HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Northern Advocate, 17 February 1912, Page 5

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

The members of the House assembled at 2.30.

Mr V. Reed gave notice to" move the Address-in-Reply. Mr Massey notified that he would make an amendment thereto. THE FIVE MILLION LOAN. Sir J. G. Ward read a communication from the High Commissioner showing the details of the cost of raising the five million loan. In doing so lie said that, notwithstanding the fact that he had informed the House last session that he was not in possession of the figures, it had since been repeatedly asserted that he was keeping the details back. It had also been asserted in different parts of the country that the cost of the loan was in the region of £350,000, and statements had also been made implying the basest innuendoes and insinuations.

Sir Joseph then read the letter in question, which he said reached Wellington on the 16th January of this year. The' figures showed the expenses in connection with the raising of the loan to be £111,816 4s 9d, and Sir Joseph stated that the net return was £96 6s 3%d per £100.

Mr Massey said that-he did not think the return contained the whole of those charges which should be rightly debited against the loan, and in particular he referred to the special provisions governing, its conversion.

Mr Herries said that the original | estimate of the net return of the loan j was very much greater than now given. SIR JOSEPH DESPERATE. Sir J. G. Ward said that he wanted to see the gentlemen now sitting opposite to the Treasury Benches handling loans. They would make a holy mess of it if ever they got a chance to operate. It would make a bronze Statue blush to hear of all the things they were goiiiK to do. Now that he had given all the details in connection "with the loan the Opposition was not satisfied. He would take an opportunity later to disclose all the information in the pigeon holes and show the people what a public man had to put up with. For attempting to pull down public life he had never seen anything like the tactics of the Opposition. He would make a prediction that the Opposition would not raise a loan so. successfully as he had done the five million one. CARELESS RETURNING OFFICER. Sir J. G. Ward then moved that the Clerk of the House, in the presence of Messrs Fraser and Reed, be authorised to open the parcel of the Grey Lynn electoral rolls, as the Returning Officer had inadvertently enclosed his marked office copy of the roll.— carried. CONTINUITY OF LAWS. Sir J. G. Ward then moved pro fornia the first reading of the Expiring Laws Continuance Bill. LATE MR POLLEN. In referring to the late Hugh Pollen, Under-Secretary for Internal Affairs, Sir J. G. Ward moved that the House place on record its high appreciation of the services rendered to the coun try by Mr Pollen. Mr Massey seconded the motion. THE VOLUNTEERS.

A letter was read from Colonel Tarter, expressing appreciation of the resolution passed by the Hou.se last session in connection with the Her rices of the Volunteer forces. VARIOUS MEASURES. Mr Fisher gave notice to introduce a Sunday Labor Bill, a Proportional Representation Bill, and a Legislature Amendment Bill. Sir J. 'G. Ward gave notice to introduce on Tuesday a Local Government Bill and a Legislature Amendment Bill. The House adjourned at 3.45 p.m. until 2.30 p.m. on Tuesday.