HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 12, 30 August 1911, Page 5

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

The House mot at 2.30 p.m. Sir Joseph Ward, who was applauded on rising to speak, stated that the term of High Commissioner held -by Sir W. Hall-Jones had been extended till the end of December, and there would bo no appointment of a successor until that term expired. There was not a possibility of his accepting the position. He expected to bring down the Financial Statement on Tuesday next. He proposed taking an opportunity, when the Leader of the Opposition was in his seat, of making ■i statement concerning the Coronation invitations. The suggestion that there had been any duplicity in,the matter was without foundation. While at Homo ho had made representations to annex Tonga to New Zealand. His representations could not be assented to. It was his opinion that Tonga should he annexed to New Zealand. Ho took the opportunity to express ids deep and sincere regret at the death of the late Mr. T. E. Taylor, hut was gratified to sec that a gentleman so able had been elected in bis place. He congratulated Sir Arthur Cinnnoss and Sir James Carroll on the high compliment they bad received. It was a compliment to himself and the native race for Sir James Carroll I to receive auev a high distinction. He was glad to see all the members again. Though some of them might cross swords later on. he was snip it would all he clone in "end r»n rt. He was glad to get hack and find New Zealand in so prosperous a condition. Sir W. J. Steward, as the Fon'y memhe v in tlm House, congratulated Sir J. C. Ward on his safe return ami the, excellent w n,, k he had acoomulishod at Home. He moved : “That this ■'too'’' 1 r-co’ v N its cordial welcome to yir -T. G. Ward on Hs return from Tendon, and records its appreciation of the able manner he had rcprepeji+ed Now Zealand at the Imperial Conference.’

Mr. Hni'in Seconded f'lo {>•"■» f-'7i. Sir Jnp-nb Ward, lie said, bad be’”' +Un right man in the right, place a I Home. H” congratulatod him on IV•ibiU+.v and R+.a+'' ? ,v,o nf) hip displayed •if. +bo Tmnari-J Conference. ■ Sir Joseph 'Ward moved th-t Hie minutes of the proceedings at the Ira-

n ri-’l Conference ho laid on the table, and bo printed. He stated that every resolution carried at tho Conference w m carried iina;iiim.-ari\, /ill tuo.>e pat carried were uithdnuvn. His action in withdrawing an important resolution .was one of custom. Ho could Imre called for a division had he wished. He knew wiiou lie mow'd the resolution that it would not be carried. There had been twenty resolutions carried at the Conference. He mentioned that ho had signed 36U0 letters, and had made seventy-l.iirec speeches at Home. Ho acknovv ledger! tho good work done I 'by Sir John i'imllay, also the valuable assistance ha had received from his secretaries.

Mr. Allen asked for more information regarding Tonga. Sir Joseph Ward said it was not accessary to say any more on the matter. ' It was decided that the minutes be laid on the table and printed. Mr. Alien, speaking on the motion to go into Commitec on the Imprest Supply Bill, asked for some explanation regarding tho appropriations made last year, especially those for roads and "bridges. The House’s derision that substantial assistance should be given to backblocks settlers had not been adhered to by the Executive, hi 1903 the Prime Minister had asked - for - £650,000 for roads and bridges, of which £250,000 would ■io devoted to f i« formation of roads in tlio backblocks, a similar policy to :>o continued yearly regarding backblocks roads. 11ds Had not been done. Backblocks settlors were entitled to tho expenditure of £604,000 this year. Mr. Hcrdman advocated tiie appointment of an export to investigate the whole, system of, railway administration. Mr. Homes concurred, and said that there was general disco at out in the service.

EVENING SETTING.

