PARLIAMENT.

Manawatu Times, Volume LXV, Issue 2025, 15 September 1913, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

Wellington. Saturday. After the telegraph office closed at 2 o'clock, the House continued to discuss the emigration policy of the Government. The attack was led by the Labour party, who claimed there was no room for imported labour, and no land for intending settlers.

Mr Hindmarsh said the country could support 5,000,000 people in the near future. What was wanted was close settlement, and more intense cultivation. The Government must bring down a land policy to attract people to the country and not drive them out. Sir Joseph Ward said he was not in favour of indiscriminate immigration, which must bring about a serious condition of affairs in the labour market. New Zealand wanted a fresh supply of people every year, but it must be done with discretion. There could be no harm in bringing out people with small capital, but if they attempted to populate the country within a limited period there would be a great danger of glutting the labour market. ,

Mr G. W. Russell said the Mackenzie Government was endeavouring to arrange for the introduction of suitable emigrants and to that extent he favoured immigration, but he was not in favour of an absolutely open door. At 7.35 Mr Malcolm, who had been relieved at 5 a.m. by Mr Hine, resumed the chair.

The Minister in charge said nothing would be gained by pressing the motion as he admitted overcrowding existed, but lie was doing his best to meet the exigencies of the case. Buildings were already authorised and he hoped soon to have the necessary accommodation to meet all requirements. Mr Wilford, at this stage, offered himself as a medium of mediation between the Government and the Opposition to see whether an arrangement could not be arrived at to end the impasse, but the Premier refused to accept the olive branch so offered.

Mr Isitt hoped there would be no talk of compromise until the reports were brought down. Not one single class should go through until the necessary information was supplied. The Minister said lie agreed with Sir Joseph Ward, that immigration must be carried out with discretion, because in 1909, when 900 people were retrenched from the Civil Service, 1953 people were brought into the country. Sir Joseph Ward said in reply that the Minister had proved one thing that he (Sir Joseph Ward) had fought to convince the then Opposition of—that retrenchment had taken place in 1909. Had the Government desired to do so it could not have prevented anyone of the 4953 emigrants coming to the Dominion. The inference of the Minister, therefore, was most unfair. Mr Hindmarsh's motion was defeated by 29 to 21. A lengthy discussion took place on the conduct of the Government printing office, the debate resolving itself into a duel between the Hon. F. M. B. Fisher, Minister in charge, and Mr G. W. Russell, his predecessor. At 4 o'clock Sir Joseph Ward suggested the adjournment but Mr Massey refused to consider the proposal. A discussion followed on the advisability of adjourning, during which Mr Anderson urged the Premier not to five wav.

Sir Joseph Ward took this as a threat and moved to report progress..

A division was taken and the motion was lost by 29 to 18. Mr Massey then stated that he might

have been prepared to consider an adjournment; but for the ruling which prevented a class, once it was commenced, being postponed. MENTAL HOSPITALS. Mr Witty then began a discussion on mental Hospitals, censuring the Government for not bringing down a report of the Inspector-General, who had expressed bitter disappointment at no provision being made to provide adequate accommodation for patients. He complained that the institutions were dreadfully overcrowded, and no steps were being taken to remedy the disgraceful condition.

Mr McCallum rose at this stage to a point of order, challenging the Premier's statement that progress could not be reported on an unfinished class. The House at once proceeded to discuss the point until the chairman ruled that progress could be reported under such circumstances. Mr Russell resumed the debate, moving that the salary of the InspectorGeneral, £IOOO, be reduced by £l. as a protest against the failure of the Government to lay a report before Parliament.

At 5 a.m. a number of Opposition members, who had been absent during the early part of the sitting, arrived, and the proceedings developed into an obvious stone-wall, members being repeatedly checked by the chairman for tedious repetition. The burden of the speeches was the overcrowded condition of mental Hospitals. At 7.10 Mr Ngata suggested they might take the Tourist Department estimates and then adjourn, but the Government refused to entertain the suggestion.

At 7.30 the question was put and negatived on the voices.

Mr Witty at once moved to reduce the salary of the Medical Superintendent at Auckland by £2O as an indication that the Mental Hospital in that city was overcrowded The House adjourned at 8 o'clock and resumed at 9 o'clock.