PARLIAMENT.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLVI, Issue 7731, 3 July 1903, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

The Council met at 2.30 p.m. The Hon. T. Kennedy Macdonald moved the Address-in- Reply. He said, in connection with Idr Chamberlain's proposals, tbe Premier was entitled to tbe thanks of the colony for moving the resolution at the Conference which had since become a world-wide subject of d scussion. Tbero could be no doubt about the eventual verdict of the Empire. Tbe question of the Bank of New Zealand control would require groat care, and the Government con rol must be continued in some shape or form, as the Bank must never again be allowed to drift into a political maobine. With regard to the Assets Board, a limit of time must be placed when the realisation of assets ehould take place. Never was a more opportune time for realisation, and tbe Legislature must 1 insist upon it. With regard to bush lands, reform was necessary in the direction of free rents for two or three years. In some ca9es, it waa more profitable to clear the ' land of timber by tbe sawmiller tban the bushfeller, and land boards should havo large discretionary power in thin respect. There should blbo be power to avoid compulsory residence, and to enable a city man to make a home for his boys. The electoral system, bo'.h general and licensing, was defective. There should Jbe a second ballot, in order to get a real expression of opinion by the electors. Partisan committees, whether in the interests of brewers or peohibitionists, must be abolished, and tho administration of the licencing laws placed in impartial bands. He referred to the imperative necessity for roading Crown lands. Tho Legislature had broken f»i h with the settlers, and -should rfpair tbe breach. It would' cost two millions to do this, but if a vote of the ppop'e was taken they would say yes. The whole system of lands for settlement required amendment. He quoted statistics showing tbe enormous development of New Zealand, and said there was no fear for the future with fair legislation. The Hon. Seymour George seconded the motion, concurring generally, with tbe viows of tbe mover.

The Hon. H. Scotland deprecated the tendency to inflated, language io the Governor's" Speech, and to tbe reference to tbe Judicial Committee of the Ptivy Council.

The Hon. F. Ti ask spoke on the continued prosperity of the' colony. The Hon. Bigg moved the adjiurnmeet of the debate till to-morrow afternoon, which was agreed to.