PARLIAMENT AT WORK.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 September 1924, Page 5

PARLIAMENT AT WORK.

ESTIMATES DISCUSSED. THE LANDS DEPARTMENT. PROBLEM OF PESTS.

By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, Lut Night. Th. Houm of R«preaentativM met at 2.30 pm. to-day, the whole sitting being devoted to further consideration of the Estimates. _ The Land and Survey Department (£173,658) was the first vote taken.. The debate opened with a desultory duewssion on the damage done to lambs by the kea, the ravages by rabbits and wild pigs and the menace of noxious weeds, several members contending that the Lands Department should be more energetic in eradicating the latter from Crown land*. The Han. D. Buddo (Kaiapoi) contended that the only way to check the rabbit menace was to stop the export of skins. Until that was done the farming of rabbit* would go on. Replying to criticism of the unduly large proportion of arrears owing jy soldier settlers in the Wellington land district compared with other districts, the Minister said the men affected had gone in for dairy farming, which had involved them in great difficulties. In other districts the men had engaged in wool grbwing, which bad recovered from the slump effects more rapidly than the dairy industry had. Mr. J. R. Corrigan (Patea) Mid the position wa* due to the high prices paid for land taken for soldier settlement. He had vet to learn of any such settlement that ‘had not been bought from a supporter of the Government. Mr. Massey said this statement was unfair, as it suggested that there had been dishonesty. He pointed out that the purchases were made by the National Government, so that the members of the Liberal Party had to bear responsibility if mistakes were made. Mr. S. G. Smith (Taranaki) condemned the Government’s purchase of the Tututawa estate in Taranaki for sub-division for settlement as dairy farms lands. It was suitable for sheep stations but it was of do value for dairying. He referred also to the McCutheon estate, which had proved useless for small farms. He asked who was reflponsibte for recommending that these purchases should be made? Colonel A. Bell (Bay of Islands), depreciating the charge of dishonesty against the Government, said the largest block of land in his district bought for soldier settlement was purchased from a very bitter opponent of the present Government. The Minister for Lands (Hon. A. D. McLeod) agreed with Colonel Bell that an extension of the homestead settlement system might be productive of good, but it would involve further borrowing and it would be better to get rid of some of their present difficulties before incurring other indebtedness. He refuted the suggestion that the Government at any time was out to fatten its friends at the expense of the country. The Hon. W. Nosworthy said that Mr. Corrigan had inferred that the members of the revaluation boards were all supporters of the Government. He (Mr. Nosworthy) was acting Minister for Lands at the time and could assure members that he was particularly careful to prevent anything like such a charge being made. In Ashburton he asked three political opponents to be members of the board. Two refused and he then appointed others. The vote was passed. Several other votes were passed, the last one being passed at 12.45 a.m., thus completing the passinf of the Estimates.

The House rose at 12.50 a.m. till 7.30 on Monday night.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

SEVERAL BILLS PASSEL The Legislative Council met st 2.30 n.m. to-day. The Imprest Supply Bill No. 4 was introduced from the House and put through ■all stages and passed. The Post and Telegraph A mendmeat Bill was introduced and read a -first time. The Local Bodies Loan Amendment Bill, the Seddon Family Burial Ground Bill and the Police Force Amendment Bill were put through their final stages and passed. The Council adjourned at 3.25 p.m. till 2.30 p.m. to-morrow.