PARLIAMENT.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 10499, 6 July 1910, Page 6

PARLIAMENT.

(Per Press Association.) ' Wellington, July 5 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

The Council met at 2.30, and iinlue(diately adjourned for the presentation of the Speaker to tho Governor. : Upon resuming, Mr Lough nan continued the debate on the Address-in-Reply. He said he hoped great things from the water-power schomes of the Government, and looked to tho time when all industrial concerns would be run' electrically by water generated power. On the land question he did not think the question of tenure mattered twopence. The present Act supplied all that was required. Tho question of tenure had been settled on a reasonable basis. What should be done was to take every possible step to increase the productivity of the soil, and extend our markets. He believed by these means £5,000,000 could be added i to the exports of the Dominion. Mr Callan dealt with the question of the tourist traffic, and considered any money spent in that direction was money well spent. He hoped the Government would adopt all reasonable 'means to attract visitors. Under the ; present land system settlement was •going on satisfactorily, and he thought Lit'would be wise for the Government to Vest on its present legislation. He approved of the proposal respecting water power, and hoped it would be put into operation promptly. ■ The debate was adjourned.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. ; The House met at 2.30'. On a motion, by Mr Millar that a ■return showing ''the ' number of raem-bei-s-of industrial irnioiis be laid on the table,< . • . : '';" ■ , Mr Taylor (ChristckUrcli)' raised the question of the Shearers' Union demand that a uniform award ' for shearers should be given' for the' whole Dominion. The chief grounds upon which this was asked was that* shearers' work was carried out under similar conditions •throughout the country. .' Various members took part in the discussion, the consensus of opinion being that £1 per hundred was a fair rate, and that a colonial award was desirable. Mr Millar said the point raised was a very important one. /The Shearers Union wanted to register one union for New : Zealand,* and this power was hot conferred by the Act. The workers themselves were opposed to colonial awards, as these might be based on the lowest district "award. An amendment iwould be brought down this session, ,and' he would welcome any feasible scheme for securing colonial awards.'lt both sides to the dispute were agreed :they could get a uniform award. There were differences of opinion as to the use of trades union funds for political purposes. He could not approve of compulsion being" used to compel members of trade unions to support 'principles thev did not approve of. The return'was laid on the table. Mr Davey made a personal explanation regarding an act of his which had been much Criticised. He had, at 'the instance of a friend who had been arrested for drunkenness, made representations to the police inspector. He I ought not to have done so, and bitterly regretted his action. Mr Taylor (Cliristclnireh) said it had I been stated that the name had been (altered on the charge sheet. The man arrested was of good character, but the falsification of the records was a serious I-matter: While Mr Davey acted from I friendly motives, lie did not think a ! member of Parliament showed a clear •idea of his duties in approaching a police officer with a view to influencing the course of justice. Mr Taylor went on to refer to the approaching election of a Chairman of Commitees, stating that any member of Parliament guilty of such demeanour was unfit to occupy the position, but was called upon by the Speaker to confine himself to the question before the House. Sir Joseph Ward said, upon receipt of the report on the matter it was considered by the Cabinet. No one was justified iir attempting to influence an officer of justice. Mr Davey admitted his fault, which was prompted by good motives. The duty of the Government Jn such matters was to protect the public. The particular officer concerned had n clean- record for 35 years, and it was unfortunate that he should have such a charge against him. The GovernI ment still had the matter under consideration, but would come to a decision soon.

On the motion that the report of the Bank of New Zealand be laid on the table, Mr Taylor (Christchurch) asked whether the time had not come to convert the State's interest in the Bank into shares interest, and make it a national bank'of New Zealand.

Messrs Ell, Hogg, and Russell favored the- idea.

Sir- Joseph Ward said that under the '. Act"' governing the bank the country actually controlled the bank, and if the proposal, to convert the country's stock were cai'ried out the bank could still retain their deposits and a greater part of their business. The idea-that the Bank of New Zealand could he changed into a State institution whs quite erroneous, although the Dominion could establish its own State Bank.

The debate was interrupted by the 5.30 adjournment. The House resumed at 7.30.

■The debate on. the Address-in-Reply was resumed by Mr Hogg, who spoke chiefly on the land question, and criticised the manner in which native lands in the King Country had been leased, alleging that these had been acquired 'largely by family groups, and the eyes .picked out of the'land, one family having no less than 21,244 acres. The best of the King Country was taken up •at 6d and 9d per acre for 21' years, I with the right of renewal. '. Mr Forbes urged that immediate attention should be given to the acquisition of large estates. So far as compulsoryl acquisition was concerned, the Land Settlement Act was inoperative. Another matter requiring immediate attention was the settlement of pastoral runs. He condemned the association of Auckland members for securing public works-grants for Auckland 'province as an attempt to introduce parochialism into the House. ■, ■ ■' Mr Clark advocated the reconstruction of the Arbitration Court, and said experts in the various trades concerned ought to be employed in making the awards. It had been reported in the Press that it was proposed to grant licenses to bookmakers. He was opposed to this, and preferred to sec bookmakers wiped out altogether. The totalisator ought to be taxed a further 2v per cent. Mr Myers said he had listened with pride to Mr Ngata's speech, which conclusively proved that since the passing of the Native Laiid Act last session much had been done in the way of opening up native lands. He advocated taxation of native lands and; the giving of equal rights and responsibilities to natives.

The debate was adjourned and the House rose at 10.55 p.m.