PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13480, 3 July 1907, Page 8

PARLIAMENT.

I [BT TBLEGRAI'n. —PRESS ASSOCIATION'.] HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Tuesday. The House of Representatives' met at 7.30 p.m. ■■.-,:'■■'i'..\ LEAVE OF ABSENCE. j The PREMIER, in moving six months' I leave of absence to the Hon. W. Hall- , Jones, said he had desired him (Sir J. G. : Ward) to inform the House that he re-j gretted that he would be unable to meet i the members this session, though nothing would give him greater pleasure than to .do so. Mr. MASSEY said he did not think the !motion required any seconding, and, al- | though the members of his side of .the (House differed from Air. Hall-Jones !politically, they all sympathised with him 'in his illness, and hoped he would return jthoroughly, restored. j The motion was agreed to. ADDRESS-IN-RFI'LY.

I Mr. DAVEY,;moving the Address-in-jßeply, touched on the deaths of Sir J no. Hall, Mr. E. M. Smith, and late members of the House. He joined his thanks to the people's in 'gratitude for the Premier's good work accomplished at the Imperial and Navigation Conferences. |He considered, Sir Joseph Ward did far I better work than any other Premier who I sat at the Conference. He quite agreed | with Sir Joseph in the matter of the naval subsidy of £40,000, which was | little enough to pay, and should he inraised. Ho would like the Premier to state whether he had made any arrangements in England to induce immigration : also as to whether he knew who issued the pamphlets said to have misled persons entering the colony. Referring to the Chinese question, he said it was an everlasting disgrace to the people of New Zealand who dealt with Chinese at all. It was incumbent to pass a law forbidding the Chinese to enter the colony. Referring to the Conciliation Act, he described it as a farce, and from what he | had learned of the Hon. R. AleNab's proposal iu the Governor's Speech for an Industrial Council, he thought it. was the best possible means to settle the differences between employer and , worker. Touching the kauri timber trade, he hoped :the Minister would inquire if timber could be purchased cheaper in Melbourne than in Christchurch. He could not say he was much impressed at the proposal to change the name of the colony to Dominion, though it could not do any harm, but he should prefer some other distinct name. He considered it would be beneficial to follow Canada, terming the Upper House members senators and Lower House M.P.'s. The latter two words were understood throughout the world, whereas M.H.R. was probiably not understood outside of New Zealand.

Mr. POLAND, in seconding the motion, ; congratulated the colony on the change of title, which was more in keeping with New Zealand's status and prospects. New Zealand would in future be the leading country in the Southern Pacific. Referring to the mining industry, he considered that as our second largest industry it should receive assistance in its development, and particularly in regard to prospecting work. He urged the necessity of utilising water-power in the development of gold mining. If the Government were indisposed to put power into use itself, it might authorise companies to do so. He regretted to" learn that Dr. Bell was leaving the colony pn a lecturing tour. He had hoped to'see this official, after his visits to the South Island, pay a visit to the North, and hoped, if he came back to the colony, he would make it convenient toj take a. tour of inspection North. Refer-: ring to the Land Bill, he said it hit the Opposition stratocracy in a vital place, and it was evident, that the days of the squatter and old nobility were coming to <tn end. ■ He strongly advocated the setting apart of a portion of Crown lands as endowments for education purposes. The PREMIER at this stage suggested, in accordance with the practice followed during the greater portion of last session, ; that the half-hour adjournment be dispensed with; with a view of avoiding late sittings. Eventually the adjournment was I taken at 9.30, and the matter deferred until after supper. ; After the adjournment Mr. POLAND resumed, and said endowments were advocated by Messrs. Stout, Grey, Rolleston, Vogel, and Seddon. and he supported the same, also a graduated land tax. Referring to the Workers' Homes Act, he hoped the Minister for Labour would propose an amendment to enable a man earning 6s or 7s a day to take advantage of the Act, as one day's pay was quite enough for a working man to pay as rent. Dealing with the workers on the Trunk railway, he contended they were paid a miserable pittance, and should be paid the minimum of 10s per dav. i ADJOURNMENT. Mr. KIDD moved the adjournment at 10.19, and the House rose.