PARLIAMENTARY.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 13015, 30 June 1906, Page 5

PARLIAMENTARY.

Per Press Association. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. ■ WELLINGTON, June 29. The Council met at 2.30 p.m. THE COLONIAL CONFERENCE. Among the papers, presented by the AU; torney-Generai was-the correspondence- relating to the future organisation of colonial conferences in London. SPECIAL RESOLUTION. On the motion of the Attorney-General it;'was resolved that notices, advertise* ments, etc., issued in compliance with the Standing Orders and intended to be introduced in the Council during the session opened on the 27th inst., stand good for next session this year. j THE ADDRESS-LN-REPLY.

Mr Carncross moved tte Address-in-Re-ply. When a mighty tree had fallen, he said, the fall of lesser trees was not likely to; attract the same notice. He referred to; the death of Messrs Kenny and Pinkerton, and eulogised the services rendered by both. The late Mr Pinkertqn in his place in the House had done much, to solidify the Labour Unions. "The speaker also referred at length to the death of the late Premier. It would be easy to fall into fulsome flattery on an occasion .like this, but. they/all; must recognise that a very great man had passed away. Every: one: recognised, his broadness of character. It; had been, said) that he; had. died at the zenith of his fame, but he asked—Had he. reached the summit of bis achievements? His aspirations were ever growing higher and his sympathies broarder, and he Ithe speaker) believed that had he lived he would have accompl?-"!>=> still greater things. Mr Sedrfo" fn' faults, and who had not? "£••.,* fTiey shov'f' bear in mind his tender hearledness and Ms'-great' accomplishments. Mr Jenkinson ■ seconded the motioW There was one phase of the late Premier's character and, his? leguslation ,of : which;he wished to speak—his ; labour legislation. Since 1894 he had passed about forty Acts | all affecting, labour interests. The workers recognised that in Mr Seddon they had a friend. After eulogising Mr Seddon's services to the country, he added a word of praise of the great tact that had been displayed by the Hon. W. Hall-Jones during the very trying time succeeding Mr j Seddon's death. Theyj were there,' however, to push on the legislation that had been suggested from time to time for the benefit of tme^^w^t^^. those members who' J were in-the habit ofy going in the direction of disregarding the i wishes of the majority of people: to give assistance to measures designed for the beneßt of the great mass of humanity. '■": The Attorney-General thanked the speakers for i the- manner in -which- they had mejved the Address. Although the affairs of'.the colony were open to. discussion, oh an j occasion like this, there would be ample opportunity; during the ensuing session of Parliament. Jwhick couldnot:/be delayed, more than a to. deal witlLahyl subiect-.. v .*. s -ia„>;, >,.,:. ■,":,..;... .'..■.", eil:tjhen Address-in-Beply to his\:Eiceilency the Goverjapfc ?■■.{'■ ■>.}.;>;.'; 'iSiiVyjl >_ ;- .'■ v?R^Wanming ?p.mt 'thefSpeaker" re-' .formal 'reply, of the Governor's address and: the Council adjourned until 8 p.m. <fpr the Public Revenues Act Amend;ment'.Bill. . ' : -::-'*..'■' : -'" 1 -".^-v--i

\i]l) 'BILL PASSED. ~ The.' resunied at 8 p.m., and -passed without discussion; through allots stages";the Public Revenues Act Amendment Bill. :

The-Council adjourned indefinitely. ' 4 f L+ __ w* HOUSE QE> .REPRESENTATIVES. Tie HousWmet at' 2.36 p.in. ' 4 " v 1 4 LEAVE OF ABSENCE. Leave of absence for the remainder of the Session was, given to Sir J. G. Ward, Messrs Hainan, McNab, Aitken, Fowlds, and'Rbllard. The Premier in moving to that effect explained the difficulty of his position in having been compelled, while Sir Joseph Ward is the colleague everywhere accepted as the successor to the late Premier, to take* office himself in" the absence of that colleague. In determining to act as he had determined, he had consulted criy his feelings of honour, of-loyalty. He would undertake while asking for an adjournment ;to August -14 th, - that, the House would'lneet some day between that date and ..the 21st." «%.• ij * *- f ADDRESS-IN-REPLY. Mr Millar in moving the Address-in-Re-t ply, said that he felt the melancholy duty allotted to him and thought that after the speeches of yesterday, it 'would be •painting the- lfly and; refining .refined gold i IsSt-M'were to say more now. Still he Jtoust refer to the late Premier The late ' mr Seddon/was oije of the greatest Pre§niers of our history. At tie outset Keliad shown "his courage *and .ability in |he ban Sing crisis. There was no more Spduring monument to any statesman thai* But. old age pension, whicb is the late greniier's monument. "He was perpetually i jKinking of Jbelping those, who* could not ««p themselves, "as Tus $£ Helei& Hos-1 Sital and the lavga bodj of labour legis-1 gtipn attest. Faithfully and honestly he apfovfe to do justice to ; aIL -''The loss mv the loss to the colony of a great democratic leader. Turning to the Premier jMr Hall-Jones); Mr.Millar congratulated >|na on the fact that ..be was first 'Member returned to the House under the system V*ed him op t|ie adnnrable manner in #hich he had conducted the business of Sue House and country in the present, flying time. (Hear, hear.) He con-1 fixatulated him as a financier who had been| J«ble to make a good statement *and a good forecast. He concluded with "a wish that be long spared to'do good work ft the House, i* £ ffMr Baume, --wio seconded the motion, feferred warm]y to the character of the psfe Premier, add fetched his ri*e from §Pfi low«a* rung of the-ladder, applyir<? 3* him I the. words he had himself in that "Mace used in honouring the memory of jua| chief (Mr Ballance). He spoke of the; legislation he hsxt-pessftL which was the wotder lauds. That dS**" 8 £?* %'* ll * <* * IP* who pwdmfculties only touepppse them sue-" Thm %A3dresa ;waa ;»dopted snammpusly on[4h»jjMHeesv , JTOWJORBVENIJIS BILL. |» .""ftl". R»v«nes JSet Amendment ,Bip (with a view to granting supplies) was introduced in committee (Mr Millar m the read .time. The House adjourned' Jot an, hour, ostensibly to representatives to wart on tlje Governor with the Address-ln-Reply really to peruse the Bill. On resuming, v the., Premjer jmoyed the i**& ! &J t * i PtfW the Revenues' Bill*, ex'phtaumrtthatjt* .provisions autholirv ft enolfesrnTpuHH» .expenditure to Tie r .tht period, 'jndw t be-in»fißesm6nV at Moreover enabled' <ier-* be -made iis the railway an provided for the necessary rramrfer to the

