PARLIAMENT.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 25, 14 September 1911, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. (Per Press Association.; Wellington, September 13. The House of Representatives met at 2.30 p.m. REPLIES TO QUESTIONS. Replying to questions, Ministers stated that the periodical revision of sub-postmasters’ salaries was almost complete. Under this revision increases representing improved business will be paid at offices where such increase is warranted. Crown lands in the neighbourhood of Otautau will probably be open for selection in February or March. The attention of the Minister of Marine has been drawn to the statement of Mr Bishop, S.M., that steamship companies are gradually whittling away every right that pas sengers have had conserved to then, for years past by common law, and the question as to whether there shoulo be further legislation in the matter is now under consideration. It was never intended that a State superannuation fund should accept liability it, respect to persons who have once contributed to the fund, but who subsequently left the service. The presem principle could not be departed from in connection with the Railway Sup erannuation Fund.

, THE FINANCIAL DEBATE. Mr Hine continued tho debate or the Financial Statement. He was sorry ho could not see anything particular in tire Statement. It appeared to, him to Ire simply a vote-catcher. He mentioned that Sir Joseph Ward’s Statement gave the amount spent on railways as £25,000,000, and Mr Millar made it £30,000,000. The amount spent on roads and bridges was tire greatest condemnation the Ministry could have. He cited the case of a backblock farmer who had been eleven years on his section and had no track thereto. The farmer in question hac eight children, and when the case war brought under the notice of the Min ister of Public Works, all tire sym pathy ho got was, “Why don’t yor abandon your section?” There was Mr Hine continued, an entire absence in the Statement of the most import ant matters of the day. They wort land tenure and tho cost of living. R< stated that since the Ward Adrcinis tration took office, £970,508 remainec unexpended out of tho amounts voter for roads and bridges. Mr Stallworthy refuted the Opposi tion suggestion that the Statement war a vote-catcher. It was only natural that every good proposal should (ate votes, just as rotten planks lost them. The people of the country recoguiset good proposals when they saw them and that fact accounted for the con tinned return of the Liberal Party With reference to the cry of “Open uj; tho native lands!” he would like t< see both native and other, lands piv, together and dealt with collectively, and not as at present.

Mr Mander said in reference to the remarks which were always directed towards the Opposition that they die good work in probing the Government up and in making suggestions, whicl the Government usually took up. AVitl regard to loans to local bodies, he suggested that the Government should guarantee to the banks money to be voted for local bodies before the Es tiraates came down. This, he contended, could easily be done, and local bodies could have access to the money at ah earlier period than at present. Ho held that both Maori and pakeha should be treated similarly in respect to taxation. The former should contribute towards the cost of the 1 works through which they derived benefit. He instanced the case of the Main Trunk railway increasing the royalties on timber on native lands from one penny to two and three shillings per hundred feet, arid natives paid nothing towards the cost or upkeep of the railways. If the Budget programme were carried out, ho saw no reason for two parties. His objection was to what had been left out, and the bad administration of the Government. The Premier stated in the House this afternoon that the Representation Commission would not take evidence by deputation. .All objections must be in writing. The House adjourned at 5-.‘30 p in.

On the House resuming. Air Scott, in continuing the debate, pointed out that in no way were members on his side of the House land monopolists, but poor, hard-working farmers. He indicated there should be a good market in Java for New Zeal in I fro; on meat and asserted that Australian produce was available there. Ho suggested that the great importance of afforestation warraiPj'J employment of two thoroughly competent i ien, who should be placed in charge here. He considered the Dep irtmuic cue of the most important in the State. Dealing with the subject of immigration, be averred that farmers were Milling to pay any wage for officiont la l our. Mr Glover urged the Goverame.it to make early provision for eld soldiers, who were rapidly Milking; also to bring down the line',of old-age pensions for females f r.mi 05 to 00 years. He drew attention to the languishment of some industries of tbo country, particularly the iron industry. He complimented the Government upon the proposed insurance against unemployment. Mr Nosewortby sought an explanation of what be took to be a confliction of statements in last year’s and this year’s Budgets concerning the national debt. Ho stated that the Government was absolutely afraid to bring down a land policy. They were destitute of a land policy of any shape or form. He was prepared to support the co-operative bank if the State protected it, and the assistance indicated could lie supplied to farmers without State aid. Ho asked why largo city firms should not bo burst up, just as large estates were. Small men then could get a living. The

whole Budget appeared to him to bo a dose of chloroform for the electors. Mr Poole considered the Budget was the most progressive one ever placed before the country. He was sure an honest attempt was being made to settle the native land question. The broadening of the pension system would be hailed with delight, and he believed that the spirit of humanitariauisra was so strong nowadays that such legislation was imperative. He welcomed the Budget as an instalment of the progressive legislation, which would rule out that conservative and retrograde section of the community which was not prepared to give the rank and file a chance. On the motion of Mr Dive the House adjourned at 11.20 jb.m.