HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIX, Issue 78, 23 July 1914, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

The House met at 2.30 p.m. Mr McOombs gave Jiotice of his intention to introduce the Legislature Amendment and Industrial Unions and Trade Unions Bill. The Dunedin City Council Empowerling Bill was introduced by Mr Stathani, and read a first time. ' Mr Allen introduced tlie New Zealand Loans Amendment Bill, which was read a first time. Mr Payne gave notice that when the Licensing Amendment Bill was in committee he would move an amendment providing for compulsory voting and reducing the required majority from 55 to 51 per cent. ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS. Ministers said that there is nothing to prevent any, industrial unionists or trade unionists who desire to use their funds for political or other similar objects from doing so, by registering the societies for the purpose under tho Incorporated Societies Act. The Government would consider the advisability of introducing into the Licensing Bill amendments (a) enabling a poll to he taken in any Maori district in which the question of no supply to Maoris has been decided in the affirmative, and (b) throwing the cost of any such poll on the Consolidated Fund and not on the Maori Council of the district.

lii the event of national prohibition being carried it will lie the duty of the Government to submit proposals with the object of making np the deficiency in revenue resulting therefrom. The Minister of Defence had no reason to think that there, is any grave unrest as regards Territorial service in any part of the Dominion; on the contrary, he had every reason to believe that it is proceeding most satisfactorily. Sir lan Hamilton's recommendations are being carried out, and full partienlars in connection therewith are contained in the annual report by the General Officer Commanding, to be presented to Parliament shortly. Railway carriages are regularly cleaned and scrubbed with disinfectants. The Government is considering the advisability of erecting houses tor members of the police force on departmental sites now lying idle. The House resumed at 7.,‘10 p in. Mr McCallnm moved the second leading of the Railways Improved Lands Bill. He quoted figures to show that lines authorised and pro-

posed involved an expenditure oi £21,000,000. Ho urged that It would Jjo wise to set up a Commission to decide which of these railways would pay best, and that the added value given to laud through which the line or lines passed should go into the coders of the State. Mr Pearce intimated that lie would divide the House against the Hill. L was the refrigerator and separator that had given value to the laud, not the railways. Mr Isitt declared that it was higa time that justice was done to the masses of the people, and that the benefit of largo public expenditure should not go into the pockets of the wealthy landowners, especially in view of the fact that the Government was committed to a policy of encouraging private railways.Mr Veitch supported the Bill, though he thought It did not go far enough. Mr F. M. Smith argued that the land-tax increasing with the Increased value was a sufficient betterment tax. Mr Russell quoted figures to show the "rapid growth of the capital value of the Dominion, and asked what wo were doing to secure for the State a fair share of this huge increase. Iho fact was that while the capital value had increased by £79,000,000, the landtax had only risen by £200,000." 'lbis was the celarest proof that our system was utterly wrong.

After the supper adjournment, the debate was continued by Messrs McDonald, Wilson, Ha nan, Wilkins,on, Coates, Payne and Ell. The debate was adjourned on the motion of Mr Allen, and the House lose at 11.25 p.m.