Legislative Council.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXII, Issue 8862, 12 July 1907, Page 3

Legislative Council.

Press Association. Wellington, July 11. The Council met at 3.80. The Son. Samuel was sworn in and took his seat. The Hon. Luke, resuming the debate on the Address-in-Reply, prefaced his remarks by.. congratulating the Hon. Sr. Findlay on his appointment as Attorney-General and the Premier on the admirable work he had done at the Imperial Conference. He was not so sanguine as Sir J. G. Ward respecting the'3l days’ service between Vancouver and Now Zealand, and did not expect to see 25knot steamers running between those ports for tho next 20 years. There should, .however, be some encouragement towards improving the steam service between Vancouver and New Zealand. He considered Si r J. G. Ward’s attitude towards the navy was a proper one. Tho speaker then went on to deal with the tariff question. Although there was industrial prosperity, there were industries which for lack of encouragement did not participate in the prosperity, and he contended that with proper encouragement many commodities now imported would bo manufactured in the colony.. Touching lightly on laud legislation, he averred that any Laud Bill that prodded for endowments for the support of tho great Departments of State was a step in tho right direction, and he condemned tho attitude of those who wished to acquire the freehold of their leaseholds at the original value as iniquitous. Referring to the slaughtermen’s strike he argued that the Act should be put iu such a condition that strikes would be impossible. If a Wages Board wore established ho hoped to see provision for the the capacities of men employed in an industry. He hoped a superannuation sciieme for tho Civil Service would be adopted. The Hon. G. J. Smith congratulated tho Attorney-General on Ms promotion. He approved the proposed change of denomination of the colony, and agreed with the Hon. Rigg that there was much iu the sentimental phase of the question iu connection with strengthening the bonds of Empire, but there was much also in the commercial aspect. Tho coming of both would forge bonds that never could bo broken. He hoped a 31 days’ service between the colony and England would bo effected within the next five years. Referring to the tariff, ho did not think manufacturers should ask for protection beyond what would place them on a level in competition with other lauds. He enti. ily approved .of the reservation of Or wn Lauds for endowments. The hole trend of Land Bills was in the direction of better conditions of land settlement. Despite all the trouble and annoyance that had occurred in counecton with the Arbitration Act, he appealed for the retention of the principle of the Act. He advocated giving more encouragement to tho Volunteer Force. The Hon. Wigram spoke briefly of tho slaughtermen’s strike, which he condemned-. The prosperity of the last few years was in a measure due to the increase of gold production of the world. As the gold circulation increased —and the increase would continue to go on—the land and other tilings would continue to increase iu value. Under tho Circumstances, would it he right to dispose of the remaining Crown lauds now? Undoubtedly the workers were not getiug a fair share of tho prosperity of the country, and by the workers ho meant the" civil servants, teachers and others who were receiving fixed salaries.

The Hon. Loughnan moved the ad jonrnment of the debate. The Council rose at 4.25.