PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 144146, 16 July 1913, Page 4

PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. AFTERNOON SITTING. PER PRESS ASSOCIATION. WELLINGTON, July 10. The House met at 2.30. Tho Hon. Jas. Allen gavo notice to set up a committee to inquire into the working of the Defence Act. The Hon. A. L. Hcrdmau gavo notice to introduce tho Police Offences Amendment Bill. Mr. A. T. Ngata was granted four days’ leave of absence. The Defamation Bill (Mr. Herdman) and Napier Harbour Board Empowering and Loan Bill (Mr. Campbell) were read a first time. The Prime Minister laid before the House the report of the Forestry Commission.

The Land and Income Assessment Act Amendment Bill and Police Force Bill were received by Governor’s Message and read a first time. On the motion of Mr. G. M. Thomson, the Minister explained the provisions of the former Bill, but his remarks were inaudible in the Press Gallery. The purpose of the Bill is to •liberalise the terms of the Act. tho main. provision being to extend the limit of exemption to persons with ffttnilies. ADDRESS-IN-REPLY. Mr. J, B. Hine continued the debate on the Address-iu-Reply. He contended that what New Zealand wanted was settlement of tho people on small areas. The Government was doing that. The weakest spot in the present and past administrations of the settlement of lands was tho pace at which roads providing access to backblocks were made, and the condition of tho roads. These were a disgrace. He hoped that the Government would make strenuous efforts to find more money for settlers in the hack-blocks, and to find a system for the provision of medical comforts for people in isolated places. He regretted that the Minister had not fulfilled his promise of last session' with regard to nurses for the back-blocks. Mr. Hunan: The Government wants stirring up. Mr. Hino: They do want stirring up. Dealing with labour matters, he thought it should be made compulsory that a majority should rule in connection with ■ tho formation of unions. Dealing with banking matters, he hoped that tho Government would safeguard tho interests of the Bank-of Now Zealand. The bank’s functions ; should be extended towards tho State. If, the Government were wise they -would make provision with some bank, .if not the Bank of New Zealand, so ■that available funds could bo invested at call. They should also have an agreement with a bank under which they 'could, when emergency funds wore need, draw on the bank without incurring tho expense of underwriting.

Mr. H. G. Ell followed. He hoped the House would watch closely any legislation put through affecting the Bank of New Zealand. He sincerely hoped that tho matter would not be discussed on party lines, but that the interests of tho people of the Dominion would be properly protected. Tho matter should be looked at from a national standpoint. He criticised the proposal to increaso the bank’s capital to five millions, and in that respect contrasted the institution with the banks of France, Germany, the Netherlands, and others, which he showed had a capital exceeding the Bank of New Zealand’s proposed capital by very little, notwithstanding the enormous difference in the turnover of foreign banks. There was not a man in the House but desired te help old shareholders of the bank. Ho did not think the mortgage tax should be repealed. If it were ft would do no good to the borrowers of this country, but would only assist the rich man. He believed that tho Public Service Commission would cost the country thousands and thousands of pounds and do no good at all. The question of political influence in connection with the public service was a silly, empty bogy. . It never existed. Mr. F. Mander advocated h tax on theatre and race tickets. He thought, when speaking on tho National Provident Fund, that the spirit of tho age was to look to the State for everything. He regretted that fact. In his opinion the natives had not had justice done to them in the past. Dealing with local government matters, he hoped that something would he done this session. The present position with regard to local government matters was most unsatisfactory.

SPEECH BY THE PREMIER. The House resumed at 7.30. The Hon. W. F. Massey said that the place to find the policy of the Government was not in the Governor’s Speech, hut on the second reading of policy measures. That was where the Government’s policy would be found. Speaking of land settlement, ho claimed to know as much of pioneering as anyone, and he was not afraid of tho result when his administration could be .examined. Ho had found that there was a shortage of surveyors, and had met that shortage. The policy of the Government was to put a settler on every acre of land fit to carry a settler. 'So far as the administration of the Land for Settlement Act was concerned, he could say that, with two exceptions, every acre that had been bought had been disposed of, and ho had telegrams, in his possession offering to repurchase at a profit of 25 per cent, the much-criticised purchasefrom Mr. Beetham at Masterton. Quo of tho mistakes mado in tho past in connection with land settlement was that they had not made sufficient distinction between tho man who made good use of his land and the one who merely held it for speculative purposes, and if ho wore at tho head of affairs when tho next change in tho incidence of taxation took place ho would soo that that mistake was remedied, because the main purpose of tho Government was to increase the productivity of land of every class that-was available. Some of the finest land in the Dominion was to ho put on the market in tho course of a few days. Replying to Mr. G. W. Russell, ho claijncxi that tho Government had carried out its pledges by giving the freehold, hy abolishing patronage in the public service., by giving pensions to the Maori war veterans,, kry pw ttiaig tho firmness of the caannltay cm a souarra fainting, and by pruixtofincg .seifctfenHSni.. Ho amhkijait™ tiait in four years ihu-g® estates .dr jjnar HEhUDO acres wduH he redranefl hy alt UmSt SO per cant. 'limy laid pranaßnil to rafarm

the Legislative Council, and they were doing it* They had now placed full information before the members on the finances of tho country through the Finance. Committee. Ho admitted that tho expenditure had increased during tho year. This was due to the growth of big departments, such as tho oldage pensions and education. The rov.enuo had increased at a much greater ratio. He denied that there was any bargain between the Government and the Hon. T. Mackenzie in connection with tho High Commissionership. ' He characterised as a mean slander the statement that the Government was fostering financial stringency in order to play into the hands of the money institutions. Aggregation was not going on under the legislation of the Government. He defended tho Government for sending police to Waihi, and read a letter signed bv ovor 800 residerfts endorsing that action. Mr. Geo. Laurenson claimed that the land placed on the market for settlement had fallen from 400,000 acres under the Liberal regime to 156,000. Tho recent loan was ono of the greatest blunders ever perpetrated. Mr. Massey, when in opposition, had condemned the appointment of political rejects to the Council. When in office, three of tho four gentlemen appointed were rejects. He did not condemn the appointments, but denounced tho inconsistency. Dealing with the Public Service Act, he would like to know why tho biggest brancli of the public service was not under what ■ was termed the “irresponsible triumvirate.” He attacked the Government for its attitude during the Waihi strike. The Minister of Justice stood aside while ono sot of workers went at tho throats of another. Ho denounced tho action of the Government in appointing Mr. Garlick without advertisement. Mr. D. Buick commended tho Government’s legislative proposals. He pleaded for an agricultural college for tho North Island. Tho Government ; had clone a good action in giving small grazing run holders a bettor tenure of land. If the settlors were prepared to put their hands in their pockets and build light railways they should be encouraged. It would help the settlers and help the Government.

All'. W. A. Veitrl) moved tho adjournment of tho debate, and the House rose at 11.10 p.m.