PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 144147, 17 July 1913, Page 4

PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. REPLIES TO QUESTIONS. PER PRESS ASSOCIATION. WELLINGTON, July 16. The House met at 2.30 p.m. Seven days’ leave of absence was granted to Mr. To Rangihiroa, the Northern Maori member. Tho following Bills wore read a first time:—Christchurch Electrical Empowering (Mr. Davey), Police Offences Amendment (Mr. Hordman). In reply to questions, Ministers stated that the whole matter of agricultural colleges and experimental farms would be referred to the proposed Board of Agriculture as soon as the board is established. If good shipping facilities and suitable freight charges were available, a profitable and permanent market for stud stock from Now Zealand ought to he obtainable in South America, but the present position did not warrant the chartering of a steamer, which would have to bo of considerable size, and for which little, if any, return freight would be available. It was understood that the practice of steamers from New Zealand to Great Britain calling at Punta Arenas was abandoned owing to the additional insurance charges payable oh ships passing through the Straits of Magellan. Tho whole question would bo further gone into with a. viovv io determining whether anything could bo done by tho Government in the direction of developing tho trade. The statement by the Minister for Marino “that the day might not be for distant when tho Government might -find it economically sound to hand over the trust of its charitable institutions to the Salvation Army” did not express the policy of the Government. The extermination of opossums in all districts whore fruit was grown was desirable and would not be prevented by tho Government, which had under consideration tho question of how' far tho animals should be protected within certain defined areas remote from orchards.

There was no specific prohibition in tho Shops and Offices Act of the employment of assistants on Sundays. Members of Parliament were within their rights in communicating with local , bodies on the subject of local wants or requirements. A report was being obtained as to the number of State employees who suffered by tho Gore floods, together with an estimate of tho loss.

The principal provision of tho FamilyProtection Act was that property must bo free of all encumbrances prior to the issue by the district land, registrar of a family home certificate. It was proposed to refer the question of tho establishment of agricultural high schools and colleges to the Education Committee.

Free railway passes were issued to territorials and senior cadets travelling on military duty, including proceeding a distance to drill. The department also did its beat to afford special treatment in instances where attendance at drill necessitated a long journey by tram, but so far, although the tramwayauthorities in different centres had been repeatedly approached, it had not been possible to secure any concessions on the trams.

The Government was considering: the matter of amending the Land and Income Assessment Act, providing for exemption from mortgage tax of all mortgagees whose total respective incomes from all sources, including that from interest derived from their mortgages, did not exceed £3OO. It was the intention to obtain power by legislation for authorising the holding of public inquiries into accidents similar to that which occurred at New Lynn.

It was tho intention to ask tho House for power to raise a special loan, to bo spread over a term of years, for the Wellington railway station and other large works in other cities and towns. It was regretted that the Government was unable to depart from its decision respecting the attendance of Govorn.ment workshops! apprentices at technical colleges during the daytime. The apprentice* were afforded every opportunity for becoming proficient at their trades in railway workshops.

It was recognised that there were numbers of people in various parte of the Dominion whoso occupations did not permit of their travelling during the pexdods that holiday excursion tickets were issued over railways. It was, however, quite impracticable for the Railway Department to carry ono section of tho public at holiday excursion fares and charge another section excursion rates when ordinary fares were the general rule. It was found to be inadvisable to bring the Post Office Savings Banks into line with commercial banks in tho matter of provision being made whereby depositors may issue cheques. THE ADDRESS-IN-REPLY. The debate on the Address-in-Reply was resumed. Mr. W. A. Voitch dealt mainly with the cost of living, contending that no remission of public taxation would benefit the people unless the Merchants’ Association was attacked. Commercial and industrial monopoly was as bad as land monopoly, and the private taxation levied by merchants was tho most potent factor in keeping up the cost of living. He advocated an elective executive, proportional representaton, reform'' of the Arbitration Court, and inquiry into the charges made against the Police Department in connection with Waihi by Mr. Robertson, member for Otaki. The Hon. R. H. Rhodes claimed that the Massey Government had earned tho gratitude of tho people of Waihi by its prompt action in sending police to preserve life and property. House resumed at 7.30 p.m. Mr. L. M. Isitt deprecated the party system of Government and defended his attitude of independence. He criticised tho Government finance, claiming that the expenditure was £500,000 more than tho revenue, a position which they would have denounced had the Ward Government brought down such 1 a statement. Ho contended that . the Prime Minister had produced a faked telegram in support of the statement •that Bectham’s estate could be resold at a profit. He condemned the granting of tho freehold to New Lynn lessees. He advised the Liberal Party to print and circulate throughout tho Dominion particulars of the transaction. If that did not kill tho Government he did not know what would. Parting with those lands robbed tho people of hundreds of thousands of

pounds. Ho objected strongly to the appointment of Mr. Boyd Garlick as physical culture instructor without applications being called for the position. Mr. E. P, Leo contended that in no way was there any aggregation of land, if any had occurred, to bo laid at tho door of the present Administration. Ho could not soe why tho Liberal Party, with tho majorities behind them, had not broken up the large estates.

Mr. H. G. Ell: They did so; one ofyour own side admitted it. > Mr. Leo : Then why all this cry about largo landholders? Mr, T. K. Sidcy followed, taking the line that the Government w:is now defending the conditions they had previously condemned, more particularly in regard to finance. The surplus on March 31 was no different from the surpluses of years back, which were always described as bogus. The compact following of tho Government party was described as loyalty. Formerly it was called servility when the Liberals voted solidly with their party. No reform of the Lower House was proposed. The reform of the Legislative Council was not intended to pass. Mr. Young moved the adjournment of the debate, and tho House rose at 11.33.