HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLII, Issue 7540, 15 August 1902, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

The House met at 2.30 p.m. Major Steward gave notice to introduce a Licensing Committee Quorum Bill.

Mr Witbeford moved, without notice, that this House expresses' its heartfelt sympathy with the relatives of members

of contingents who had died since their return to the colony.

Sir Joseph Ward, in seconding the resolution, said he had in every case of death of these men conveyed to their relatives the sincerest sympathy of the Government. The resolution was unanimously agreed to. REPRESENTATION COMMISSION REPORT. The final report of the Representation Commission was laid on the table. Mr Jackson Palmer asked that a day be set apart for discussion of the report, which he described as one of the most carelessly and recklessly prepared that had ever been presented in the colony. He moved — "That this House is of opinion that, in the adjustment of electorates, the report has not maintained the community of interest that should have been maintained. He referred particularly to the charges that had been made in some of the northern constituencies which constituted one of the worst botches ever p6rpetra'ed, and he urg«d there should be some Court in which the decisions of the Commissions could be reviewed. After a lengthy discussion, Mr Palmer said he bad attained the object- he bad in view, of showing the absurdity of the present system, and he withdrew his motion. Leave of absence for one week was granted to Mr Napier. The Use of Public School Buildings Bill (Major Steward) and Sand-drift Bill (Hon. J. Carroll) were introduced and read a first time. ESTIMATES.

On the motion to go into Committee of Supply for consideration of the Estimates, Mr Fisher moved as an amendment that a return be laid on the table showing the details of certain promotions in the Permanent Artillery. Hon. Hall-Jones said there was no necessity for the return, and tho amendment was loat on the voices. The House at 5.15 p.m. went into Committee of Supply. Department of Agriculture £89,383. Mr G. J. Smith asked if the Government was making a handsome profit from the inspection of meat at freezing works, when the fees ought to be only enough to pay salaries. Hon. T. Y. Duncan said the fees had been reduced, and there should not be so much profit now. The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. In Committee of Supply, Mr Meredith asked what proportion was borne by the freezing companies of the cost (£10,0C0) of the 28 veterinary sur- j geons and 16 assistants to the Meat , Inspectors. Mr Hogg inquired if there was any possibility of an agricultural college being established in the North Island. Hon. T. Y. Duncan said the freezing companies paid the whole cf the salaries of the Inspectors, but he did not think they should do so, as the country got a good share of the services of the Inspectors in other ways. He did not think it was necessary to give a bonus to establish a preserved fruit industry. Mr Lang pointed out the danger of imported bones. Mr Flatman advocated the erection of a sterilising establishment, -at which imported bones could be dealt with. Mr Buddo contended the advantage of the Noxious Weeds Act was being lost through want of proper inspection. Mr Wilford advooated fostering the poultry industry. Mr R. Thompson submitted it wo a impossible for New Zealand settlers to compete with Americans in the poultry trade on the London market. After further general discussion, Sir Joseph Ward said, regarding sterilising bones, he believed the better plan would be for farmers who imported bones to combine together and erect small sterilisers, which would be subsidised by Government. He recognised that something must be done to prevent the introduction of anthrax. Exhaustive inquiries would be made. Mr J. Hutcbeson said he had sworn testimony that child labor still continued in connection with the dairying industry in Taranaki and on the West Coast of the North Island.

Hon. T. Y. Duncan denied that such a state of. affairs existed, except in a few isolated caßes.

Eventually, the whole vote for the Agricultural Department was passed unaltered.

Votes for Working Railways Department £1,300,000, Public and School Buildings and Domains £47,900, and Police Department £128,867 were paased practically without discussion. Department of Lands and Survey £125,868.— 1n reply to a question, Sir Joseph Ward said it was intended to again take the opinion of the House as to whether or not members should hold seats on Land Boards, as last year's decision against the practice was regarded as a catch vote. Mr O'Meara complained that a new arrival in the colony bad as -goou A chance under the ballot system of obtaining land as those who had lived all their lives In the colony. Preference should be given to men with large families.

Mr R. Thompson urged that only New Zealanders should be allowed to participate in the ballot. Mr Pirani oondemned the present system of gambling in Crown landi.

It did not give bona fide settlers a chance. *

Mr Witheford said that until on assistant Minister for Lands was appointed the waste lands of the Crown in the North Island would not be satisfactori'y administered.

Hon. T. Y. Duncan said there was plenty of land available lor settlement in the Auckland district at the present lime.

The vote passed unaltered, after considerable discussion. Progress wa? reported, and the House rose at 1.35 a.m.