TUESDAY, OCTOBER 19. In the Legislative Council,

Otago Witness, Issue 2902, 27 October 1909, Page 35

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 19. In the Legislative Council,

ADDRESS-IN-REPLY. The Hon. Mr PAUL resumed the debate on the Address-in-Reply. He said the Speech from the Thione might be described as a " speech of promise," and it might be perhaps better if the Government promised less and performed more. Speaking on the naval question, he said he did not agree with the statement that the lines of naval defence bad been settled for all time by the conference. Our destiny lay closer w-itth the Australian navy in the event of war than with the British I navy. In Labour matter? he was inclined to think that Xew Zealand -was falling ' behind other countries. LTnemployment was one of the first questions which should be considered by the Council, and some scheme should be devised for preventing a recurrence of the evil. He wanted it understood that unemployment in this "country showed a lack of appreciation of , the position or a lack of ability to grapple ; with the difficulty. He suggested three ' remedies — 'insurance, extension of labour bureaus, and facilities for bringing man and land together. He condemned land 1 speculation as the curse of the country. The Government might well give consideration to some of the land proposals being made by Mr Lloyd-George in the Old Country. He advocated an extension lof State control of industries. As to the labourers in the Dominion, they compared ! favourably with any workers in any other country, an<l he thought the Legislature should give them more protection. Though ' the labour laws were good they required ! v very large number of amendments. He advocated a nniver&al closing act. ; The Hon. Mr GEORGE congratulated tlie Prime Minister on his great offer of ' a Dreadnought to the British Government i at a time of great trouble. If the Militia Act were enforced they would soon have an efficient force Old-age pension^ should b'i placed on a sound financial footing. He thought there should be a tax on commodities in general use to provide the pensions' fund. Reimposition of the sugar duties would provide the necessary amount. As to the unemployed, he believed the settlement of the land would have a beneficial effect on the settlement of the unemployed question. He congratulated the Prime Minister on raising a loan. The arrangement /made for local bodies borrowing wab very nice, but was somewhat dangerous. The Hon. Mr CALLAN considered the retrenchment scheme of the Government very courageous. He disapproved of the proposal to have all matters in re succession duties d^alt with from Wellington. As to the argument that the settlement of the people on the land would be a panacea for unemployment, he pointed out that there was a large number of working men among the unemployed who would ne\er go upon the land. In tHe House of Representatives, ADDRKSS-IX-RKPLY. The debate on the Address-in-Reply was continued by Mr SCOTT, who <?xpi'e^sed satisfaction, at the sentiments in favour of the freehold expre^ed by memb?i> tii king pait in tits debate. Prominence should be ariven to the question of afforestation, which urgently required consideration. It was to be regretted that so little had been done in the way of irrigation of the land in Central Otago. Referring to the Otago Central railway, he admitted tlrat the railway was not p/n ing. but lie s^iid this tv.is not th& fault of the settlers, but of bad con=trucuon and the enoimou.s expense under the co-op. 'rative sys-tem. Ie seemed to be J a bc-lited c'scovery by the Government j thai the Lav. lence-Roxburirh line had no pru.xpect of paving, '•eein,,' that it had been under con trnctiuii for four years. Over 0000 people wcie concerned in the propre^ of the line, and the Government had broken faith with them, and their hopeh wore gone. The !-\-tem of appointments to the Land Board* required reform, and the Native Luv'to question ali,o called for final settlement. Mr GREKNtLADE. referring to the Hon. T. Mackenzie's statement tlvt romc> daily companies weie in the habit of pumping water inly butter, j-«id the whole matter should be ventilated. He ccn=i'leicd thnt a httK' common s-ense might b? pi'inped in-o the officials who inspected the butter Kscan-e 10 boxes of inferior butter h.ul :ic< .dentally found their way into a bee/.er an Auckland company bid been pio.--ec.ated. He icid letters fiom the c&iiipnnv cone eined giving tbe details of the iiLcidert- lcding up to the leceiit pio-ocuticm yh- M'LAREX contracted the lot &f the worker-, in towns with the settlc-rs on the lmd. The latter a^ked for security of tenuTe. bat what security had the industrial classes in the town 1 -. The que^ tion of land tenure had to be considered from the standpoint of th-e interests ot the St-nfe and posterity, and we had aKo to avoid conditions created in the Old C >untry. nhere popul.it' on had been driven into the towr--. It wa« ab-urd for Mr Mas.sey to -a\ thai tho <lepres-,ion in. Wellington w >s an % tiling like that ex.i>thv^ in Great Brltc'-n. The land policy of the Dominion ,'liouM ami uL tlie detail- I

