PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XL, Issue 12317, 8 July 1903, Page 6

PARLIAMENT.

I [BY TELEGRAPH.— ASSOCIATION.] LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. ;; Tuesday. ' The Council met at half-past two p.m. THE SPEAKERSHIP. The report of the Standing Orders Committee as to the rules to govern the election of Speaker on Thursday was brought- down. It provides for the election of the Speaker by ballot, strangers being excluded. ADDRESS-IN-REPLY. The Hon. A. Lee-Smith resumed the debate on the Address-in-Reply. He favoured increased taxation of absentees, who, he said, could not be taxed too much. . The Government should reap some advantages for assistance to the Bank of New Zealand. In regard to preferential, trade, he contended that while the colonies should do all they could to assist Britain, they should not seek anything from Britain in return. The Hon. Wigram favoured the continuance of the partnership with the Bank of. New Zealand, but did not think the/Government should impose conditions , upon jtlui bank in future because of services rendered in the past. Fuller information was required before Mr. Chamberlain's proposal could be satisfactorily considered. He advocated improved means of communication between Australia and New Zealand. ' The Hons. T. Kelly and J. Marshall having spoken, the debate was adjourned until to-morrow afternoon, and the Council rose at half-past four p.m. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Tuesday. The House met at half-past two p.m. BILLS INTRODUCED. .-...'. The Grand Lodge of Freemasons of New Zealand Trustees Bill? was introduced, by Mr. McNab, and read a first time. The Harbours Act, 1878, Amendment Bill (Mr. Millar). Gore Electric Light Bill (Mr. Mc Nab), Wellington.Hospital Contributors Empowering Bill (Mr. Field), Electoral Act Amendment Bill (Sir W. J. Steward), Waikokopu Harbour Board Bill (Mr. Can-oil), Waiapu Hospital District Bill (Mr. Carroll) were also introduced and read a first time.

ADDRESS-IN-REPLY. At ten minutes to three p.m. Mr. Parata resumed the debate on the Address-in-Reply., Ho held that the native land legislation was nob attaining the results expected from; it. Four years had passed, and not a par-? tide of good had resulted. from it. The outcome -would be that those who wished to obtain land would have to take it up under i the European; system. In ,regard to the, Maori Sanitary Councils, the legislation on - this subject was in the right direction, but unfortunately-; the natives appointed were men who had no knowledge of the work required of them. V'.: '■' ■Mr. Kirkbride was the next speaker. His remarks will be found in another column. ; Mr. Herdman dealt ; first I with the ques- \ tion of preferential trade, saying he thought the proper course for. this Parliament to take was to consider whether ■ Mr. , Chamberlain's scheme: would benefit the colony. The onus; of proof in the Motherland was on Mr. Chamberlain. The onus of proof in New Zealand was on the Premier. The adminis- : tration of the present; Government was not what it ought to be. :• Men were placed in public positions who were utterly unworthy to fill them. , They were placed there because they were friends'"of Ministers. .-■■;; We did riot get statesmanship in' this country, but expediency. - j Public money was used to v get Government a supporters into ~ the, House, and' public institutions were stuffed by friends of ; the present Administration. "The House rose at half-past five p.m. ' ::- The House resumed at■' -past seven. p.m. ' :'-■'-:■■"■::■ ;-■' ■ Mi.' James 'Alien resumed the debate on the Address-ih-Reply/ and was followed by Messrs.: Laurenson, Lewis, and v Davey. i Oh; the motion of Mr. Moss, the debate ; was adjourned, = and the House rose at half-past eleven p.m.