LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7868, 2 August 1911, Page 8

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

ADDRESS-IN-PuEPLY DEBATE. 'The Legislative Council met at 7.30 o’clock last night. THE LEADERSHIPAN explanation oxen. Before any business was called on, the acting-loader of the Council, the Hon. McGowan, stated that he had been asked by the Prime Minister and also by the acting-Primo Minister to endeavour to carry out: the duties? of Sir John I indlay during his absence. To this he had consented. because he considered the leadership of the Council an honour, and because lie was satisfied that he would all tho assistance from members that anyone could reasonably ask. Tno lion. .1. E. Jenkiixson (Welling* ton) said he thought ho could speak tor every member of the Council when he said that it would give Mr McGowan every possible assistance. (Hear, hear*) Jlo congratulated Mr McGowan upon bfcing selected for tho position and the Council upon, having him. as its acting leader. , . B Tho Hon. J. Kigg (Wellington) said that no remark upon the appointment would have been necessary if tho Council had received tho duo formal communication on, tho subject it had a right to expect- The standing orders were clear that a Message from the Governor could only bo presented by a Minister of the Crown or by a person duly appointed by a Minister. The explanation just given, had been very necessary, but ho was not certain even now that it was not still accessary to have some formal communication from a Minister on the matter. He quite agreed that it would bo difficult to got anyone more capable of conducting the business of tho Council than Mr MeJ. McGowan said that no formal communication, other than that ho bad already given, was necessary. He had been authorised to take up tho position and this, he was informed, was quite sufficient.

ADDEESS-IN-REPLY IMPERIAL PROBLEMS. -WHEN WILL PM3EEEENTUL TREATMENT COME? The Address-in-Eeply was moved by the Hon. J. R. Sinclair (Otago), who said ho would confine his remarks maouly to the Imperial Conference; probably the most important subject referred to in his Excellency's speech. .The trend of tho present day in the British Empire was unquestionably towards closer union between its component parts. E the British were to keep their leading position as a people it must be by acting as one united whole and not as scattered units- If - there was to bo any trufc national unity there must bo some organisation by which the component parts of tho Empire could have some voice m tho affairs of Empire. Was Now Aea. land, for instance, always to be represeated in London by a High Commissioner only? Altered conditions called for altered systems and this was becoming more and more generally recognised. Tho present situation of Canada involved questions of the utmost importance to the whole Empire. Her negotiations for reciprocity with, the United States, for instance, whatever the result, would have far-reaching results upon Imperial unity. Other questions there were, too, tho solution of which might involve the whole future relationship of the Mother Country and her overseas dominions. An Imperial Council of Defence was f ol prime importance, but there_ must bo figrkl unity as well as fighting nnity. There would have been no talk.of reciprocity between Canada and tho United States if there had been preferential tariff treatment within the Empire. Certainly there were great difficulties in tho way, but the greatest danger of all was in regarding them as insuperable. The time had arrived when by common consent the colonics were to ho given a clearer voice in tho affairs of Umpire, but it was plain that the autonomy of tho self-governing dominions must be maintained. (Hear, hear.) Any representation on an Imperial Council or .body which would involve the liability of taxation on tho dominions by an outside authority could not and would not bo accepted oy colonial statesmen. He thought the body best fitted to. carry out the duties would bo an extension of the existing Imperial Conference, consultative and advisory, probably upon the lines put forward at the Conference ox ISO 7. There was no reason why such a body should not in time he evolved. The Council, or whatever it might be called, would be akin to an Imperial jury upon iTnpnrial issues. The preponderating voice of course, must always be with the Mother Country. Tho colonies were not yet ready for freetrado within the Empire, or oven for that measure of freetrade which was practicable. Preferential treatment must come first and it was no wonder that the subject had received much attention at the Imperial Conferences. Such a system must strengthen tho bonds of Empire and Tnftifp for unity, so that when it was secured Imperial federation would have been realised in at least one of its phases- Britain need be no longer dependant upon foreign countries for her food supplies if she would only encourage her own colonies to meet her requirements. If not by giving preference then t>y some,other means must the scattered parts of tho Empire bo drawn together. The question of unity overshadowed in importance every other question, but whether preference be given or withheld it would make no difference to the loyalty of the dominions to the Motherland. (Applause.) FORWARD POLICY WANTED.

Tho motion was seconded by the Hon. S. T. George (Auckland), who, after remarking that any debate on the Governor's speech was a pure waste of time, said that ho missed one thing very much from the Speech and that was , tho enunciation of a bold, forward policy. He would have liked to see a bold policy in regard to the linking up of the railways. If he had his way he would call for tenders for the construction of all lines; he certainly would not think of going on by cooperative labour as at present- He had no donbt that tho labour was good and that the' lines were well made, but they were not made with sufficient rapidity to please him. The money required should bo borrowed and the lines should bo pushed on. with as soou as possible. "Would you make them all at once ?” asked a member. • ~ , “Yes," was tho reply, T. would do them all at ouco and as rapidly as X could." He added that he would .also like to have seen forward moves indicated in connection with immigration and land settlement, tho latter with provision for granting the freehold. Tho debate was adjourned upon tho motion of tho Hon. W. W. McCardle and the Council rose at 9.30 p.m.