Parliamentary.

Northland Age, Volume IV, Issue 48, 20 July 1908, Page 1

Parliamentary.

Through Mr, Houston, 24 British gumdiggers at Awanui, Mangonui, have made applica-

tion to the Government for a month’s rations, or the equivalent thereof.

Mr. Baume is to ask the Minister for Justice whether the Government will introduce legislation providing that licensees of hotels shall be compelled to receive at half ordinary rates all children under seven years of age under proper care.

Mr. Stallworthy has presented a number of petitions requesting the completion of the unfinished portion of the Kaihu Valley railway from Kaihu to Waima, and for a flying survey of the proposed extension from Waima to Hokianga,

The fact that the Government will shortly find 1000 navvies on then’ hands with the completion of the Main Trunk line no doubt causes the local railway leagues to show renewed activity, and numerous petitions have been laid before the House advocating new lines.

Referring to the proposal to raise a £250,000 loan for back blocks roads, Mr. Fowlds said that it was not the Government’s intention to spend that amount in one year only, but in four years in succession. He had no doubt that this was a Bevere blow to the Opposition members, who had been living politically on these back blocks people, trying to persuade them that the Government was their worst enemy.

Mr. Lang said the Budget reminded him of the saying that “ everything in the garden is lovely,” especially since the Liberal party came iuto power. The fact waß that New Zealand was such a good country that it must go ahead in spite of a bad Government. It would have been a great deal better if they had had a Government which did more for the people, particularly in regard to the settlement of Native and Crown lands.

Mr. Massey: Prudence and caution had been thrown to the yinds by the Treasurer. There was not a single idea suggestive of cautiousness in the whole of the Financial Statement. It was true they had to borrow money, but there was a difference between running down the Rimutaka incline with the brakes on and off. He did not believe that it would be possible to negotiate these enormous borrowing proposals of the Government, and he hoped that if the electors did not put the brake on the money-lenders would. As the debt increased the taxation of the people would go up. Their total loan account now stood at G 6 millions. In his opinion the sinking fund was not ; nearly extensive enough. That stage had now been reached in the country’s financial history when the amount of money sent out was actually more than they were borrowing.