THE ADDRESS-IN-REPLY

Lyttelton Times, Volume XCVI, Issue 14416, 5 July 1907, Page 8

THE ADDRESS-IN-REPLY

MANY VIEWS. DIVORCES AND RAILWAYS. [From Oto Cokbjspokdbnt.] WELLINGTON, July 4. Tho debate on the Address-in-Rcply was resumed this afternoon, and proceeded quite vigorously. The momboT for Hntt (Mr T. M. Wilford) opened, the chiof point m Ins speech being an. outspoken demand for reform in regard to the divorce law<?. He quoted the case of a woman who is at present petitioning the House. Her husband murdered her two children seven years ago, and is now in prison. A petition for his 'release is being promoted, and tho woman cannot secure a divorce. Ho also demanded that habitual drunkenness should be ntado a ground for divorce. "Tho law says it is not cruelty for a man to go homo drunk night after night and expect a clean-living, good woman to ~ share a bed -with him," he said. "Ho does not strike her, he does not bodily ililtreat her, and w the law saye that there is no cruelty: yet that mm i» guilty of th© most blackguardly, vicious cruelty possible on God'ts earth." Mr A. S. Malcolm (Clutha), one of the younger Opposition membera, followed, aim threw Borne light into the obscurities ,of his party's intentions. " We do not propose to give the freehold to Crown tenants, at the original valuation," he said* "We support the freehold at the original valuation, plus on© per cent with compound' interest. Private landowners frequently give the right of purohase, and it i* always at the original valuation." (Laughter.) Mr Witty, ffe member for Riooarton, .arose for the purpose of suggesting that t3i« member for Wairarapa Should have poured his attack on the methods of the Railway Department into tho ears of the Minister instead of into the pages of "Hansard." Ho charged Mr | Hornsby with having aimed at drama- j tic effect rather than at practical reform, and said that the Minister of Railways and several members had been working along definite reasonable lines for.the removal of anomalies and grievances. The colony did not want to go back to tho old system of control by commissioners, and Mr Hornsby knew as well as other members that the Government was bringing down a Bill dealing with the railway men. Mr Hornsby made some personal explanations, and the leader of tho Opposition, also in personal explanation, tried to convince an unbelieving House that he had never suggested giving Crown tenants the freehold at the original valuation. Mr J. T. Hogaii, the member for Wanganiui, rose next and expressed his approval of the speed with which the _ members of the Opposition were coming round to reasonable views. Like most of tho other speakers, Mr Hogan proceeded to deal with the railway service, the support accorded him indicating clearly that the House thinks the railway men have grievances. He touched briefly on tho Land Bill. _ "On this side of the House we aire quite firm on the 'Land Bill," he said. "There are members on this side of the House who will support the endowment principle to the end, and will not pull down their cokrara or cut down the mast. The main point of tho Land Bill, in my opinion t is that we shall not sell another acre of tho Grown land."

Mr C. H. Poole carried on the debate when the evening sitting opened. The member for Auckland East is a fervid Britisher who has not yet conquered a pronounced American accent —and he talked about defence and trusts and the Land Bill, of which measure he is a strong" supporter. "Don't rush in and put an export duty on kauri timber merely because the Christehurch monopolists are oharging exorbitant prices for it,", he said. ' * i

Mr F. R. Flatman. member for Geraldine, complained that the leader of the Opposition was being let off too lightly by speakers from the Government benches. " Who is thiei Mr MasseyP" he demanded. "Can he stop the rays of the eun with a Kaiapoi blanket r Can he reach up for the moon and put it in his pocket? Can he make a, wheelbarrow do tho work of a motor-oarP No; therefore, he is just an ordinary man, with nothing particular about him." Mr Flatman proceeded to deal with tho Opposition with a vigour and comprehensiveness that both sides of the House appreciated. Incidentally he announced that men who had worked for him luad always been willing to shake hands with him. " You, sir, know old Jo© Noble, on the Coast," he said, addressing the Speaker. '"Well, he worked for me many & year, and a good man, too." The House roared approval. Mr C. M. Gray (Christchurch North) said that the railway servants in the Christchurch district were seething with discontent. Most of the grievances might be remedied at little cost to tho colony. The insufficient accommodation in tho engine-shed at Christchurch had been largely responsible for the Bankside disaster. He objected to the proposed change from colony to Dominion, and expressed the opinion that New Zealand should elect its own Governor. Mi- Gray made a strong appeal for the completion of tho Midland Railway. He understood that a tender had been received for tho Arthur's Paes tunnel only about 10 per oent in excess of the engineer's estimate, and that tender should bo accepted. Tlie debate continued through the evening with occasional flashes of interest. Mr R. B. Ross, member for Pahiatua, announced himself as a supporter or the freehold at the original valuation for Crown tenants, and claimed Messrs Greenslade and Jennings, two more Liberals, as sj'mpathisers.

At eleven o'clock the debate was adjourned until the following afternoon.

IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

In moving the Address-in-Roply in the Legislative Council this afternoon', the Hon J. T. Paul, one of the newlyappointed members, said he could claim 6ome knowledge of the workers, and he was in a position to state that they were not fully participating in the present prosperity of the colony, but he was pleased to see in tho Governor's speech some indication that relief would be granted through the tariff. He referred briefly to the main points of the Speech, and said the greatest problem mentioned in it related to workmen's homes. He hoped the feeling of the last two years in regard to the workmen's home* would continue, to bo carried out. It had been alleged that the Arbitration Act. had failed, but the workers would be very unwise if they threw the Act overboard; iu fact, tho people of tho country would not have it. Because the Act had failed to a minor extent it did not demonstrate the failure of tho system. He believed an ounce of conciliation was worth a ton of arbitration, and that the proposed Wages Board woidd be more successful in New Zealand than anywhere else, Boeing that we possess so good an Arbitration Act.

Captain Tucker, Gisborne, seconded the motion, expressing approval of tho principle of arbitration m industrial disputes. Ho congratulated the Hon Dr Findlay upon his appointment as Attorney-General. In regard to the land Question, he believed a tenant who had the option to acjquiro the freehold would do better work. The Native Department was in charge of a man who had the confidence of both i-accs. rtvt... /*Ui.,.s*;i +>ion ndiournod.