traliwitioii of population. The question of unemployment was closely allied to the land problem, and a settlement of the land question would help to solve it. Referring to the mode of election of Harbour Boards, he declared that there would be no satisfactory system of election of local bodies until the parliamentary franchise applied. Mr HIKE, referring to the denial of the Prime Minister that the stone-crushing plant at New Plymouth cost £50,000, said he intended calling for a return showing the cost of tihe plaint and accessories. He made charges of extravagant administration against the Government. He. hoped that legislation would be passsd this ser-sion which would place the Maoris and the pakeha on an equal footing in regard to land settlement. The first duty of the Government was to pi"ovide land for those requiring it. The Government's action in opening up bush blocks for retired civil servants was absurds as such men could only hope to succeed on the most improved land. The PRIME MINISTER explained that no stone-crnshing plant cost £50.000. Included in that sum were six miles of railway. It was absurd to say that the railway was an accessory of the crushing plant. The lack of proper metal in Tavanaki was the reason for the erection of the stone-crushing plant. When the House resumed at 7.30 p.m. Mr DAVEY" continued the debate. He supported the election of local bodies on the basis of the political franchise. On the land question he was of opinion that the act of 1907 had not had sufficient trial. The people of the Dominion should understand that the endowments under the act of 1907 were imperilled by the attitude of the Opposition, which had been guilty of misr€presenting the Government's actions, its watchword being maladministration. He recalled an incident which happened at the time when the railways were run by Commssionei's, when members of Parliament who desired tome alteration went in a deputation to the Commissioners and weie snubbed for their pains. The Opposition had desh^ed that the 999 years' lease be converted into the freehold, but this, was breaking a contract, although the Opposition euphoniously termed it a variation of contract. The demand for the freehold at the original valuation was dishonourable. The Opposition's talk about bribing constituencies sounded strange in view of the attempt to bribe the farmers with the promise of the freehold. Mr HERDMAN, replying to Mr Davey, denied that the Opposition had manufactured evidence to condemn the Government, and said there was no need to do that. It was said that the railways were paying 3.03 per cent., when they were losing £160,000 a year. He would prefer to tee the railways controlled by a commissioner, and would favour doing- away with the present Civil Service Act. Dealing with the land question. Mr Herdman asked how could there be a breach of contract if both parties to the 999 years' lease agreed to determine it. The Government «as to be congratulated on its determination to deal with the land question thie session. The policy of the - Government as announced by Sir J. G. Ward in America was to find out what the people wanted, and to give it to them It was the duty of the Go\ eminent to lead, and not to be driven or to give the people everything they wanted. The Government would never have a policy so long as borrowed money could be ik>ecl for sweetening the electors. He con clem tied the Government'^' financial method?, which h.3 described os reckless and extravagant The PRIME MINISTER replied to Mr Hcidnian's statement that the country ha-J boi rowed £4,484,637 in one year, and demanded to knoxr where, when, and how this sum wjus borrowed. The sum of 5725.000 of Post Office funds was included in the amount mimed, and the Governm«r.t had a liyht to boirow this. Anoth*--£200,0U0 comprised investments which ha-i to be made for another department. In that year Ihe Government purchased the ifanawatu railvay line, and had to pro\ide for advances to settlers and other purposes to the extent of nearly two ai:.i a-].ulf million-. All these fucts had b>een. itjnurAi by .Mr Herdman, and consequently hi- statements \vei - e misleading. Mr RLcsSELL defended ths system uf cooperative railway works, which were 1 intended to absorb surplus labour and pivvent large bodies of men from beinij pHuperWd. The system ftood as a iroiainvent to tho late Mr Seddon, who inaui^ulated it. Iho Liberal party had led the people in Ihe pioqr-ef.-ive policy of tiie pa--t Ifa seui* He quoted figures showing the Mioce:.s of tho labour huvt, wLieh had lCMill^d in i'lcreds-t-'d production and in< {jioved \vcij,'«.«. There wa-s nothing to prove -\fr Hei'im.inV awrtion that Shite enter-pn-e lmd 'apj/.d the «« If -respect of the people Ihe Go\ernment'F retrenchment M.'henie «js prudent and businef&like. In opposition to Mr Herdman 'e statement that loan companks had been driven out of the Dnuiinion, he --aid that the businas.* of such concerns had actually increased <jur:n2; tl.e ]„-£ fom years by *j81,.352.135. I!'J ciitiei-ed it! <!vrt.al Mr Alien's &trie tuies on liie Government's finance. -Mi- LI'KK srnfl he ri-grctted th.it no a dilation of Urn Government's land nn>iJOsals ii.cl btt-n given. He amiounced • himself as a, bclie\er in the leasehold 53".-,tem. The Government institution i would not lend money on leasehold lands, and t!n- required alteration. He went on to deaLwrh local industries, which, be *;ud, v. ere not encouraged as the}' should b2. JManv articles that could be m=:de in the Dominion w-eie imported from i foieign countries. i DU>,EDIX VALUATION OFFICE. Mr Allen intends to move for a return showing, with respect to the Dunedin office and up to the date of the return, the letienchineius and changes effected during tiie pie'.cdiny tv. o in the .-taff of tlie

