PARLIAMENTARY.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIC, Issue 13334, 10 July 1907, Page 5

PARLIAMENTARY.

Per Press Association. ■ . ■ . LEGISLATIFB-COU^GIL:-• . WELLETOTOX July 9. ; . The Council met at 2.3 C p.m. FIRST' READING. The Hastings Recreation Reserve Bill 1907 was read a first time. SESSIONAL COMMITTEES. Tim usual sessional committees were Setup. DERATE ' : Mr J. Ansiey resumed the. debate on, th« Address.-in-Reply.' "Hegayeqiialifiedapproval.to the, proposed change of- " colony '' to "dominion,''aid spoke- on the land- qftes{iiiii at considerable length, giving a- general approval of ,the Goyeniment proposals. With regard to: the. -Endowment;question he said that; it was .props-r that tfie small rcvidue of Crow n lands should bfr set aside Yui.il.. reyeryed for. leasehold. The demand fur leasehold lands would always be greater 'thaii the supply. He agreed .that limitation of holdings was essential, and; that the bejjt method'of reducing, the, holdings was through a graduated' laud tax, ,bui> itha- tax rfiould not, commence' too" low down. It shculd corimisnce' from' the point' at which the economic' si'-ejywaS' exceeded ancl proceed oh a steadily rising scale. " The proposal to sulpstititte a; 66 year's'leaie for the len'S'i-in-perpetuity was ibt altogetheV stitTsl'actoiy, as no one.could estimate what the value of land wduld be at'the end'of the term.. In his opihiou the'lease should so on as at present with .revaluation every 21\years. > , • . ■ "•■

Ml- Sinclair followed. He*, approved of the; dominion proposal, and , thought a graduated land tax the proper method of reducing.large holdings,, but- whatever system was adopted it .was essentral that small land-holders should occupy the lands : of the" colony. -He regarded the labour laws as the Magna,'. Charts of" industrial -life, arid he hoped that where they needed 'amendments they would be amended. "DrCollins referred to the Council of Defence, the setting, lip of . whiqh' would' prove, beneficial to die colony. He would like to see every youth in the colony taught ;to handle a-rifle." Referring to the mental hospitals, lie hoped a Bill would b? brought down to provide for the' separation of those who are temporarily mentally afflicted from- those that are hopele-slv insane. He would also like to .see an institution- established for'epileptics. r Mr Jones moved the adjournment of the' debate. - - ' \ ' ' . The Council rose, at 4.10 .p.m. '' HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House-met at 2.30 .p-.m: , FIRST READINGS.. : . :' The Waipukurau County Bill, and Waitara Harbour. District and Empowering Bill, were a. first, time. ADDKESS-IN-REPLY. Mr E. G. Allen in resuming the debate I'ori t.he< Address-in-Reply said although there, were, tc.-a to twelve millions of people in" the Old Country on the verge of starvation, there was a'decided- objection' by the people jai the 01rl''lj.anfl- to Hie'-'policy of; protection,; notwithstanding; thab_ there I w'ere nuhVerous bodies of trades unionists, 'iii 'the, British Isles. This' was' a : matter', iliard' to understand. Trades Unionism'and [Protection seemed to" be linked; together. The' test of the country's prosperity was 'the-assurance of constant employment.' for the workers. The exhibition of: sweated goods, made one blush with, shame at. the 'miserable prices paid for the goods exhibited, representing an average of 7s to 8s per week paid to the workers in the industries concerned. He presumed • that it, was the cry. of the " dear loaf," which tended to make the people of tlie Old Country support and maintain the freetrade policy, which as one time was ne'ees-. sarv when" the tax on corn was equal to the" value of that commodity. Alluding to. tlie' ventilation of railway grievances in -the House Mr'Allen said he did n'ct approve of washing dirty linen in public. He ; thought thev should "first approach- tlie and if no satii-faetion was derived thev 'could ventilate the matter in the 'House. Stationmastcrs had a grievance as lvijriib- the rate of pay. They considered that, thev should be plated on a- similar scale to piKxtmmters, and-he thought, that a just claini. Touching on tariff matters Mr Allen hoped the Government 'would give relief lo the iishermeii. of the ■coVmv iii the direction of taking the duty Vif rats He advocated the duplication of 'the Dunedin-l'ovt Chalmers railway line ,'wbich he argued was of more importance ■!Ui-ui tlie. duplication of the WellinglonHutt line as wheii the Manawatu line, 'was acquired by tlie Government. as .lie believed, it would .lie, there would be nn need to duplicate' the Hurt hiii- Referring to defence matters. In .considered lh;<-t tlie colony .should' have a say. us to the class of guns on the warships of the Australian squadron. -t ip'resent the guns cm.' ' t-h-Ese'vessels were -iWutelv useless; not a 12-ineli gun was 'on any.of the ships patrolling the Australian coast. Mr T. .Mackenzie considered it limes to :put an end. to what had proved to be a profitless"alid useless dibat'e. anil get to the business of the country. H? moved the previous question, Mr McLachlan, in seconding the motion, said that he had not been present during the d-sbate. but lie di-approved of i.ie. aclioti of Mr Horn-by in the matter of

