PARLIAMENT.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLVI, Issue XLVI, 20 October 1911, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. (United Pkess Association.) The Legislative Council met- at 2.30. The Pacific Cable resolution, passed by the House, was agreed to. as was also the report of the Joint Library Committee affirming the desirableness of establishing a manuscript and historical section in connection with the library. A discussion on the question of the new Parliamentary Buildings, especially regarding th-e site brought a promise from the Attorney-General that the matter would be referred to the Cabinet. The second reading of the Women'.--. Pension Pill was agreed to. The following "Bills were put through the final stage's: Methodist Church of New Zealand, Elingamit-e Rehearing. Dunedin Technical School Site. Old Aae Pensions Amendment, New Zealand State Guarantee Advances Amendment, and the Auckland Grammar School Sites Pills. The Council rose at 5 p.m.

HOUSE OF P.EPRKSENTATIVES. After midnight, an amendment to reduce the public works vote as a protest against excessive borrowing was lost by 45 to eight, those vcting for it being Messrs Alien, Anderson, Guthrie. Hine, Nosworthy, i'earce, Scott, and Wright. On the motion for the third reading the Premier said that members of the Opposition who had voted for the Bill affirmed the Government's policy. The Bill was rend a third time. The Premier announced that the increased revenue for the year ending September 30th, was £1.270.000. Mr. Laurenson, referring to Mr. Massey's speech, said the latter had delivered the same old speeches year after year. He was a political bully, and Mr. Allen a political nagger. Mr. Herries said the country should b eopened up by borrowed money, but the way this was done at the present time did not appeal to him. The Hon R. McKenzie said the charge that -'Here had been extravagance i.n public buildings had not been supported. There h-ad been no borrowing in this country save for public works urgently required. Sir Joseph Ward, in reply, said Mr. Allen said he was not opposed to wasteful expenditure, yet he was one of the principal supporters of a most wasteful expenditure —the Otago Central railway. The railways of the Dominion were being carried on as fast as possible, and yet the Opposition continually raised objection to the policy. The House met again in the afternoon.

A lone discussion took place upon the amendments made by the Council in the Guardian Trust and Executors Corrmany Bill.

Sir Joseph Ward failed to see anv objection to the- Bill. The Bill had received the consent of the Public Trustee. Me??r s Massey and Fraser approved of the Bill, and the Council's amendments were agreed to by 38 to 27. The Premier stated that definite instructions had been given to strike off the rolls the names of those dead or persons -who had left the district. The Public Service Classification and Superannuation Amendment BUI (Sir Joseph ..ard) was read the first time. The House went into Committee on the Public Works Estimates, on the departmental vote of £48.000. Mr. Herdman moved the 'reduction oi the Under-Secretary's salary of £BSO by £lO as an indication that legislation should be introduced to abolish the pernicious system of the construction of roads in "the Dominion. Only about a third of the amount voted had been expended. Sir Joseph Ward said it was al 1 very well to criticise in the way Mr. Herdman had done. The expenditure of the Public Works Department went on till the end of September, and the Estimates were made up to 31st of March. Sir Joseph Ward, continuing his speech on the Loan Bill, said the suggestion that the population was leaving the country was really too paltry to answer. Within the next two months the arrivals would probably reach 2000.

The Bill was read the second time. The Committee resumed the discussion on the Public 'Works Estimates at 7.30. On the proposal to reduce the salary of the TJnder-Secvetarv for Public Works. Sir Joseph Ward said the Opposition evidently overlooked the fact that a large percentage of this vear's appropriations was really unexpended amounts voted last year. The Hon. R. McKenzie said that if he wished to expend the money in the summer hundreds of men would be out of work in the- winter, which was most undesira.ble.

Mr. W. S. Jennings said the abolition of the Roads Department as one of the ■biggest mistakes ever made. Mr. Allen said he was of opinion that roads should be administered by local bodies. Too much money was voted to some districts and not enough to others.

Mr. Massey said that Parliament and the country were pick of the present system of "the administration of roads and bridges. A huge mistake had been made when the Roads Department 'was abolished: He advocated a system of classification o'i public works, and the present system to be continued. He was of opinion that no money should be placed on th» Estimates except at the renuest of local bodies.' or of the member for the district concerned. Mr. Herdman's amendment was dc-t bv 40 to 23.

The Public Works.vote, £48,000. w:is passed unaltered. When the railways, class was taken M'\ R Dive moved that the vote of £15.000 for thf Mt. Egmont railway be redncrd by £lO as a. protest against the unbusinesslike methods of the Government !d regard to the construction of the line. WELLINGTON. Fridav. After midnight Mr Herdman's amendment was carried, and the vote was reduced bv £lO. Mr Duncan complained that the vote of £55.000 for the South Island Main Trunk line was too small, and that promises made in the past were not being fulfilled, and he urged that the work should be carried out with more expedition. The line, he (?aid, should take precedence of all others. In a general .replv the Minister said he considered that the South Isla.nd Main Trunk line was receiving very pood treatment in regard to votes. He took fceen interest in Marlborough, and tried to assist the members of the district as much as possible. - > The railway vote was passed. On the irrigation' and water supply

vote the Minister, in reply to a question, said the Department 'had satisfied itself that there was sufficient water available to supply ample po«er to work the Arthur's Pass tunnel'traffic electrically. The vote was nassed. After 2 a.m. the vote for Mental Hospitals was discussed, with 20 members in the Chamber. In answer to Mr Herries, the Minister that a contract \va?' being let for additional accommodation, which would be ample for the .purposes- of the Department. The Premier said that it was not nroposed to carry the line of railway to the Mental Hospital at Tokanui. • The vote was passed after a very lengthy discussion. The Minister stated that it was proposed to commence the erection of a new lighthouse .at North Cape At 4.15, with twelve members in the House, the vote for the Minister for Mines was taken, and after considerable diiHcnsjion, passed unaltered. The remainder of the Estimates w-sve tneii passed, and the House rose at 4.50 a.m.