PARLIAMENT.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 10518, 28 July 1910, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

(Per Press Association.) Wellington, July 27. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House met at 2.30 p.m. —Replies to Questions. — Replying to Mr Herries, Sir Joseph Ward said the report of the State Guaranteed Advances Department would be laid on the table next day, and the Railway Statement would he placed before the House within the next few days. —Death of the Hon. H. Scotland. — Sir Joseph Ward announced the death of the lion. Henry Scotland, M.L.G., who had passed away suddenly this afternoon. Mr Scotland had been 42 years in the Legislative Council. He was in his 90th year, mid was one oi the old identities. The Premier sketched the career of the late member, and moved that the House record its "high sense of the faithful service rendered by the late Mr Scotland, and tenders its sincere sympathy to the widow and family in their great loss. Mr Masscv seconded the- motion, and said Mr Scotland was the oldest member of Parliament, and a straight-going, outspoken, and honorable num. He had "gone to his rest full of years. He had died in harness as a man of his strong character would have desired. Messrs Jennings and Russell paid a tribute to the late member. The motion was carried and the House adjourned till 7.30 p.m. i —Answers to Questions. — Sir Joseph Ward said the staff corps suggested by Lord Kitchener had not been overlooked, nor would appointments be made without proper qualification. The appointments would be subject to the examination and qualifications considered necessary by the Director of Military Training and Education under the instructions of the Commandant. Lieutenants, sergeants, and non-coms, would he in the probationary stage when the Commandant arrives. The Government had no intention of dealing with a Eair Rent Bill this session.

The Government intended shortly to submit proposals for the amendment of tiie Lands for Settlements and Finance Act, when it would be seen that satisfactory provision' would be' made to provide a money limit in lieu of or in addition to the 2UO acreage limit. The date of the arrival of Lieut.Colonel' Heard had not yet been advised, and no information was yet to hand regarding the Director of Operations and Intelligence. As to the defences of Lyttelton and ' Dunedm harbors, the communications with the Imperial Defence Co mm it toe were all of such a highly confidential and secret nature that it was not considered advisable to give details. The advices re harbor defences from the sources named will continue to be closely followed. The Government were considering tlic question of offering prizes for designs for the new Parliament Buildings. Mr Fowlds said lie hoped to submit at an early date proposals regarding the medical and dental inspection of schools. —No-Confidence. — The debate on Mr Massey's amendment was resinned. Mr Fraser said his views on the land question were to be found in Hansard. They had not changed, nor was he ashamed of them. Administration was more important that legislation. The whole system of turning Parliament into a. board of works was demoralising. He claimed the right to interrogate Parliament, but it frequently happened that questions, went unanswered. He had asked for information as to the rate of interest paid on certain temporary loans, hut so far had been vouchsafed no satisfactory reply. Parliament had a right to full information concerning these loans. Referring to the debts extinction proposals, Mr Fraser questioned tlie practicability of the .scheme. The sinking funds ought to be in the hands of commissioners independent of the Government, hie attacked the cooperative system of railway construction, which was extravagant, and was strongly of oninloii that retrenchment should he made not in times of depression but in tji-osnerons times, so that the least possible distress would be caused thereby.

Mr Stalhvorthy described tho bringing down of <an amendment at the present juncture as a farce, and pointed out tiic various statements of members of. the Opposition, which did not agree with each other, Many of tliose agitating for tile freehold would not sell the freehold of their own lands, but leased them out. He condemned Mr Massey's proposals to sell the freehold of the settlement lands and purchase further estates, which, would be a bad policy for the State. Native lands were being largely secured by speculators. What was wanted was not security of tenure. The leasehold was a secure tenure, but security against the speculative use of the lands. It was a great pity that so many people had acquired lands at the ballot who failed to settle on the property, but taxed those who were willing to work it. This was an evil which called for a remedy. Mr Nosworthy urged a further development in the settlement of native lands. Referring to taxation, he said there had been an increase of £37,000 in the land tax, while the income tax had decreased by £4200. It was time to consider the advisability of changing the incidence of taxation. He denounced the Liberal party, whom he dubbed Judas Iscariots, and said sooner or later a change of Government would take place. It was disgraceful to term the Opposition the Conservative party. Mr Okey said the lease-in-perpetuity was a had bargain for the State. It would be better to allow the leasees to purchase the freehold at the original valuation plus one per cent. The Government should make efforts to settle the poor men on the land. He urged the purchase of lands in the vicinity of dairy farms for subdivision into small farms to meet the needs of men without capital. The House rose at 11.5 p.m.