.'tho;railwa.y grievances. He had baen travelling ihYough the- country stirvimj up strife. "Mini next- week was Id be. press-nted with a pur.*t- of sovereigns. JU-lei-ring in the Exhibition, Mr McLachbu.i characterised the agricultural .section as of no educational value, but'merely a dumb show. Thf Premier asked the( i Speaker's ruling as 10 whether Mr Mackenzie was in order, as the effect of his motion would be to prevent, the House carrying to the Governor the Ad.dress-in-Rsply, which would he esrtainly disrespectful. ■■ The Speaker ruled that it was competent to move the previous question. The Premier suggested to Mr Mackenzie to withdraw the motion. Mr Mackenzie protested that the debate had been a great waste of time, and members who did not' desire to prolong it by speaking were liable to be misunderstood by their constituents, who, probably, would mistake tlieir non-participation as evidence that they were not concerned in the country;) affairs. •Mr - Massey said that members were agreed that much waste of time had tak-sn . place, but if Mr Mackenzie's motion weiv carried, it would be unfair to member'? who had /prepared- speeches for delivery. The Premier pointed out that members were perfectly within their rights .in speaking, although he thought it might hs- advisable to, make a change in the procedure in regard to the debate on the Address-in-Reply. Mr Alison deprecated the action of membns in raising the question,of North Island versus South Island. Mr Davey had quoted the public works expenditure « ' during- the last four years in the >iorth • Island', which was distinctly unfair, as during that time much money had been . expended on the North Island grand trunk line, which was not a provincial but a, national affair. He maintained that- the North Island, particularly Auckland, had been'neglected. The development of the North Island was progressing enormously, but Auckland seemed to be regarded by ■• some southern meinbei's, as not behig a portion of / Jfew' : Zealand. The expoHs totalled 18' millions, of which the North' Island exported £10,438,311 worth,.'arid' . the South Island £7,635,284, Auckland's share was £4,204,713,-.■which',was in .excess of any other province.- The imports, .of the North Island, during-1906: amounted''l'd' £9;094,744,' of which'-Auckland's share Viis £3,699,081.. During,the .same period, the • South N Island imported £5;897,557. Of the four principal cities Auckland had not received one-fourth the, amount spent ,on) -public works in' the oilier cities/ railway station was absolutely inadequate for, -requirements, and a new;-' station- or . improvements' .to' the. tragting' 'one. wfire absolutely necessary. '■ Referring to the ... Land Bill, he said,that the people of New Zealand were determined tl\a.t the optional system should continue. • Nothing would cause men and women, to be • thrifty _ atyl keep them in the colony at a time} of; ' depression so much as to give them, the tight of ucquuing^'tli6-'fi - ee'Mt)rd;- '"';■■ i'/-.; ; '-'. i ' Mr Thomson. said' tlikt. sott'eon-snt w.ir, progressing at ratfe'iit-i'Auckland thani in 1 other ,p6itiotisof th 6 colony, ; futile argued": that" tills wai "dW to la'hd' fifing cheaper iii, Auckland' thair' hi tlie; South' Island'. lie' pointed" out' tHati'Nbk-lr, l's :; land sett.lv.ment. was retarded hi the"early, , ' sixties owing to tlie war witli';th.£ Mabils, and it was not right' tlia,l< jileml)e'rs. slltWld' expect the. amount expended'on theS'So'utti Island in the early;'days' -to.'fee' made 'up in expending a similar amount in. ti\s North" Island now. -'\\'".'.-•' . ; '-..;. '. .[/ The iiit.errupfe.cl liy .'tte's;'3o' ■p.nj: adjournment. The He use resumed at 7.36' p.m. v ■'.' ;.""' ;.'f . Mr Tliomstiit- oh festiflilhg l&uT itWiit"' a;. difficulty arcs 1 ? in' 'his' electorate''. laud surveyea i! owiiig*'t6'laclc «f survfejfoW.. which he 'hoped' l tlie ■' Goverimttrit-< wduld' remedy. Referring- to tile' ttiirii»g- ihdilstty he complained'that it had not reoeived th© assistance that its iniportaiice-.warranted; v He advocated- a. .the Agricultural Department, in tion and prohibition.of the export of .kauri timber. • . • - : ..:. , -.. -■