Tho House resumed at 7.30. Mr. McDonald traversed Mr, Allen’s statement that the House had not spent the money allocated for backblocks roads. Sir Joseph Ward referring to Mr Allen’s speech regarding backblocks expenditure, and stated that Mr. -Allen had voted for a proposal that would have crippled any expenditure on the backblocks settler. He had voted for the expenditure of two millions of money on new Parliamentary buildings outside Wellington, and yet lie declaimed against the Government, because they were expending too much money. Since the Liberal party bad been in power four millions had been spent on roads. All, or most, of the money, voted for roads last year had gone out for that purpose. Most, of tho public bodies had asked that noncys voted should be Held over, is they wore not ready to spend diem. Mr. Allen had stated that only £250,000 had been expended on the ,-oads last year, ''whereas the amount 'vas £3! 1,000. Cheap money had saved the farmers on many occasions, hut Mr. Allen was in co-operation with ohoso who wore keeping money up. deferring to railways, ho said the Government would improve the service in their own way and in a way that would bo satisfactory. The House went into Committee, and passed an Imprest Supply Bill for £708,400. Mr. Massey took the opportunity of welcoming' Sir Josos!i Ward back to sow Zealand, but regretted that he uul not brought hack more dignity with him. If the Premier’s attitude was the outcome of coming into contact with the.-great .l3oU of Great Britain, ho was glad ho had not received ,n invitation. Reverting to financial natters, lie contended that money for public works should be made available it an earlier period. He asked for details of tiie five millions of last year, arid urged tho sotting apart of a day -,o consider -railway matters, and- also for discussing local and differential rates. Mr. Massey, continuing, said chat there was much dissatisfaction •n tho iaihVay service, both cn tho part of its, servants and the public. Tho Hon. J: A. Millar said ho was ‘iiiito prepared to ask Parliament to hake away the privileges of railway servants and let them go under tho Arbitration Act. But a larger population was required before short distance fares could bo as low as those >f New South Wales. lie was quite prepared to raise the wages -if Parliament sanctioned it. Mr. Merries contended that backblocks settlers had been defrauded ■nit of tho £1, 000,001' vote i,or roads.

Mr. Lauren sou characterised Mr. Massey’s allegation that some member had been using public money for private purposes as an innuendo of that filthy kind, of w>lch there had been enough. Continuing, Mr. Lauroirson said that if a vote wore put to tho railway men nine out of ton would vote for tho present system of management. Mr. Massey, in personal explanation, said lie had been subjected to abuse through making a slip of tho tongue. Ho had corrected ids statement, and said that a Tory was a man who used public money for party purposes, not private purposes. He would say later that Ids reference was directed against the Hon R. McKenzie’s speech in Taranaki, a vote of Parliament for advertising, and the placing of amounts on the Public Works Estimates through the agency of private persons and not members of Parliament.

Mr. Headman, dealing with finance, stated that public expenditure had increased enormously of recent years, and there were no signs of where tiie increase had gone to.

The Hon; It. McKenzie said that most of the railways now being constructed were through constituencies represented by Opposition members. The reason that the total expenditure fell short of the amount appropriated was that often amounts were placed on two or three successive years’ estimates, owing to unavoidable delay in completing works. Ho flatly denied Mr Massey’s imputations in regard to a speech delivered by him in Taranaki that lie had stated that if Governmombors were not returned the distinct would got no Government grants. Sir Joseph Ward thanked Mr. Massey for his kind welcome, but was sorry Ids manners did not suit Mr. Massoy. Ho was, however, willing to learn anything Mr. Massey could tench him. As to the six and a half millions loan, the Opposition had supported it right through. As to the increased expenditure, it was ridiculous to expect the country to stagnate. Wellington, August 30.

After midnight the debate was resumed by Mr. Massey, who stated that bo was just an anxious for cheap money for settlors as anyone else, and he advocated that the Post Office Savings Bank he available to settlors as in other countries, and as the Auckland Savings Bank is available. Ho

was opposed to further borrowing. Regarding thn £5,000,000 loan, the Premier had the authority of the House to raise it, hut it was had finance to raise it in. one sum. Regarding the expenditure of public money for pnrtv purposes, Mr. Massey said the Moira ra Road Board. in his district, wrote him regarding a vote of £l5O which appeared on the SuppPmcntarv Estimates for his district. Ho knew nothing of it. hut it afterwards ap;vv’red bis (Mr. Masaev’s) oppnn mts at last election had asked the Prime

Minister for tin’s grant, and tho Minister for Public Works had nor- boon approached in the matter. He laid last Jan.naiy, by letter, asked Sir Joseph Ward for an explanation, but so far had not received any. He had other similar instances winch lie could speak of. 'I nc principle of disci imination in advertising in papers was another instance. Sir Joseph Ward stated that tho Opposition had predicted disaster so far as the Government was concerned for the past twenty years. Disaster nad never conic about, and the country was prosperous. The work of some of the best financiers in England was being constantly decried by tiie Opposition. In reference to the money mentioned by Mr Massey as having been voted to his district, it was spent on a public road .leading to a small harbour, and the expenditure, was absolutely necessary. Reports to be laid on tho table of tno House would show that advertisements in papers had not been unfairly distributed. The Bill passed through Committee, was read a third time, and passed . . The House rose at 1.45 a.in.