PARLIAMENTARY.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13648, 16 July 1908, Page 6

PARLIAMENTARY.

Per Press Association.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. WELLINGTON, July 15. The Legislative Council met at 2.00 p.m. ADRRESS IN REPLY. The Attorney-General replying to Mr McArdle eaid that he would bring under the notice of the Finance Minuter the question that no provision for aclvane.cs under the Settlers Act was made for those taking up lands under private contracts with natives and other landowners Mr McCardle mentioned that in the King Country alone there were 200,000 acres so affected. SECOND READINGS. The Incorporated Societies' Bui, NewZealand Accountants' Bill and jtfeikle Acquittal Bill were read a second time. In refering to the Meikle Acquittall Bill Mr JenMnson mentioned an lnvercargill case in which a man recently sentenced at the Supreme Court to three months for altering a certificate to enable him to obtain work and thought that the Government, in considering petitions on the matter, might have allowed the man to go The Attorney-General in reply, said that the most careful consideration had been given to the case by the Government, and if Mr Jenkinson was aware of all the circumstances, he would not ask this or any other Government to release the man. Irt the interest of the man concerned he did not think it prudent to produce the papers in the case, but he would do so if desired. _ The Council adjourned at 0.10 p.m. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House met at 2.30 p.m. GIFT OF A PORTRAIT. An offer of a portrait of the late Sir John Hall was on the motion of the Premier accepted with pleasure. ALLEGED DISCOURTESY. Some dissatisfaction was expressed at the explanation of the Official Assignee in Wellington, why he refused to allow a. Hebrew to take the oath with his hat on and members insisted that public officials should display courtesy towards the public. THE WOOL SALES. The Premier read a cable message showing that the demand for wool was keen and prices rising at. the London sales. General satisfaction was expressed by members. , REPLIES TO QUESTION.

In reply to questions Ministers stated— That the Government were not aware that the rumours that it was intended to increase the Government Fire Insurance rates Were well founded. The Government, however, had been advised that the prseent rates were probably too low to meet the risks run, but the matter had not yet been considered by the GovernThat it was intended to amend the Municipal Corporation Act 1900 to enable Borough Councils owning working gas works to sell coal to their burgesses and others, but whether this would be done this session depended upon the progress of public business. That the Government were unaware that the Chief Justice proposes to visit America and Great Britain next year. Even mi. advantage could not be taken of such visit for him to represent the Dominion at the Canadian celebrations, as these celebrations take place this month. That so far as the Government Lending Department was concerned they have not refused to grant loans upon lands thatowners have been granted petroleum right ° That the scale of duties payable under the Deceased Persons Estate Duties Act « fixed by statute and in no way was there present intention on the part of the Government to introduce legislation to alter the existing law. That tie Government did not propose to make provision in the Old Age Pensions Act for payment of pensions to persons who are incapacitated from work by accident or permanent illness, without requirinu them to wait until they attain the age of 65 The Act in force in the Dominion is most liberal of the various measures in Australasia. That the Government could not agree to free carriage on the railways for agricultural salt. . That everything possible was being done in constructing rolling stock t«. meet the demands anticipated upon the lompletioti of the Xorth Island main trunk railway. That the Government could nt>t grant return tickets at single rates to farmers and others travelling to market on mathr. davs. In past vears a special eonce-sion similar to that suggested was introduced, and .so grossly abused that it had to be discontinued. That with a view to reducing the n>ks incurred by railway officials in changing tablets, automatic "tablet eiclianges w>-r«r being installed. That the special car-; r-served for the use of ladies on the mil ways was nor appreciated. The- modern carriage; aie amply provided with lai.au.iv uccuiuun dation. That the potentialities of a field of anthracite coal lying between Charleston and Fox's Kivvr wer« recognised, ami thatit was intend-d to have a detailed gei.lo gical sune-v made of the area which had been reserved from ;:ale or lease-. That there was no probability of the* patent laws being revised this s< ssion. That a Bill t» make it compulsory for mine-owners to provide proper aeioinuio dation for employees would involve a.