Mr Mander said the most '■ important; items in,the Governor's,, Speech ;>rere the Land Bill Local ..Government BiU, 'and, Tariff Reform.' "If would- tal? e'*;' ' sessioti. to cleiU'yith'itlie'se.mritters proper-- \- ly. Referring to tlie Land' Bill' hV'srfid'.tlfe Opposition suppm-ted' ilie freehold'.'' Vlh connection' with this" Ke.referrea r'o<-till'. 999 years' leaseholders"' arid' Said ■ ! lftat , > he had ascertainedfrom'thS'GoveTnm'e'nt;; afeliiary that £l' mveKfed ; /{br'loP(>''ylearS r ttt .5 ■ y per cent, compound interest would a'mo'tint t0'30,620'-million's sterling;' If tlie Go.v'emment invested the : money received- froirfthe' - settlers for the fretliold on this baaw,itwould return .a. far' greater ariwunfr- than .the increased va'tye thei land would r'etui;n in tlie same,time,. ~;.,.-. „.-■•'. .>' , ■'" * . Mr Stevens eulogised Sir-, J. -.«> Ward's, work, at- the Imperial and Nayiatttioji ,Cozj- -, ference". ('Mr Stevens' advocated .Gov-- ■ eminent■* of New jZealand,. Austr'alja-vand India plating sums;' on\t'h« esl-ima%«"./f or . ' the purpose of su¥sKhsirig r tfe owners: oi. ife Suez canal oii'rcdncing tlie; dues thus lioiioiiliug thfsiv 'Vo«ntrie's.. Realing : Lwp' ■the Navy lie.' Ne,w Zealand should \iiicreasij the stibsidy. 'He favo.iiVed an All Red 'route for the: mail 'service with weekly connection and;'- 1 Suez; but contended that an' effort- imouTd' ; be made -also Snh' FraiiVijseo route. Dealing with' the. land proposals'lie sand the proposal to give -endowments■■'subject to 66 years' renewable leaser would' present groat difficulty;'as tiro; Crown'. W >d?' now open required to be rarefully and would not b? suitabk for. i-iich pui»- * pose. They must, provide god'd'viand' ' put the- peop'o, upon and. see' that.'every srttler wa<= able to get a -livum fro'nt"the section lie- hail taken, up. He had Tib objection to endowments nor to making' provj: sion for the needs of;-prosperity, but to set, apart all ,the regaining Crown''lands' n« : . endowment?.' would retard settlement. In any legislation introduced- he hoped'.pro- 1 " vision would be made giving every-tenant the right- to acquire the freehold. He honed in dealing with native Hnds to-giv.e'fhe Maori every opportunity of settling: on the land and making a home for himself and family..

Mr Bollard contended that the Government by rspureha-inß.': estates were creating the same state of affairs -as existed,'in:'Heland, it?feriing to workmen's home;? he said that it was not-right'to build' a house for a man eirninf £4.a. w-f-.ek as he should be able. "lo build his own house. . Wlint he. desired was to . assist men who did' not' earn -£2 a we A". It to a public scandalthai fliey should leave, th* man earning small wages out in the cold. .At 11 p.m. Mr Davey rose to reply. The. motion was agree.d,to: The House rose at 11.35 pan.