PARLIAMENT.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 26, 15 September 1911, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. (Per Press Association.; Wellington, September 14. The House of Representatives met at 2.30 p.m. PETITION. A special committee was set up to enquire into the petition of the Totara Company for railway extension and any other matter in connection therewith. FINANCIAL DEBATE. The debate on the Budget was resumed by Mr Dive, who deplored the absence' from the Budget of a Land Bill and a Local Government Bill. Regarding the Government dairy herds, he declared the Ayrshire /herd was a very poor one, and that the majority of (he animals would not bring 30s in the open market. Ho condemned the •‘taihoa” policy in dealing with native lands, and criticised the adminstration of the experimental farms by the Agricultural Department. Mr J. S. Thompson contended that the Opposition, by dealing only in half the facts respecting the public debt, were not fair to the country. They omitted to state the assets. Ho mked if the social and intellectual welfare of the people could be better catered for than under the present Government. In the matter of defence he considered the country was doing everything possible, and he deprecated any self-constituted body asking intending candidates to do more in the matter of expenditure. Mr Newman said the Budget was a good election one and provided biibes for political support for every section of the community. Fie regretted the absence of a Land Bill in the Budget; also that the Lands for Settlement Act was not being ma r de better use of. He urged greater expediency ill dealing with native lands, which were increasing in value every year. He regretted there was nothing proposed regarding our industries. The legislation which had been passed had had ■i paralysing effect upon them, and the present position was discouraging. EVENING SITTING. On the House resuming in the evening, Mr Sidey expressed satisfaction at qho railway proposals for Otago, and complimented the Government on tho activity displayed in the unemployed question. He also complimented tho Minister of Agriculture upon his activity in the multifarious duties coming within his scope. He welcomed the setting up of a Royal Commission to ascertain to what extent monopolies existed in the Dominion. It was absurd to 'contend that the Government had not reduced taxation. The worker paid no direct taxation and tho tendency was to reduce the indirect and to incx-ease direct taxation.

Mr G. M. Thompson urged the importance of putting afforestation work on a scientific basis and advocated the appointment of a chief forester for hvc years at a salary of £IOOO a year. He complained of the vague way in which information respecting experiments were given in the Agricultural Journal. Mr Keid remarked upon the circumstances that although the Budget was as important as any placed before the House, the Opposition counterblast was expected. ■ The only front bencher to reply was the Leader of the Opposition. Mr Beid, continuing, approved the humanitarian proposals in the Budget, and maintained the Opposition had constantly opposed better provision for the aged and needy. He traversed the statements that the Government had some of the Opposition planks in the Budget. Mr Okey said the allegation as to the front benches of the Opposition being silent applied to the Government as well. He averred the Opposition were responsible for the workers’ homes scheme, which was quite as beneficial as’the old-age pension scheme. He urged the pushing on of railway works in the backblocks. He would support the humanitarian proposals of tire Budget.