PARLIAMENT.

Patea Mail, Volume XXXIX, 10 July 1914, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

Address-in-Reply Debate.

[Bv Telegraph—Special to Press.’]

The debate on the Address-in-Reply was resumed at 2.30 yesterday. Messrs Parata and Pomttre first occupied the floor bat the speeches were not particularly interesting. Mr Parata said the legislation of the Government with regard _to the Natives had not been beneficial. The agitation to settle Maori lands was only a ruse to direct attention from the European holdings. The legislation of the Government was a lure to tempt the Natives to divest themselves of their land and this was unfair as the Maori looked to the Minister as a father and be should not pat temptation in the way of his children, The speaker accused Dr Potnare of giving a dishonest vote against the Liberals. The country was defence mad and the coot Was too much.

The Hon Dr Pomare said Mr Parata in his maiden speech had declared that the Liberal Native legislation was a scandal and urged the Europeanising of Native titles. Since then he bad evidently altered his mind* The legislation passed by Mr Massey regarding the West Coast Native lards did justice to the Natives.

Mr Hind marsh attacked Mr Pearce for his action regarding: the Patea harbour area*,. He said that Mr Pearce had failed to m-ke known to members of *he committee that he held land ccntiguous to the harbour area, . Ho would not say this was dishonest but it was unpatriotic. Mr Hindmatsh said ho considered the price of land too high for the email man to get on. There could be nothing more beneficial to the country than a reduction in the price of land Estates should be cut - up. Why did not the Minister get land round Hastings or To Auto instead of fjberenden and Waihau ? The people would support a party prepared to burst up estates. How was the etnsll man, he asked, with £3OO or £4OO to buy land ? The workers were spoken contemptuously of by the sheep - farmers, especially the rich farmers as represented by the member for Patea. '

Mr H. M. Campbell followed Mr Hindmareh and congratulated the country upon a good year. There was no. reason shown why the Government should vacate office. Settlement was progressing satisfac. torily and 140,000 acres had been acquired during the last year. The financial'position of the country had been improved, and a feeling of security brought about. Eighty per cent of the presa was not supporting the Government, only 26f, . The railway returns were exceptionally gopd and the country was in a flour* ishing condition.

The result of the No-Confidence division was taken calmly. In the lobbies it was a foregone conclusion that tho Government would win, and the Opposition move was regarded as pure bluff in order to attract atten** tion.