PARLIAMENT

Southland Times, Issue 16843, 20 September 1911, Page 6

PARLIAMENT

LPer United Press Association.) WELLINGTON. Sept. 19. The House met at 2.2 D. rite Sacing Commission. S'r Joseph Ward slated that ho had bce-i in communication with the Racing Commission with a view to their sitting again to reconsider the question ot country club permits. The Commission was agreeable to sit again. and the necessary work connected therewith tva ; now being done. A report would bo brought down as sooti as it was available. Hastening Business. On the motion of Sir Joseph V\ ufd it ■was decided that Government business take precedence on Wednesdays. He pointed out that a great deal of important work had to be done between now and the first and second weeks in November, when all wanted to be away to their constituents. Site Pinancial Debate. Mr Myers resumed tlie debate on tlie Budget, which, lie declared, exhibited a very happy slate of affairs. Humani■.wism proposals would appeal to tlie wan try generally. He spoke at length of tlie satisfactory condition of the finances, upon which he heartily congratulated the Minister of Finance. While taxation had increased from 13 ISs 9d in 1909 to £3 Ss 7d in 1911. the Increase had been placed upon those best able to bear it, being on land tax. Income tax and death duties. Mere he not convinced that the Government policy was 'proper and honest, he would Immediately walk over to tlie oilier side of the House. He urged greater expedition in the settlement of Native lands. Si- William Steward considered the Budget an excellent one and one that would comment! itself to the country. It was a record of prosperity such as had never been submitted in any other part of the Empire. He disagreed with the proposal to reduce long distance railway fares by a farthing a mile. It would cost £60,090; and it would be better to reduce short distance fares, as benetitting more people. If the Department wanted to spend £60,000, it could be better done on the erection of loading sheds in country districts. Cheap market tickets for farmers, and reduction of the Height rates on fruit. He expressed regret that there was no reference in tlie Budget to the land question. He advocated a tax sufficient to .make it Impossible to hold land in large quantities. Mr J. P. Luke regretted the absence of any reference to education in the Budget. He hoped the Government would do .all in its power In connection with higher education. He regretted that the Government had not done more In clio acquisition of surplus lands. He looked upon the? Farmers’ Co-operative Bank proposal as good, and said that if it vere placed iTT good shape, he would support the measure. He advocated the development of the iron ore of the Dominion. The House here adjourned for dinner. Mr Bollard continued the debate on the House resuming. He complained of the unsatisfactory condition of the land question in the Dominion, and said that be knew of no country in tlie world where the leasehold system had been successful. It was tlie duty of the Government to settle the people on the land, and educate them as to how to work it. He asked what had the Government done for farmers In this direction. Scientific knowledge was essential to the satisfactory working of the land. In Europe and elsewhere there were plenty of agricultural colleges, and If this country were to compete with these places it must he up-to-date In its methods. He advocated extension of the workers’ home system for the benefit of small wage men. Mr Isitt said that tlie Government was in a happy condition. So fur as the Opposition was concerned, the Government had been accused again and again of rash expenditure, and yet every Opposition member wanted money spent on colleges, experimental farms, etc. How could the Government meet these demands and yet escape the reproach of the Opposition? Referring to military training, he said that the Government had made two very grave mistakes in omitting a conscience clause and in the carrying of the training age to Hr. There must be, he declared, a conscience clause, even at the risk of the clause being abused. In Christchurch there were 6,0t)0 people combined to, oppose the system. The age limit si ould be 21. He deprecated and described as shameful tlie charges of bribery and corruption and maladministration against the Government. There was nothing in the charges. Sir Joseph Ward, In reply, said that everyone who had spoken on the Budget had. supported all the measures forecasted there. For the past 20 years the Opposition had endeavoured to cast reflections on the financial position of New Zealand. They had repeatedly decried loans, and their utterances had found a way into the Investors’ Guide lu London, slating that there was a pose. of some of the loans not being renewed or converted. He asked was this done to help the country? The men at the back of this were large landed proprietors who would remove the tax from large estates and put it on someone else. •He referred to the inconsistency of the Opposition in crying out that too much money was being spent, and then all demanding railways f. colleges. He charged .Mr Alien with gross misrepresentation In the matter of Treasury bills, remarking that if tlie (.mount had been paid off, as Mr Allen suggested, they could not have paid Their way at all. -Members on tlie Opposition benches had been puzzling with figures and prlggling with law. The Public Revenues Act insisted on tlie course lie bad taken. The object of the 'Opposition going round the country and saying that the finance of file country was in a weak, position and that taxa*:ion was being increased was to try to get on to the Treasury Benches, and their desperate attempts to do tills were seriously damaging tlie country and the people Referring to Mr Allen's jjlatement of discrepancies of four millions in the Budget figures as to the public debt. Sir Joseph said that the cable quoted by Mr Allen dealt with borrower! money only, not revenue. He averred that there was not a mistake in the Budget, lit- further traversed financial criticisms to siiow that the Government's actions were justified. In connection witli the Slate issue of notes, he had prepared in 1594 a measure for the purpose; but it was then considered inexpedient to pursue tlie matter. Now be proposed to have a gold security behind the issue of notes which the banks were to buy. Sir Joseph asked for extension of tirfie to complete his reply; but this was objected to. Ca taa Estimates. The House then went into Committee f on the estimate.-. On the first item Mr Massey moved for a reduction of the vote for tlie Legislative Council by £5, as an indication that tlie Council should tie elective. Sir Joseph Ward said that he did not nay that reform was not desirable, and he advocated adoption of the South African .system. Mr Massey contended that as tlie Opposition represented the minority, it should be represented in tlie Council. There had not been one Opposition member sent to the Council for 20 years. The Hon. J. A, .Millar said he intended voting against tlie amendment. The House was asked to alter the constitution of tlie Upper Mouse without having anything definite before it. An Elective Chamber would lie a duplication of tlie represenlative madiinery. -Mr Buxton moved to report, progress, which was carried on the voices. The House adjourned tit 1.36 a.m.