PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume L, Issue 15476, 6 December 1913, Page 9

PARLIAMENT.

PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT.

HOUSE DEBATES AT LENGTH.

NEED FOR PAST CAUTION.

[BY TEUGB.vril.— r-RESS association.]

Wellington, Friday. The House of Representatives met at 2.30 p.m.

The debate on the Public Works Statement was commenced this afternoon.

Sir Joseph Ward said ho would call the attention of the House to the first paragraph of tho Statement, which he considered did not represent ■ the position. The Minister had stated that the total expenditure for last year was actually the largest in any single year for over 30 years. In the beginning of the paragraph he stated that owing to tho financial position obtaining at the close of the last session, he did not feel justified in making available for immediate expenditure the whole of tho new items appearing on the Public Works Estimates, and yet tho loan of last year was not received until after the end of the financial year. He asked how much of the amount to bo transferred from Consolidated Fund, £675,000, was to go to the Public Works Fund.

The Hon. James Allen : Tho whole lot.

Sir Joseph Ward: I am very glad to hear it! He held that the amounts voted were not expended, and yet the Minister proposed to spend large sums on new railways, the routes of which were not even known.

Tho Hon. James Allen said that in 1911 not one penny had been transferred from the Consolidated Fund to the Public Works Fund. . Regarding Sir Joseph Ward's statements in connection with tho first paragraph in the Statement, he said that as soon as tho success of the flotation of the new loan was assured the Minister for Public Works opened his heart. He could not do so before. He proceeded to elaborate tho Minister's policy of caution during the period of financial uncertainty, and held that that was the policy to pursue in order to secure assured finance. Sir Joseph Ward had been in the habit of making promises to taxpayers .which were never carried out. A total of £250,000 a year had been promised for back-blocks roads prior to last election, but the promise was never fulfilled. He hoped that in December, 1914, this country would be independent of the London market. Dr. A. K. Newman (Wellington East) said tho Opposition had failed as a Government, and had failed lamentably as 'critics. He urged the grading and forming of arterial roads in order to further the motor-waggon traffic, thus diminishing the necessity for light-feeder railways. Mr. J. Colvin (Buller) could not understand why the Minister authorised new railways while dozens of half-finished lines were left severely alone. Mr. G. J. Anderson (Mataura) said he was disappointed with the Government because the comparative system had not been' abolished, and because the system of "doling" out sums for roads and bridges still existed. He hoped some sort of board of works would be established. Mr. G. W. Forbes (HuruNui) strongly urged tho completion of the South Island Main Trunk line.

(Left Sitting.)

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

NAVAL DEFENCE BILL.

[BY TKLEGn.U'II.— ASSOCIATION.]

Wi'Xlincton. Friday. , The Legislative Council . met at 2.30 p.m. ■ _ The Counties Amendment Bill .was con-', sidered in Committee and reported with minor amendments. The Law Practitioners Amendment Bill, conferring additional powers on the New Zealand Law Society, was put through its committee stage and amended, read a third time, and passed. The Education Reserves Anient ment Bill, enabling trustees of high schools to pay 5J per cent, instead of 5 per cent, on money borrowed, and varying Uie terms of education reserve leases, was, on the motion of tho Hon. H. D. Bell, road a second time. The Distress and Relieving Amendment Bill was also read a second time without debate. •

Mr. Bell moved the second reading of the Naval Defence Bill, explaining tho Bill on tho lines of the speech of the Minister for Defence in the Lower House. Tho Hon. J. Rigg advocated a local fleet. The laying down of a Bristol cruiser as proposed next year was a step in the right 1 direction. The Hon. C. H. Mills approved the Bill in every particular, as it affirms the principle of one fleet, one flag. The Hon. R. A. Loughnan' was of opinion that the Prime Minister must have later information on the naval situation than Sir Joseph Ward, and was therefore in «i better position to know what the requirements of the moment were. Hence he supported the Bill. The Hon. W. C. F. Oarncross said that it was evident 'the contributory system was no longer acceptable to the Imperial authorities. Ho therefore felt there was no alternative but to adopt the policy laid down in the Bill, although he looked forward with some anxiety to the financial obligations into which the step might lead us.

The Hon. Sir William Hall-Jones said his experience in England had convinced him that some such step as proposed in. tho Bill was necessary. The- gift of tho Dreadnought had not added to the strength of . the navy, and . that must always happen under the contributory system. ' • ■ J The Hon. J. Barr said he saw nothing 111 the Bill to object to, as it was merclv a preparatory measure. The Hon. H. I). Bell, in his reply, said there was nothing sinister in the Bill, but it was an honest endeavour to do that part of our duty to the Empire which fell to our hit.

The Bill was then read a second time on the voices.

The Council decided to insist upon its amendments in the Shipping and Seamen Amendment Bill. On the proposar-to go into Committee on the Police Offences Bill, the Hon. J T Paul protested against panic legislation' He was against-strikes, but.in some case they were inevitable, and peaceful picket must be allowed, as it was in England where the experience . of industrial troubles was greater than ours. He proposed to ask the Council to insert into the 11 the clause of the Erighsh Act dealing with the peaceful picketing ' on C M l,oil . then went into Committee on the Naval Defence Bill, which was passed wjUfc amendment. ''The Police 2:« ? , v^ noxtco,wi « i »s > ■ tec. A division was called {or 01 sub™X l ( ? f " Ulu,1S ° 2 >- Avhich Prides a penalty fo ' anyone found watching the house or other place whew such other p. son resides, etc "the clause being reta.icd by 12 to 4 Mr. Paul moved a new subclause, making it .that peaceful picketing was legal. This was lost by 12 (Left sitting.)