PARLIAMENT.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXIX, Issue 138, 3 August 1911, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 2. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. (Per Press Association.! Wellington, August 2. In the Legislative Council, the debate on the Address-in-Rcply was continued by tho Hon. T. McCardlo, who urged an amendment of the Land Settlement and Finance Act in the direction of bringing its provisions more within the scope of poorer men. He pointed to the necessity of some measure to prevent the aggregation ot land. The only way to secure this end was to amend the Land Transfer Act so as to limit the amount of land any man might hold in fee simple. Regarding the Hon. S. T. George’s suggestion as to borrowing to immediately complete the Main Trunk railways, he considered the scheme too huge for a country the size of New Zealand. The Hon. Rigg wished to direct attention to a matter which appeared to him to infringe the rights and privileges of the Legislative Council. He referred to the invitations sent to the members of the Legislative Council to attend the Coronation. Members of the Council appear to have been overlooked, a circumstance which, to his mind, constituted a grave discourtesy to them. Referring to Imperial matters, he saw great difficulties in tho formation of an Imperial Council, as such a council would be valueless in advising on a matter of >rar. There was no time for such consideration, as nations now struck first, and that was their declaration if war. It was impossible, therefore, for.' a council to consider such matte's. He failed to understand why .mine well-meaning people opposed military training. They did not appear to realise what would happen iu the event of war. Ho felt sure ill at some day the young nu-i who Wt-ie now being trained would have to fight for their liberties in New Zealand. Referring to the Hon. George’s speech in reference to the completion of the Main Trunk Railway, he said it was one which would commend itself to any business man with capital. Tho debate was adjourned and the Council rose. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House of Representatives met it 2.30 p.m. Tho Speaker was directed to issue i warrant to make a new writ for a .notion that a member for Christ ;hurch North be elected in place of tho late Mr T. E. Taylor. Mr Fisher asked tho Acting-Prime Minister to afford tho House time to discuss the report of the Reprsentadon Commission before the session closed. Sir James Carroll replied that it was rather .preipatnre to give, an answer, is the report had not been received from the Commission. Replying to a question by Mr Field, concerning a rumour that eleven burials of patients from Porirua Asylum had taken place on one day, Mr J’owlds said there had been 30 cases if typhoid at the ayslum. Three attendants had contracted fever, but no nurses. There were no cases at tho asylum now, except one attendant, .vho had been removed to the hospital. There were four deaths in March, two in April, two in May, and one in Juno, [’here had never been more than one • loath on any one day.

Mr McDonald resumed the debate on the Address-in-Rcply. Ho congratulated Sir A. Guinness and Sir Tames Carroll on the honour ••onferrod on them by the King. He traversd statements made by Mr Massey on tho previous evening, and. c.u.graiulated the administration on the splendid progress made of late years, especially in the matter of .and sotch ment. Ho felt sure that now tho natives realised tho Government was t’oi ig their 'rest for all concerned, they would '.ome forward and olfer their land for setilement. He wished to draw the attention of the Minister uf J’vblic Works to the groat diffn.ilty experienced by co-operative workers in getting their goods to camps, especially i" winter, when many of ' ho roads, which wore tho only moans of access, were practically impassable. He .suggested the erection of a largo store for storage purposes only in tho vvunity of tho largest camp to facilitate the distribution of food stuffs to those engaged on co-operative works. With regard to the defence system, tho great majority of the people of the country had adopted it and were quite satislied to have their children trained for defensive purposes. Mr F. Lawry, continuing the debate, congratulated both Sir A. Guinness and Sir James Carroll on tho honours received from the King. With regard to the Opposition policy, what was new in it was not true and what was true was not new. Tho country was undoubtedly prosperous, and this was due to tho excellent policy of the Government. Regarding the national debt, ho considered this was an illustration of tho intrinsic worth of the country, and if it were offered in the public market, a syndicate would readily he found to offer 300 per cent, for it, so high were our "assets valued.

Mr Poole followed, and after congratulating Sir A. Guinness and Sir James Carroll on the reward of their services, said he still was of opinion that the Prime Minister, in accepting an hereditary title, had made a stupendous blunder and the action was injurious to the principles of the democracy. He recognised Sir Joseph Ward’s great work for the Dominion and Empire, but still he must protest against* his accepting an hereditary title. Dealing with the high cost of living, the cause of the trouble was the expense of distribution, which needed a remedy. To combat monopolies, State competition was the best remedy. '

At this stage, the Hons. 11. McKenzie, D. Buddo and G. Eowlds wore the only Ministers present, and Mr

Pool© entered a protest against Inis, saying that the Address-in-Reply was mainly to allow tiro Executive to hear what private members had to say. He dealt with tho pay of railway employees, saying that the reduction in fares was no benefit to the country. If employees wore not paid a decent wage, this should bo remedied, even if fares have to bo raised. He pleaded for groat expenditure on roads ia tho North Island, which had not a natural moans of transport like those in the South Island. The House adjourned at 5.30 p.m. THE EVENING SITTING. On tho House resuming, Mr Poole said one of the features of the session would 1)0 tho introduction of the bare majority measure.

Mr Malcolm dealt mainly with Imperial questions. Mr Luke, after referring to the good work done by Sir Joseph. Ward at Homo, protested against the hitter’s action in keeping back information till he got to Sydney. Ho considered that New Zealand would have fared better at tiie Imperial Conference if questions which were deliberated upon had been discussed on the floor of tho House prior to tho departure of the country’s envoys. He condemned the contemptible (and he used tho word advisedly) desire to shine abroad. When the representatives came back from Homo they must give an account of what went on at tho Imperial Conference.

Mr E. H. Taylor, in referring to the titles dispensed at the Coronation, said those who sneered at titles were not true to the monarchy to which they belonged. If the King desired to honour any of his subjects, who were they to decry those honours?

\ The debate was adjourned, and the llouse rose at 10.35 p.m.