PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4407, 13 July 1901, Page 7

PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

THE GOVERNAIENT AND THE FARAIERS.

“No Government has ever done more for the farmers than the present Government,” said Mr Laurenson yesterday. This was received with laughter by the Opposition, whereupon Air Laurenson insisted that tho fact was admitted by agricultural associations opposed to the Government throughout the whole country. “It has been admitted,” he continued, “ that the Government has graded their products, enhanced their markets, and put them into a better position, and the result is that never before were the farmers in such a prosperous condition.” THE INDUSTRIAL OUTLOOK. Air Alcnk, in tho course of his speech yesterday on the Industrial Conciliation ana Arbitration Bill, said that there never was such a condition .of industrial war and industrial disturbance as at the present time. Tno Premier; “Compare New Zealand with Western Australia, and the strike there.”

“Strike,” exclaimed Air Alonk, “why, it is one continuous strike here."’ Mr Monk strongly denounced tho law which restricted the employment of boys, and held that no Parliament had a right to' monopolise such an authority to itself. Air Ell, in replying to Air Alonk, asked how it was that there was a scarcity of domestic helps in the colony if there was'such a surplus of employment as tho member for Waitemala had attempted to ■ show. The young people, maintained Air Ell, had not been injured by labour legislation. The furniture trade, for instance, was so brisk that those engaged in it had had to send out of the colony for more workmen. The condition cf the Now Zealand furniture trade was never better than at the present time, and their homes' were never better furnished. If the labour legislation was so • hurtful, why was it that the country was so prosperous? Wo do not want a rich or leisured class in this country, said Mr Ell, but w© want tho wealth of the people shared in by tho whole of the people, and this is the effect of the labour legislation. ’ THE FARMERS’ UNION. Tho Farmers’ Union came in for more attention in the House yesterday. Mr Bollard, lik© other Opposition members, maintained that the union wag quite guileless of politics, and formed in the interests of the farmers. Sir Joseph Ward said that it ftas quite right that th© farmers should fbrra unions in their own interests, but if political unions were to bo formed in this colony, it would bo a bad thing. Air Seddon, speaking on the same subject, said he had UeeU noting what had been going on in regard to the Farmers’ Union. Without doubt union was strength, and in getting tho produce of tho country to markets at a reasonable rate it was right and proper that farmers should combine, but if the union commenced today down a political programme, and declared that that particular programme must bo followed, then it was a political organisation which must be termed a resuscitation of the “National Association.” THE DUCAL VISIT’S AFTERAIATH. The Legislative Councillors had a lively debate yesterday when the Local Bodies’ Indemnity Bill came oh for its second reading. The Hon George Jones said ha supposed the measure was One they must pass whether they liked to or net. It had been promised by the Government to the local bodies in advance of expenditure by the latter, so it was essential now to pass the measure into law. The different citie s had embarked on an insane competition as to which would put up the best arches, whereas a decoration of greenery would have been far more effective, and yet could have been done without the wholesale uprooting of treeg, which iri some places prevailed. The Holi S. B. Shrilriski blamed the preceding speaker for the short visit paid to Oamaru by the Royal party, and then assured a delighted Council that if the speaker had been still a resident of Oamaru the Royal visit would have been prolonged. The Hon Captain Baillie spoke of the arches of Auckland as “wretched abominations,” and said that he failed to.gee hbtv the pedpro could expect that they were going to make an impression on the Royal visitors who had seCn all the architectural beauties of their native land and of the Cofitßierit; The hen gentleman wrint on to quote from a play of Aristophanes to the effect that “Demos is aii able fellow in his own house; hut when he comes to a public meeting he is apt to run wild.” This, the speaker went on to Say, was the reason why the efforts iff colonial welcome had proved to he so incongruous. Th© Hon J. Al; Twomey cried loudly, but vainly, to be told whether a Democrat became such “by his Convictions or by reason .of dirty finger hails,” and so on; after whifah the Hbri R. H; J. Reeves Complained that some of the members who had spoken regarded, the Matter of rejoicings from too utilitarian a standpoint. The only point in connection with the Royal visit which he saw reason to regret was the inability of the Duke and Duchess to come to the "West Coast. Had they been able to do sb they Would have received a welcome that would have formed a fitting coping stone to the proceedings in all other places, and tbey would at the same time have Seen absolutely the finest country in the world! JOTTINGS; “The Farmers’ Union is described as a revival of the National Association. It is, sir, a revival of common sense.” —Air Alonk. .. “I have consulted the best law authority Hi the colony,” remarked Air Lawry yesterday. “Mr Napier?” queried Air Thomas Mackenzie (Waihemo). “I Can assure the House that it Was riot the member for Waihemo-,” retorted Air Lawry. “In New Zealand at the present time,” said Mr Alillar yesterday, “you will find a larger proportion of Britishborn subjects following the sea than in the Australian colonies or at Home. But young Men have More sense than to go to Sea- under the conditions existing at the present tiMe.” Sir Laurenson denies the assertion that a bitter industrial war is raging in New Zealand at the present time. Air Lawry describes Air Alonk as the present leader of the Opposition. “The producers,’’ says Air Bollard, “are determined to have some alteration in the price of products in this country.” “Alnny a vote is given here but of regard for the member in charge of a Bill, father than fbi? the Bill itself.”— Mr Alillar. “Will you tell m© that you can get eighteen thousand' signatures to anv petition in the country ?” demanded Air

Ell yesterday. “Yes,” in perfect chorus from members, was the reply, accompanied by—“ten shillings a da-r ” “threepence each,” and other useful suggestions.

“Some ten years hence, when I may bo on the Opposition benches,” remark ed Air Seddon last night. “You Will be in South Africa before then,” interposed Mr Aleredith, amid laughter. “I may be at the South Pole,” replied Air Seddon — “or in a warmer place,” he added, thoughtfully, while the House laughed merrilv.

Air'Seddon: “During tho last Mgut years the number of employees in the factories hag been doubled.” Air James Allen: “I say you are wrong.” Air Seddon : “I can only say that yen are labouring under a mistake.” The Hon. W. T. Jennings haa given notice to ask tho Alinister of Education if he is aware what effect crawling has had upon the trawling grounds of the colony, and whether fhero is truth in the allegations of piscatorial students that the catches of small fishes with the great by trawlers is leading to the denudation of the fishing grounds by reason of the fishes being all thrown into tanks, by which act small and great are alike sacrificed. While the Hospital Nurses Bill was being discussed yesterday some members of the Council professed their inability lo say how nurses could he made acquainted with certain requirements of the Bill. A member of the fourth estate who ig also a Councillor interjected that there was an infallible way of making the requirements known, and it was only his diffidence about advertising his calling that kept hire, from indicating the means.