PARLIAMENT

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLVII, Issue XLVII, 7 November 1912, Page 6

PARLIAMENT

{TjNITBD PBBBS AaaOCIATIOH.J WELLINGTON. This Day. The Coxratil met at 11, and went into committee -• on the AYashing-Up Bi-l, which, was eventually read' a third time and passed- " . - In the House this morning the State Guaranteed Advances Bill was. read a third time and The House adjourned for breakfast at 8.25, and resumed at 9.30. On resuming- the-.Monopolies Prevention Amen'dment, Fisheries Amendment, Harbour Amendment, and Shipping and Seamen's Amendment Bills were . . put through all stages without amendment: • -In "the House, on the debate on the Joshua Jones Committee report, Mr. MacCallum said he did not approve of the Government granting compensation for loss sustained in private dealings. The report o"f the Committee found agairist Mr Jones on all issues, yet wished :'to award his £3OOO.

Air Statham expressed his opinion j claiming that Jones had 3one considerable service to the country in bringing about peace in the-King Country in the middle seventies.-He reviewed the whole history of th'g 'Mokau transactions, and thought the action of the Ward Government in granting the freehold to Lewis -had damaged Jones' chances of getting the estate, and the case was therefore one for compensation. ' ''

Mr Wilford contrasted the Government's action in this case with its action ln-connectibn with that of the captain of the; Elmgamite who, for ten years, had been unemployed, and" practically under the stigma of manslaughter, through the faulty charging of the New Zealand coast.

Air McDonald challenged Mr Statham to repeat in public ,eome of the statements he had just-made under privilege. He contended that Mr Statham, white professing to review" the whole case,had omitted to state the most important fact,, namely, that an Order-in : Council stipulated that lewis must- cut up the estate for settlement within three years. Jkir. Buddo deplored the mud-slinking which Jjad been going on aJJ. the session, and if the Government, after .being some •months in office, could find nothing more damaging to the previous Govern me ni than had been the case, it was time this style of argument ceased. Mr. Bell, replying, admitted that Jones had no legal'claim against the Government, but the paynrent of £3OOO was purely ex gratia. The. House agreed to refer-the report to the Government for consideration.

i The Country Telephone Bill, enabling ctrmity councils to erect and maintain telephones :by way of special loan, was put through all stages. "The House went into coirmittee on the Supplementary Estimates, and adjourned at 1 till 2.30.