PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 144421, 8 July 1914, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. ADDRESS-IN-REPLY. yBB PRESS ASSOCIATION. WELLINGTON, July 7. The House mot at 2.30. After the suspension of Mr. Payne, member for Grey Lynn (as reported elsewhere) the House proceeded to ordinary business. Leave was given to Mr. Hindmarsh to introduce the Imprisonment for Debt Limitation Amendment Bill, which was read a first time.

Mr. Massey intimated that on hearing of the death of the Right Hon. Joseph Chamberlain, he bad sent a cable to Airs. Chamberlain, condoling with her on the death of her distinguished husband, and that that day he had received a reply tendering the thanks of her and her family for sympathy. Sir Joseph Ward said that on behalf of his side of the House he would endorse the- sentiments expressed in the Premier’s cable. He eulogised the life work of Mr. Chamberlain, one of the greatest of Englishmen. The debate on the Address-in-Repiy was resumed by Mr, Escott, who spoke with pleasure upon the prosperous state of the primary industries, the operation of the Public Service Acts, and the proposal to improve the position of teachers and increase their salaries. He contended that it was misrepresentation to say that the Government cpntemplated the establishment of an independent navy.

Air. Seddon urged that the Government should give some indication of when tho Cost of Living Commission’s report would be discussed. He deprecated the failure to give the AVest Coast representation upon tho Agricultural Board, and complained that the Governor’s Speech made no mention of mining legislation. Since the Government came into office there had been a sad fallihg-off in attention to the gold-fields. Mr. Scott said ho knew no country in the world in which the workers were so well off, but the time must come when the overloading of employers by high wages must cease. It was not only the high wages, but the inefficiency of the workmen, which employers in both town and country had to contend with. Air. Isitt, in congratulating the members who proposed the Address-in-Re-ply, said that they had performed the difficult task of making bricks without straw. He wanted to support Sir Joseph Ward’s amendment, although ho did not suppose it would be carried, for the Government supporters were so supine and lamblike in their submission that they would submit to anything put forward by, their leaders. He condemned the native land legislation of the Government, which was against the interests of the native, The one great cry of the Government' was “settlement, more settlement, and still more settlement.” EVENING SESSION. Resuming at 7.30, Air. Isitt continued his speech. He complained that the small farmers were not represented , upon the Agricultural Board. He contended that there was aggregation directly contributed to by the legislation placed upon the Statute Book by Mr. Massey. Touching on defence, he declared it was idle to say that six months ago the Government urns not in favour of an independent navy. The training of 60 men would cost £50,000 a year, or at the rate of £2500 per man for a three-year course. He ridiculed. the suggestion that tho “Reformers” were not conservative. He hoped that if they were not to carry the no-confidence motion here, ho would see it carried in the country in six months’ time.

Mr. Rhodes (Thames) said the Speech from tile Throne was a commonsen-so document. The legislation passed last session had tended to bring about settlement. He believed it would be possible to reduce the cost of living to the people by some adjustment of custom taxation, provision of workers’ homes, etc., and regretted that no mention was made of mining matters in the Governor’s Speech. Many valuable reefs remained to be found. Mr. Webb said ho could congratulate ,the Government upon standing true to the traditions of the Party, and had brought down a policy which was absolutely barren of anything in the way of progression. He believed the strike was a relic of barbarism, but, if so, was not the cause of the strike all the more a relic of barbarism/ The Government was largely responsible for the industrial strife. He pointed out that the condition of occupancy of land was duo more to the Liberals than to the present Government. Credit was due to the Government for increasing the graduated tand tax. He agreed with the Opposition upon defence, and would tar rather have the naval subsidy, but felt, in view of the 1909 agreement, that the contribution would not mean an increase in the navy, but whatever they paid would duly go towards a reduction in the Imperial ftaval Estimates. Mr. Massey was not to blame for disregarding the interests of the native owners. The West Coast Lands legislation passed by the Liberals in lt>93 bad prevented the natives from occupying their own land. ' Mr. Ell was opposed to a local navy scheme. The Mackenzie Government did real good work. The Second Ballot repeal went through last session because the Opposition members were stopped from speaking by the chairman of committees. They heard nothing now of the hardships of settlers, the settlers had only been used as a whip for the Liberals. Tho policy of the Liberals was to ease the lot of the small taxpayer. He quoted extensively to show that substantial remissions hqd been made in customs taxation by tho Liberals, and said tho Liberal policy in tho past was one of which every Liberal should be proud. Mr. Thompson moved the adjournment, and tho House rose at 12.15 a.m.