cd i Ihe pet (ion, t bunked lite committee I for its report, ('aptain Atwood had > suffered a. monetary loss of £2ll*), but the cantain's lii'elim’- could not 'be estimated in et’sh. He deplored the apparent antagonism of Captain Blackburn in (he course of the inquiry. He asked He Government to be generous m the matter. Mr. Herdman said the Government would give serious atUnton to the .recommendations of tlm committ.ee. 1 MPKEsT Fl I’pf.Y tlli.L. CI’POSITIOX < BITICISMS. An Imprest, Supply Bill f< r £814.SOI) ires brought, down l.iy Governor's 'Message. Air H.-inan asked where was (lie Land Bill. He thought the Governtm lit was going to back down on platform prefessiem He could not umlf’r.itand the Government's ntti tmle in liolding tin- bill back until the end of the season unless it was to push it. through at the last mc-ment. He was miit 1 tin? Government would rmi ;l .wav fn-m some of its proper tils. So I‘ar the Government Y rev< rd win. tmi nailed for vacillation, b.m-king down ami hide vision. Tins session would he vhe most barrel) from a legislative point i.f view.

Mix eA'iteh ui'gi'd the Gvernmont to carry <mt a thorough system of roading tlir<»ugh<mi Die country’. Mr. Davr-y urge.i that an inquiry he In Id mln various matters connected with tin- Htaie coal mines.

The House then adjourned till evening, when the debate on the Imprest Supply Bill was continued. .Mr. Pearee opposed the eo-opci.t-(ive system on. public works, and advocated the sin ill contract system. Referring to gambling lie urged that the Gov eminent bring in a hili to abolish bookmakers, who were still rife. Ho also urged t lie granting of permits to limit clubs,, Air. J. C. Thompson urged the Governmenl to push on the purcluim of large estates in Southland while the price was low. |)r also advocated a. vigorous immigration policy. Mr. Ngata introduced the ques t ions of Native schools and the health of Maori children.

Mr. J. Vigor-Brown said the land which would be opened by the Napier-Gisborne I'me was xirgin ami, although owned by wealthy squatters, it was einimntly suitalih* for closer set t lemeiit. Mr. Witty asked if the Govern men! was going to borrow money to advance to settlers to pay off their mortgages.

The Minister replied (hat the Government was borrowing wherever they could get it. Mr. RussCll said the Government w;ts mt doing much for advances to settlers. Mr, .Massey said .£12.000 had been set aside for workers’ homes. THE TREASURER IN REPLY. Wellington, Sept. 26. Mr. Allen said in reply, that the Reform party did not, continue the practice of their predecessors, and put ridiculous things into th,- Supply Biil when they were not wanted. He could sat iii;d Government did not. intend to reduce the amounts for advances to workers, advances to settlers, or loams to local bodies. He hoped to lay on the table a state nicnl of t lie exact position of the loans to local! bodies. ' When they took office, I hey found the country < had been committed io £2.152.195 on neeor.iH of advances from that department. Of that anioimt E 1.151.700 mid Ic on paid on Augu-t Ist. £‘7oo. iHiti had not born met. That amount v. as st id on their shoulders. They had been paying £*4l >.o(io a week for advances to sol tiers and tin* country could not .•tl’i’md that. They hoped in the course of a year, when they had paid oil their liuLilities they would lie aide to remote the X'.’iOO.tMlO r, st riet ii >n to loans. He would '•how the House that £llo.Odd had been advanced to one borough instead of the money going to needy county coimeils. He would show other similar instances of maladministration. I The bill passed its third reading. The Aged and. Infirm Persons Protection Bill was received’ ft mil the Legislative Council and lead a first t inti'. The ilm.'- • then rose at 1.40.