EVENING SITTING.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLII, Issue 169, 18 July 1908, Page 7

EVENING SITTING.

The House r^umed at 7.30 p.m. tW C;F APjPkE, continuing, said Stfirt P™ier6? G* .to unionists necessi- * coroTWPUIf 1T Unionism ' which was tfS? °* oompulsory arbitration. iwiSri? Sh<? uld make an award on SS2 T lly ,' effort P« dJ Cfe ?d *? believe that anybody had ; deliberately attempted to mil represent the Dominion as to its finances. The speaker dealt at length with various loans, arid, continuing, referred the small deposits in the savings bank, which had fallen by

£100,000 in the past year. The railways had not' done well; the cost of running had increased, and/the H'uru- j nui-Bluff line paid loss every year. ! The Hon. Mr McGOWAN followed "ivith a speech in which he justified the administration of the Government, and repliod to Opposition criticism. Taxation had been reduced. The apparent increase per head only showed that the people were so prosperous that they could spend more on .dutiable goods. He contended that they had spent over £300,000 per annum on roads-in the past five years. The State coal mines were ran without loss to the community, and had cheapened coal. , . Ai;ter supper, Mr McGowan referred^ to the magnitude of the mining output. He said that the profit on the Point Elizabeth mine was £15 } 481 3 and the less bn the Seddonyille mine £5580. He justified the policy in^regard t<V prison tree-planting ' camps, and objected to a Prisons Commission ol^nquiry, which would do more harm than 'good. Assisted immigration brought the best class of settlers. ( Mr STALLWORTHY approved the 'back-blocks roading t policy of the Government. He,, pointed out that the public debt, had increased at a much slower rate than the^~capital value; therefore the Dominion was in a better position now than ever it was. (Applause). x\lr POOLE applauded the Budget. He expressed satisfaction with the operation of the tariff. Trunk railway lines shou!?l be completed before branch lines were ,undertaken. The Advances to Settlers Act was a splendid measure. He advocated, small holdings to relieve unemployed. He supported the. naval subsidy, and also the development of the Volunteers • The v debate was, adjourned FIRST READING

The Declaratory Judgments Bill and Corporations Contract Bill were received, from the Legislative Council and read- a first time. '

The at 11.50 p.m.