drastic alteration of the law, and could not, be brought down this sess'on. That the. Government wa.s not aware :hat Australian flour was arriving, in sacks bearing the brand of N.-w Zealand flour millers, but. the Customs officers had been instructed to look out for such cass. That municipal lish markets would better -meet the 1 requii-m- ms of li.diermen than dealing market.-, established by the Government. That a. Bi.l was now under consideration for ■ the purpose of dealing with shoddy goods and would deal with branding. That the Government could not introduce legislation to provide for the payment to local bodies of half the royalties collected from the sale of timber from State forests. The revenue therefrom was the onlv source from which the operations of "the afforestation department were maintained. That the. matter of amending Hie Noxious Weeds Act was under consideration. That inquiries were being made regarding the advisability of importing owls and other birds of prey to put. down the small bird pest. That it was considered almost- impossible, to organise four thousand coiitingeiiters who served in South Afiica. into a separate battalion, as they were scattered all over the Dominion.

Thct Ihe general issu-- of topographical war map.* to volunteeis was not considered advisable.

That a Poisons Bill dealing amongst other things with the sale of chlorodyne would shortly be introduced.

The remainder of the afternoon was occupied in criticising U\e replies made by \ Minister--'. THE FINANCIAL DEBATE. \ At 7.30 p.m. Mr Gray resumed the financial debute, reviewing tin- progress of the public works policy since ihe days of Sir Julius Vogel ami the development (if the Dominion for I lie past 30 ycais. Mr Cray advocated the. utilisation of the waU>r jjower resources of l lie colony, and tno-jgn .that a. beginning should be made with the electrification of the Christchurch LyttoUon railway. Fie did not favour water power being dispensed of tc private persons, but lie could see no reason to object to municipal and local bodies being permitted to use it. Hel congratulated tho Government on the higlilv piosprous state of the Dominion. Mr Malcolm thought that the Government, deserved «mi 3 of the credit for the prosperous condition of the colony, but they were too anxious to take upon themselves the. whole' credit. He favoured au increased naval -subsidy, more encouragement, to volunteers, and greater facilities for land settlement than are at present being offered. He. thought the Government should have outlined the scheme on which a quarter of a million is to be expended on roads. He thought the invitation to the American fleet 1o visit our waters indi>scieet, the cost of which he put down at £IO,OOO. The money cijiil'l have, be-n more prolitably expended. The issue of dominion medals in school children, and the exhibition organ to t.'hristchun h. were a warste oi money. lie declaied that the taxation \h i- head of the people had increased £1 &. o.t in the past ten years. The population was not increasing at the rati' it should, and thab matter lequiied Hie ear- ' nrst consideration of Parliament. Possibly lit: thought the fault flight, lay at the door of the. women, who weie n«-« more and more drawn away iiom domestic duiie.s. Mr Witty then contributed to tho fte--I>ate, urging great, caution under the new land .settlements proposals by which a settler could borrow all the, money required for the purchase of his land. He thought a man should put 10 per c*>nt. down in cash. He said that the professional agitator was not required in tho labour worid and ought to be turned out. Mr ?dander approved of the roading po-ticy of the Government and appealed for the development of North Auckland. He complained of the policy of forcing up land valuations and said that the Government were not as much the friends of the farmer as they pretended. To populate the north the. freehold must be granted. He supported national annuities and advocated a one-third increase on necessaries and two-thirds increase on the luxuries of life to provide a pension of 7s to 10s a week. The best chuis of immigrants should bo encouraged but the freehold must be given to thorn. He opposed the co-operative labour .system as unsatisfactory. .sir Izard said that Ministers must visit all parts of the Dominion in the rt-cef.s. One result of the Premier's visits was the roading proposals oi to- lsmig<t. The progress of the. country since the. Liberal Government came in was undoubted. On the motion of Mr !{• id i'lafii;. ■■'' debute, was adjourned. The House rose at 11.40 p.m.