Reuse of Representatives.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXII, Issue 8860, 10 July 1907, Page 3

Reuse of Representatives.

The House met at 2.80. Mr E. G. Allen, resuming the debate on the Address-in-reply, said that although there wore ten or twelve millions in the Old Country on the verge of starvation, there was a decided objection by the people of the Old Laud to a policy of protection, notwithstanding that there were numerous bodies of Trades Unionists in the British Isles, aud this matter was hard to understand. As to his views on trades unionism aud protection, they seemed linked together. The test of the country’s prosperity was the assurance of constant employment for tho worker. Referring to the exhibition of sweated goods, he said it made one blush with shame at tho miserable prices paid for goods exhibited," representing an average of from 7s to 8s per week paid to

the workers in the industries concerned". He presumed it was the cry of the bogey of the dear loaf that tended to make the people of the Old Country support and maintain freetrade—a ' policy which at one time Was necessary when the tax on corn Was equal to the value of that commodity. Alluding to, the ventilation of railway grievances in the House, he did not approve of washing dirty linen in public. i£e thought they should first" approach the Minister, aud if no satisfaction was derived, they could then ventilate the matter in the House. £jtaiioumasters had a grievance as regards pay, and they considered they should be placed on a similar scale to postmasters. He thought that a just claim. ‘ Touching ou tariff flatters, ho hoped the Government Would .giyo relief to tho fishermen Of tho colony in the direction of taking the duty off nets. He advocated the pushing ou of the DiiucdiuPort Chalmers railway lino, which, he argued, was of more importance than tho duplication of " .tho Welliugtou-Hutt lino,' as when the Mauawatu liuU WaS acquired by tho cfrvernmeht, as he believed it would tje, there would be no need to quplioiuo tliQ Hutt line. Referring CO Defence matters, he considered the colony should have a say as to the class of guns ou the warships of tho Australian squadron, At present tho gnus on these vessels were absolutely useless,' there not being a 12jnch gim on any of the ships patrolling the Australian coast. Mr T. McKenzie considered it time to put an end to what had proved to be a profitless and useless debate, and get to the business of the country. He moved the previous question. ■Mr T. MapLachlan, in seconding flie,' motion, said he had not been present during the debate, but disapproved of the action of Mr Hornsby "in the matter of railway grievances. He had been travelling through the country, stirring up Strife, aud next week was to bo presented with a purse of sovereigns. Referring to tho Exhibition, he characterised the agricultural section as of no educational Value, but merely a dumb show.

■Tho premier’ asked the Speaker’s ruling as to whether Mr T. McKenzie’s motion was in order, as its effect would be to prevent the House carrying to the Governor the Ad-dress-in-Rsply, which would certainly he disrespectful. The Speaker ruled that it was competent for' an hon. member to move the "previous question. ‘■‘The Premier suggested that Mr T. McKenzie "withdraw the motion. ' "Air McKenzie protested that tho debate had been a great waste of time aud hon. members not desiring to prolong it by speaking were liable to bo misunderstood constituents probably mistake non-par-ticipation as evidence of not having, " the same concern in the Cbnntry’s affairs.

Mr Massey said lie agreed that pinch waste of time had taken place, frit if Mr McKenzie’s motion was carried it would bo unfair to membars who had prepared their speeches for delivery. , Tho Premier pointed ont that hon. members wore perfectly within their rights in speaking, although lie thought it might be advisable to make a change in the procedure with regard to the debate ou the Address-iu-Reply.

Mr McKenzie withdrew tho motion,

Mr Allison deprecated tho action of members raising tho question of North, v. South Island. -Mr Davoy had quoted tho Public Works expenditure during the last four years in the North Island, which was distinctly unfair, as during that time much money had been expended on the North Island Main Trunk line, which was not a provincial but a national affair. He maintained that tho North Island, particularly Auckland, had been neglected. The de- • velopmout of tho North Island was progressing enormously, but Auckland seemed to be regarded by some of the southern members as not being a portion of Now Zealand. The exports of this colony totalled eighteen millions, of which the North Island exported £10,438,011 aud the South Island £7,(580,284, Auckland’s share of this being £4,204,713, which was jn excess of any other province. Tho imports of the North Island during 1900 amounted to £9,094,744, of which Auckland’s share was £3,009,081, and during the same period the South Island imported £5,897,357. Of the four principal cities of Now Zealand Auckland had hot received one-fourth of the amount spent on public works on their cities. The railway was absolutely inadequate to requirements, and a new station, or improvements to tho existing one :wero absolutely necessary. Referring to' tho Land Bill ho said the people of New Zealand had determined that tho optional system should continue, as nothing would cause men aud women to be thrifty and keep them in the colony frt a time of depression as to give them the right of acquiring the freehold, Mr Thomson conceded that settlement was progressing at a greater rate in Auckland than in other portions of tho colony, but argued that this was duo to laud being cheaper in Auckland than in the South Island, He pointed out that the North. Island settlement wao retarded early in the sixties, owing to it being in the throes of wax with the Maoris, A and it was not right for a lion, 'nomber -to o’.pcct tho amount expended in the South Island in' tho .early days to bo made np by expendmg ,i similar amount In the North -i'. Island now.

and said difficulty "arose in his electorate in getting laud surveyed owing to tho lack of surveyors, which he hoped Government would remedy. Referring to tho industry, ho complained that it had not received tho assistance in Southland from tile Department that the importance of tho industry warranted. Ho advocated a more vigorous policy by the Agricultural Department in reforestation aud the prohibition of tho exportation of kauri timber.

Mr Mander said the most important items in tho Governor’s Speech wore the Laud Bill. Local Government Bill, and tariff reform, which would take the whole of the session to deal with properly. Referring to the Band Bill he said the Opposition supported the freehold. In connection with this, he referred to the 999 years’ leaseholders. He said he had ascertained from the "Governmnt Actuary that £1 invested for 1000 years at 5 per cent compound interest amounted to 30,020 trillions sterling. If Government invested the money received from other settlers for the freehold on this basis it would return a far greater amount than the increased value of tho land would return in the same time. After Messrs Stevens aud Bollard had spoken, Mr Davey replied, and motion was then agreed to. The House roso at 11.35 p.m.