WEEK IN PARLIAMENT.

Mataura Ensign, 21 July 1914, Page 7

WEEK IN PARLIAMENT.

PURCHASE OF LAND. MEMBER AND MINISTER. BY TELEGEArn. FKOM OUR SPECIAL COBRKSroNDP.NT WELLINGTON, .July !21. Tn the Hons? of Representatives the other dov Mr Hand-marsh (Wellington South) accused tlie Government of beiti« hnxioits to ruin all forms of State enterprise- except tlio.se which could he turned to the prolit of its friends. For instance, it was ready enough to borrow millions of money wherewith to huv land at exaggerated values from its own supporters. lit. Hon. W. F. Massey (Prime Minister) asked for particulars, and Mr Hindmarsh instanced the Khorendcn estate in -Haivke's Bay. Mr Massey <sni<l lie was propared to lav ;,M .<! lio papers connected with the | urc!ia;e before the House. Every section had ■been taken up, and so. far as lie had been' able to learn the settlers were well satisfied, "it is," he said, "on 3of the most contemptible' charges .•)' the many contemptible diaries that have been made 1 against this, Government by members on the other side of . the House." Mr Hiudmaish said that all the people from whom land had l been purchased were supporters of the Government. Mr Massey: I give that' statement an emphatic contradiction. I. know several 'of. the men from whom land has been, purchased, and they are not all of them friends of the Government.

It is well to remember that the Onposition has several times claimed, credit for the purchase of this land.

HA RD-WORiKE/D MINISTERS

The member for Inveroargill (Mr Hanan) has cause to congratulate himself upon having- the second rending of his Elective Executive Hill carried on the voices. A number of members in the House, are opposed to party Government. but candidly acknowledge the difficulty of overcoming it. (Mr Anderson tMataura) took occasion when discussing the. Bill to refer to the enormous amount of work that Ministers have to get through. At present the re-1 marked, the portfolios of Finance, liefence and Education were carried by a single Minister. In his opinion the du-| ties of Minister for Finance and Defence were quite suilieien.fc for any one man, and would provide more work than, any man could get through in a working day of eight, hours. Thev had seen that night (when the Education Bill was brought doivn) what a burden of work rested' upon the .Minister for Education. The Prime Minister, lie considered, should not have to carry any other portfolio, and should b-e freed' from Departmental work. Sooner or later, Mr Anderson remarked in leaving the subject, this country would have to increase the number of its Cabinet' Ministers. Approving interjections which -mift from different narts 1 of the House indicated that- a number of members shared the views of the member for Mataura.

The number of deputations- which' wait on Ministers is l very great. Whether they do any good or not in questionable, but they take up much valuable time, and the Prime Minister's" duty should he to receive these and generally look over matters' as a manager. That the life of a Prime Minister is an exacting one has been proved by the breakdown of health of five of the last six gentlemen who have occui)ied that position, and three of thorn went to their graves prematurely as a result of their political labors) j

THE MOTOR BILL. The introduction of the Motor Bill caused sumo ■discussion on Friday in too House of Representatives. The'i'roposal 'to tax the horse-power of the car was opposed by Mr T. AVilford (Hutt), who wanted the levy to he Made upon the tyres. It was pointed out that this would not be fair as the commercial vehicle would pay out of proportion to the mere pleasure-ear. It in hardly likely that the sum levied by way of license will pay fat the wear on; the roads by motors, as the total can hardily exceed £50,000 per annum. This sum apportioned to the various bodies in the I) 'ominion will be very little and will certainly not pay maintenance charges. There are other provisions which will be beneficial, however. Drivers of cars rpust ho licensed, which is a proper precaution and will"no doubt tend to decrease the number of accidents. TAXATION.

Tho annual Land and Income Tax Assessment Bill gave Sir Joseph Ward .(Leader of the Opposition) and'Mr Russell (Avon) an opportunity to gibe at the Government j'or its alleged inaetioni in regard to a decrease in taxation. The Government quickly found that it could not reduce .taxation) generally. All it could do was to make -a few readjustments. These might wcJI have been more, extensive than they liave-been; but such as .they are they have been welcome. Mr Russell is at

his best when ■depicting the wo or, of the poor Customs-payer, and lio made an ac ting display on Friday afternoon. v K i\ .Lee was anxious to speak in the debate on the Fire Insurance Department's report on Thursday, and was anxiously waiting to catc-ii Mr Speaker's eye when Mr .Hindmarsh liad finished ii is cliargos t tlie Government. Seeing Air Lee's anxietv the member for Wellington ■ South" remarked, "I won't keep- the lion, member for Oa in ain any iouuer in a state 01 -unrest. He remind;-- mo of a sensfiill just about to take flight."