PARLIAMENT.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 18, 6 September 1911, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. (Per Press Association.) Wellington, September 5. The House of Representatives met at 2.30 p.m. IMMIGRATION. Replying to questions by Messrs Wright and Russell concerning an article in the “Dominion,” quoting a statement published in London said to have been issued by the High Commissioner, to the effect that there is a general scarcity of labour in the Dominion,’ and that domestic servants are as difficult to procure as nuggets of gold; that the Dominion requires to import apprentices, ploughmen and capable farm hands anxious to become settlers, and that we needed another million people in the cities and two million on the land, whom we would welcome ,and who if here to-morrow would all find ample employment, Sir Joseph Ward said he had brought tjio matter of immigration up at the Imperial Conference. Labour exchange and immigration was a very difficult matter to deal with at certain times of the year. The system of immigration employed by the High Commissioner was stopped for the time being so as not to bring people hero during the winter months. They were getting as many people in New. Zealand for the purposes named as was necessary. Assisted immigrants of 1910 totalled 2187, and for six months this year the number was 1105. The Government had not changed its policy concerning immigration, and no instructions had been given to alter the system now obtaning. There must be some mistake or misapprehension in the statement attributed to the High Commissioner. Sir William Hail-Jonos could never have said such a thing. THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT. • J .■ is Sir Joseph Ward stated that the Financial Statement would bo. brought down on Friday evening. The Railway Statement would bo submitted before Friday. COAL MINES BILL, i Hon. R. McKenzie moved the committal of the Coal Mines Amendment Bill. He explained that the Bill contained a provision for the determination of leases within six months; also for allowing the Minister, on behalf of his Majesty, to purchase and sell Coal, wood' and coke, -t 3 ' ,f Mr Massey objected to the last clause, dealing with the sale, of wood and coal. He objected to the way the Government was going into business. The State should be used to crush monopolies and combines, and so far as he knew there was nothing of this description in connection with the coal trade, and if there were not, what was the object of the clause? The House adjourned at 5.30 p.m.

In the House in the evening the debate on the motion for committal of the Coal Mines Bill was continued. Messrs Herries and Herdman contended the Government coal ventures were not successful and did not pay. Mr Herdman characterised the State management as tiie worst possible, involving waste, neglect, carelessness, and often incapacity. Sir Joseph Ward pointed to the fact that whereas coal was £2 a ton before the State mines were established, the retail price in Wellington now was.23s. Private consumers in Wellington saved £50,000 a year and in Christchurch £35,000 a year. The existence of the State mines had a steadying influence on the price of coal and prevented a combination. The balance-sheet of the State coal mines showed a net profit of £0179. After further discussion, the Bill went into committee. The Bill was reported from committee with amendments. Wellington, September G. • In the House, after 12 o’clock, the Hutt Road Bill was put through committee and progress reported on the motion of Sir Joseph Ward. The House adjourned at 12.50.