; Valuation Department; the return to give i the names of those retrenched or changed, i the date of their joining the department, date of entry to service with the Stats in New Zealand, date of retirement and) > j re-entry to tihe service, method of enter- ! ing the service (whether by civil service '■ examination or otherwise), nature of emI ployment, salaries paid, and to state 1 whether the employees were married or single. Mr Allen also intends to move I that the file of papers dealing with tihe ' ! appointments, reappointments, retrench1 j ments, and removals in the staff of th« Dimedin office of the Valuation Depart1 j ment be laid on the table. I THE COLONIAL SUGAR COMPANY. Mr Poole is drawing the attention of : ' the Government to the following state- , | ments :— (1) That the Colonial Sugar Com* j pany was relieved by the Auckland Hax-i . \ hoivc Board some years 'ago from t«be payment of the export wharfage due of Is . ' per ton charged to all ofcher manufaotTirJ ing industries ; (2) that^the Harbour Board) • ' recently proposed to reimpose this duty, ■ ' and was at once warned by the manager , of the company that if such a measure " were adopted the company would raise ; ! the price of all sugar sold in the Auckland k province 5s per ton ; (3) that the company 1 has since served notices on the. Auckland j merchants of an increase of 5s per -ton ; (4) that the company has made considerable advances in the price of sugar since the import dnty was abolished, and has in this way absorbed for its shareholders a large percentage of the advantage which Parliament intended should be enjoyed! by the masses of the people ; (5) that this company holds an absolute monopoly of ' the sugar supply, and that its supply is derived from cane grown by coolie labour, , and will the Government institute an mii quirv into tHe operations of this monopoly i with a view to protecting the public ■ : against its exactions? THE TIMBER COMMISSION. Mr Massey is asking for tlte tntal co^fc to the State of the Timber Commission, and the amount paid to each member; ! thereof ' RAILWAY ANOMALIES. Mr Sidcy is £o ask the Minister of j Railways whether he will revise the fares 1 and freights on the Dunedin-Clinton section, I with a view of removing certain absurd ' anomalies now existing. The return far if? i between Dunedin and Hosgiel, a distance | of 10 miles, are Is lOd first class and Is 2d second class, and the fares between J Caversham and Mosgiel, a distance of eight miles, are 2s 2d first class and \ Is 5d second class, or an increase of 41 i and 3d respectively for a distance shorter j by two miles. i VALUATION DEPARTMENT. j A return which was lajd on the taV-e i of the House to-day shows that the mun- ' bsr of Crown tenants who paid land tax during the last financial year was 570. A statement of the receipts and expenditure of the Government Valuation of Land Department shows that the salaries for last year amounted to £24,369, the fees to valuers amounted to £2226, and travelling allowances and expenses to £5400. T-ie receipts. yi eluded fees for valuers' reports (£10,219), contributions from local authorities for prepivring and correcting rolls (£4617), from l-he Advances to Settlers Office for agency work (£1000), and from tho Land Tax Department for supplying land tax rolls (SBoOO). Th© net cost r>f the department iv stated to be £11,121. EFFECT OF LABOUR LEGISLATION. Mr G. W. Ru.ssell, who spoke to-night, endeavoured to prove that labour legislation had not driven capital out of the Dominion. He said that in 1895 there were 29,000 workers in our factories, while in 1909 the number had risen to 78,000. Mr Luke infceriected, What was the meieate last year? but Mr Russell could not tell him. He said he had not worked that out, but he would let the hon. member know later on. During lafct year, he added, the wages had in.creased by £442,000 as compared with the previous year. — (Mr Luke : For 200 extra men 1) Mr Russell stoutly maintained that capital had not been driven away, and he proceeded to paint a rosy , picture of New Zealand's recovery from the temporary depression of last year. THE OTHER SIDE OF THE PICTURE. In replying to Mr Russell's optimistic I statements Mr Luke, who is an iron- | founder and a Government supporter, , said that from one end of the Dominion to the other the iron industry at the present time was experiencing a decline. . " I can assure you," he said, "that machinery is standing idle. The Govern- • ment should rouse itself and its officers to do something for this industry. There weie 300 extra workmen in the factories >' last year, and an increase of wages j amounting to £400,000. It might "be ' eaid that this was an all-round rise, but 1 he maintained that the Government had i not yet exercised any concern for the era- \ ployeis. He was of opinion that the Government could get a good deal of work ' done in the Dominion that it now jm- | ported. Right through the Dominion, ' not only the iron trade, but every other ; trade was depressed, and if something was ' not done soon they would not be able to • get their repairs done in New Zealand. , He believed that the Government' had 1 recently sent to Germany for 40,000 brass pane, which would cost it more than they could get them made for here. Mr Massey : Did you say they sent to Germany ? Mr Luke : Ye*,. j Mr Poole : Shame ! I Mr Luke, continuing, complained about the specifications for oil engines wanted by the Government. These were made out in favour of the indent agents. It was a positive disgrace that the young men of this country who went through the technical schools and the universities lia-d Lp £o Ain^v. to plher countries to

obtain work. He referred to the Addington inquiry as the sorriest exhibition he had ever seen.