HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLI, Issue 268, 13 November 1907, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

The House met at 2.30 p.m LEAVE OF ABSENCE.

The Hon. Mr CARROLL moved that leave of absence be granted to Mr Kaihau from June 27 to bept. 1 owing to illness. He explained -thaz he had received intimation from Mr Kaihau that he was on his way to Parliament, and subsequently learned that he was unable to proceed owing to illness,, and even alter arriving in Wellington he was con■fined to his lodgings for some time owing to sickness; but he Mr Cari oil had not brought the matter beA. L USfi. FRASER said tb*t lie had no idea of opposing the mo--tion, but he pressed the Native Minister to recognise the services rendered by Mr Heke when he went up north to settle the differences be-. tweon natives and the Governr-vent i -which arose out of the dog tax, when the military were called out. Mr Heke wa3 absent three months ana not only bst his honorarium for the period h6 was absent, but ha*! nit *yen received thanks for his services. The PRIME MINISTER stated -that it was the first intimation he j "had received on the matter, and he • would inciiiire into the circumstance 3 j as stated ~by Mr Fraser. The motion was agreed to on the ; voices. ! FIRST READINGS. | The Chinese Immigrants Amend- j ment Bill (Sir Joseph Ward), Divorce and Matrimonial Causes Act Amendment Bill (Sir Joseph Ward), and CJo-operative Dairy Company's Bill {Hon. Mr McNab) were read a first lime. The Beer Duty Act Amendment Bill and Canterbury College Endowment Act. Amendment Bill were ■brought down by Governor's message. The Post Office Act Amendment Bill authorising the use of stamping machines, was read a first time. The Town Districts Bill and Statutes Repeal Bill, from the Coun-t-il, wore read a first time. The Hon. Mr McNAB gave notice to introduce the Stock Act Amendment Bill: SHOPS AND OFFICES BILL. The Shops and Offices Act Amendment Bill was read a second time pro forma, and referred to the Labour Bills Committee. R4ILWAYS IMPROVEMENTS BILL. The PRIME MINISTER, in moving the second reading of the Railways Improvements Authorisation Bill, explained that up to date the expenditure on the Penfose-Auck-land line was £82,773, on the Add-ington-RoUeston £3059, and on the Dunedin-Mosgiel '£87,293. It was believed that £50,000 undei; the original Loan Bill would be sufficient for the completion of the Addino-ton-Rolleston duplication. In regard to the Auckland-Penrose line, the greater portion of the money now being: raised would be required for that" line. It was estimated that an expenditure of £60,000 was needed in addition to what they had. .-£40,000 would be necessary for the Dunedin duplication. It was estimated that £185,000 had been ralsoJ under the original Act, and that a balance of £65.000 was left out of ! -the £250,000 originally authorised, j Perhans during the current financial : ryear they would require to expend

on the Auckland and Dunedin lines from £135,000 to £150,000 all told. The original annual rate of expenditure was fixed at £75,000. The Auckland and Dunedin duplications had exceeded the original estimate, owing to the nature of the country, but between Addington and Rolleston the country was flat, and the work would be comparatively easy. Mr MASSEY said that this was the fourth Loan Bill introduced this session, and the total involved was £1,450,000. The public were under the impression that borrowing for public works purposes was being confined to £1,000,000 per year. He reminded the House that the Government bad authority for borrowing for other purposes,, the total amount being £2,950,000, so that practically three millions was being borrowed. There was a great responsibility placed on the Government in this matter. He recognised that the oountry was prosperous, but he hoped that the Government would see that the country got good value for the money expended. The PRIME MINISTER replying to Mr Massey, said that the whole 6f the money they had been using for the Advances to Settlers Department was money paid in in payment of loans and interest, and not more than £150,000 was being borrowed in any one year. Loans to local bodies were being made from moneys that came in and required to be invested this year. He pointed out that the accumulation of funds in the Post Office Savings Bank required to be invested. He deprecated the"speech made by Mr Massev, as the latter made it appear that most extraordinary borrowing was going on. Referring to lands for settlement, for which there was authority to borrow £500,000 per annum, he pointed out that Members all the session had advocated an increased expenditure in this direction, and yet the Leader of the Opposition had included this amount in the figures he had quoted. He regretted that Mr Massey had placed a wrong construction on the position, as it might be cabled to the financial papers in England, and a wrong impression created. He would have,to cable the High Commissioner to be in readiness to place any misconception right. The Bill was read a second time on the voices.

The House went into Committee on the Bill, which was reported unamended, read a third time and passed.

BUTTER EXPORT BILL

The Hon. Mr McNAB in moving the second reading of the Butter Export Bill, explained that the measure was introduced on account of complaints from England that butter contained an excess of moisture. Two inspectors had made inquiry into a shipment of butter from New Zealand, .and the complaints were found to be to a certain extent justified. The Bill provided that where butter for export contained more than 16 per cent of moisture the person exporting or attempting to export was liable to a fine of £50. It had been found that butter contained from 21 to 23£ per cent of moisture.

Mr ELL did not altogether agree with the Bill, as it did not protect consumers in New Zealand, who were compelled to pay Is to^ Is 2d per pound for butter containing a large amount of water, as stated by the Minister.

Mr HOGG pointed out that 16 per cent of water meant that the consumer paying Is for a pound of butter paid two-pence out of that for the water the butter contained. Ho

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urged that protection should be given to New Zealand consumers.

Mr LANG pointed out that settlers who made their own butter had not the necessary cooling machinery which would enable them to get the water out of butter the same as could be done in the factories.

Mr LEWIS pointed out that under the Pure Food Bill the Government had power to make regulations that wouio protect the New Zealand consumer.

After further discussion the second reading was carried. The House went into Committee on th 3 Bill.

The House adjourned at 5.30 p.m