Public Works Fund and made provision for £50,000 for the Christchurch Exhibition.

Air Massey thought the position very difficult. By adjourning the House is asked to declare that there is only one man in the House able to carry on the business., He thought there were several men._ On his side he would undertake to pick two without exhausting the roll. (Laughter.) -He was ready to admit that Sir J. G. Ward had the best right- of anyone to the Premiership, but as he is absent Parliament, he -thought, ought to go on with the business. There was much to be done. He .referred* to the provision for the Christchurch Exhibition, the finances, private, members' work, the revision of the tariff, and the setting up of the committees. For the first "nine wetks Government usually only had two days of every week. Had an adjournment of two or three weeks been asked for, no objection would have been Taised. He feared, the adjournment would indefinitely postpone taritt' revision. He was disappointed at the silence, of the Governor's Speech regarding the relations wTth Australia. He wanted, ia view of the fall of interest everywhere, to see the rate of interest on local bodies' loans lowered at once. He would like to see the -land question settled this year. He referred with an anxious mind to the Valuation Department* protesting against the determination evident, to raise every- possible shilling of land tax.. He urged the earlier pi eduction of the public aeconnts, an improvement he would at the proper time insist upon. Coming, back to-the-Bill he thought'that moie money was asked for than was necessary. That clause 4 "seemed to show that the direction of the House last year to pay £200,000. over to the Public Works Fund had been ignored. He did not object to grant an adjournment; he would not obstruct, but he saw a magnificent opportunity for a useful session, and he regretted it was not to be embraced. Mr Wilford advised an alteration *>i detail so as to enable the decision of the House last year regarding the TniniTrmin wage of 8s in the railway service to be fully, paid all round' during the current year, a thing, he said, .that is not being done' now.

Mr W. Allen (Bruce) thought more papers were reuired to justify the requirepers were required and he criticised the finances as shown in the public accounts. Mr Herries dealt with the clause devoted Ito the Maori people and touched on the | native policy of the Government which he I criticised forC dilatoriness appointment of the Boards. Referring to the Public Works Fund he congratulated the Government on the increased vigour they had put into that part of their policy, but asked how the fund is to stand the strain if that vigour is to be maintained? The Premier- in reply threw ridicule on the enormous amount of these demands as contrasted with the short time to attend to- them. He again pointed out the need for the time asked for, an/1 promised if it were.granted to see all Bills prepared, all accounts r«ady, ,and" everything in or c v For his part he sessions* iThere in bis 'opinion ( no need for any session £t©,} last more, than three months, and he'thonglft tfce comxfcry woTpia&e better satisfied. When tshe tariff v came "tobe considered/anomalies ought to be thefirst attention. As to local govMnment a .brand new Bill was on the f*iff M '"~5NF d ne *' "&%> 9°* barrel. 'Tn*re loads to local bodies he said the interest was now-, down, to 3£ per cent.' 'The land question-'•would vbe dealt" 1 " with duly., (laughter); also the valuation question. As to finance the present Colonial Treasurer was going to have sound and safe finance. About the transfers to'the Public' Works Fund the Bill -only enabled the present practice to go on He detailed the state of the Public Works Fund. The credit balance on March 31st last was £492,000, less advances in the hands ,of -officers, £66,520; balance £426.000. The receipts from April Ist to June 27th (yesterday) were —Loan, £118,800; transfer to consolidated fund, £250,000; total, £368,860; making;a credit of £794,000. ' .Since March\ 31st "the expenditure was £488,333; leaving 'a credit balance of £306,000.' A voice:- Do yon consider that sufficient?., ''"..- ,"

Mr Hall-Jones: Yes I do, because there is another available by clause 4 of this Bill enabling that sum to be transferred from the Surplus of the consolidated revenue. ] - > - „ The Bill,was read,a second time on'the ▼owes and had passed all its remaining stages by 6 o'clock. The House then adjourned for dinner. -' The House resumed at 8.30 p.m. i ADJOURNMENT. -* . 5 * ! " A message from the Legislative Courifcll announced the passing of the Public EeVenues Bill in the Council , , On the Premier's 'motion, the, House agreed at its-rising to adjourn till Wed' nesday next "out _of respect memory of the late Premier, the Right Hon. B. J. Seddon. • _ - <■ The Bill having the GovernoV* signature the House adjourned at 8.45 p.m. till Wednesday next at £.30 ( pan.