PARLIAMENT.

Opunake Times, Volume VII, Issue 320, 1 October 1897, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE of REPRESENTATIVES.

Wellington, Tuesday, jir ward’s election.

Mr Seddon said he desired to bring before the House a somewhat delicate and involved question. It was his duty, as loader of the House, to state that with respect to the Awarua seat he would, later on, give notice of the setting up of a Committee of Privilege He intended conferring with the leader of the Opposition respecting the personel of such Committee, as he believed the conduct of the House was above all party, There would’be no objection to Mr Ward taking the oath, but so far as taking part in the business of the House till the Committe dealt with the matter, that was out of the question. Captain Russell said the course proposed by the Premier was the best one out of a very difficult and extremely unpleasant position. He had, however understood from the Premier that before Mr Ward took the oath the Committee would be set up. The Premier said he wished to confer with Captain Russell respecting the names of the Committee and the terms of order of reference, and as the law stood at present the House could not prevent Mr Ward taking his seat. The matter then dropped, and after formal business the Hon Mr Ward took the oath and his seat. LEAVE OF ABSENCE. Mr McGowan was given one week’s leave of absence. THE DUNEDIN SEAT. On the motion of the Premier, the Speaker was instructed to issue a writ for the election of a reyresentative for Dunedin to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Mr Fish, CONGRATULATIONS. Captain Russell said the business of the House was proceeded with, a pleasant task devolved on him. By the desire and request of the members of the Opposition, he offered to the Premier their most sincere congratulations on his representation of the colony at the Queen’s Jubilee. Though he and the Premier differed politically there had never been any interruption of their personal friendship. In addition to the Premier’s own individual merits they felt participators in the honors conferred on the Premier, as he was, when the honors were conferred on him, representing the colony. The Premier’s name was now enrolled among the English statesmen —an honor his family would cherish for ever and ever. He was sure the House would join with him in wishing the Premier long life and happiness to enjoy the honors conferred on him. Mr Seddon said he felt deeply indeed the tribute paid him, and he only trusted by devoting his best energies to the good of the people of this colony and to the glory of that great empire to which they belonged, that he would prove to those who bestowed those honors that he was worthy of the same. He had been much impressed by the manner in which public business was conducted in the English Parliament, where the leaders of the House more frequently conferred on matters of public import than was the custom in the colony. This was a matter worthy of imitation. He thanked Captain Russell and the House for their kind expressions of congratulations, and said he believed that in bestowing the honors on him it was the intention to do honor to the colony of New Zealand and its people.

QUESTIONS, In reply to questions the Minister said the Glenmark Estate was very eligible for settlement, but the Government had not sufficient funds to purchase it; that the colony would not lose one sixpence by the Advances to Settlers to Isabella Aldred and the late Jas. Macintosh; that no communication had been received from the British Government respecting the currency reform ; that no necessity existed for a Royal Commission on the fishing industry; that the Government law officers were considering what constitutes the nearest pound under the Impounding Act; that increases under the Railway Classification Act would count from lst_ April, and that the Government cannot see its way to refund to members of torpedo corps the costs of new uniforms lately provided. THE ADDRESS-IN-BEPLY. Mr Wilson, in moving the Address-in-Reply, added his quota of congratulation to Lord Eanfurly on assuming the office of Governor, and expressed his regret at the death of Mr Fish and Major Eopata. Referring to the Premier’s visit to England, he said it had done a great deal of good, and it had been a wise thing to send a contingent. The success of the team of New Zealand marksmen which competed at Bisley should induce the Government to encourage the volunteers in every possible way, which they had not done yet, He regarded the management of the Railway Department as the best of all the Government departments, and the increase in revenue was due not so much to the increase of population as to the liberal and common-sense manner in which the Hon. Mr Cadman administered the railways. He favored the Vancouver service against San Francisco service. He considered the whole question of charitable aid should bo revised as early as possible. As to the extension of municipal franchise, he thought that every householder should have a vote in municipal elections. He could not agree with the repeal of the commercial travellers’ tax, and advised the imposition of a proportionate tax. He dealt at some length with the question of technical education, which should, he thought, be within the reach of every child. Speaking of juvenile depravity, he said he would favor the introduction of the C.D. Act. The absence of Bible instruction in the public schools was not responsible for the existence of this evil. He could not conceive a better method of coping with unruly boys than by obtaining a training ship for the colony. He believed that in the colony there was more widespread prosperity than for many years. Mr Symes seconded the motion, and said the colony was fortunate in its selection of a Governor who possessed a colonial experience. Every member would agree that the Premier had thoroughly and ably represented the colony at the Jubilee demonstration, and that the colony had been well advertised by the visit of the Premier, the contingent, and the Bisley team. He approved of the proposal for an aßdmative telegraph line to Auckland, and advocated the extension of State insurance to fire and accident. The Land for Settlements Act had done more to solve the unemployed difficulty than anything previously attempted. He commented on the action of all mention of any measure dealing with local government, except municipal, from the Speech, and dwelt on the necessity of the appointment of additional Stock Inspectors. Captain Russell complimented the mover and seconder, and referred especially to the moderate tone of Mr Wilson’s remarks, whose only fault was that he took the Speech for gospel. In the Speech there was error after error, and it contained a great deal of imagination, The facts were against the statement that the administration of the Government had been careful and piudent, and he quoted figures showing that there had been a large decrease in (he output in fish, mining, candle making, and other industries in 181)5 as compared wi h 181)0. Parliament

in recent years had lost one of its most im* portant functions, that of keeping the Government in check, and to prevent the imposition of further taxation, and the exercise of economy. Referring to the discussion between the Colonial Office respecting the Australasian squadron, he said that without exception there was not one single Premier who realised the importance of the squadron to Australasia and the Empire, and they bad shown themselves grossly ignorant of the whole system of naval tactics. Referring to the volunteer force, he said its nonefficiency was due to the commandant not being allowed sufficient latitude, and money would be spent uselessly on the volunteers because the Premier would muddle and muddle with everything connected with the subject. On behalf of the people of Hawke’s Bay, he thanked the people of the colony for the sympathy expressed and the money so lavishly and generously contributed for the sufferers by the floods in that district. He objected to the or aay Minister going to Australia and entering on discussions on fiscal and other important questions without being commissioned to do so by Parliament. The Government had shown a complete change of front respecting private benefit societies, and in so doing the commission had dona good. The greater risks involved in the fire insurance business as compared with the life insurance was an argument against the State having anything to do with it. The increase in imports he attributed to the large amount of mining speculation, Mr Hall-Jones said the Government did not intend to sling the Old Age Pension Bill, and it rested with the members whether or not it was in full operation next year. Ho quoted figures to show that in certain manufactures, such as bootmaking, there had been an increase as between 1890 and 1895. Referring to the squadron, he said the original idea respecting it was that it was to protect the coasts of Australasia. He said that under the present administration the volunteers had been encouraged by an increase of capitation and by being supplied with better rifles. He denied that the Government had increased taxation, and asked what harm could result from a conference of Australian Premiers. The Wages Protection Bill, introduced by Mr Seddon, precludes employers from deducting from wages accident insurance charges. Mr McGuire is asking the Minister of Lands if he will introduce legislation with_ the object of placing leaseholders of the Public Trustee, Education and other reserves, in the same position as the leaseholders of the Crown, thereby causing uniformity of land laws of the colony. He is also asking the Premier will he, during the coming session, take into his favorable consideration the unfortunate position of the property holders in the Taranaki harbor rating district with a view to having justice done them for the 200,000 acres taken out of the harbor endowment by the Government.