PARLIAMENTARY.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13653, 23 July 1908, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY.

P«r Tresa Association,

WELLINGTON, .luly 22. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Tb<* Council met at 2.30 p.m. BELIEF TO SETTLERS. Mr McArdle's motion that tlia attention of {'lie Government be called to the long delav in extending relief to numbers of cottiers who met heavy losses through the "veafc fires that swept a large portion of The newly settled King Country was earBILLS PASSED. .

The. Courts Procedure Bill, Acts Interpretation Amendment Bill and Town Boards Amendment Bill were passed through their final stages. BILLS POSTPONED. Incorporated Societies' Bill and Law I'raei'ilioiicrs Act Amendment Bill were postponed until next sitting day and the Now Zealand Society of Accountants Bill until Wednesday. With respect to the Law Practitioners Act Amendment Bill the Attorney-General stated that ho had received letters from a number of law students that their positions should be more clearly defined and he desired to consider t'lie question. On rising the Council adjourned ■ tinlil Tuesday afternoon next.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Tho House met at 2.30 p.m. REPLIES TO QUESTIONS. Replying to questions Ministeis said That they could nou see their wuy to incroase the amount usually voted for the .•salvation Army. That ii By-Laws Bill would be introduced this session. That instruction had been given to connect Great Barrier and Auckland by cable and that the work would 1)j put in hand on arrival of material. That t-hera is no objection t.o leases of native laud lrom Maoris approved and endorsed by the Maoii Land Boards being made a. ot security lor loans liom tto Advance to Settlers Oltiee, provided su'en leases contain conditions similar to xliose ,u leases from the Crown in respect to i-lie light to leucw all compensation lor improvements and conditions of forfeiture. lliat in the amendment to the Electoral Act a. new form ol ballot paper would be provided for with one blacK corner tso as 10 put beyond all quetwon the secrecy of l lie ballot in this respect. That there was no necessity for a special carriage for ladies travelling villi young girls. Tn<u- in lie interests of public safety I hey could not grant a. liaa-holiday to surlace labourers on the Government railwavii.

That tho main object of providing the quickest and mo,;t reliable means of communication lor passengers and mails on Liie North Island trunK. line could not be subordinate to vourists. The timetable mentioned in the railways statement issued hint week provided the best possible service for the iieoplc. That liiey could not issue free railway tickets to children under 16 travelling to school or work.

That it was not desirable to formulate a scheme to render assistance to natives living abroad who may desire to return to tne dominion.

That until tho present system of immigration oi British born subjects fails to give satisfaction, it was not necessary to attract immigrants from Geimany and other countries

Thai is was nut intended to make the pruviiions of the Shearers Accommodation Act apply to sheds, where less tb.au six :,lic;uei<> were engaged. Thai/ they could übolish the duly on millet, and sorghum seed. That they had no intention to amend (ha Land Act this session.

That, au endeavour would b« mads to introduce a better system of sheep marking in order to assist in the prevention of : ; ht;cp-st-ealing. That the Government; proposals regarding superannuation of teachers and also the appoint met of members of .hospital and charitable aid boards would be included in Bills to be brought down.

That there was no intention to introduce legislation dealing with university questions. That it was not intended t'o amend the Vaccination Act this session.

THE FINANCIAL DEBATE. The financial debate was resumed by Mr Arnold (Dunedm South) who said that the Budget, was satisfactory. Prosperity was undoubted and was shared in by the poorer classes, though the number of unemployed this winter was greater than in past years. The dominion should entertain ilie American fleet. The administration of the Old Age Pensions Act required to be looked into. He applauded national uunuties, arid said that nobody wanted to repeal the Arbitration Act. The late unrest was not due to the Act bub to the way it was administered. It was quite true that there had been talk of a coalition between the Government, and the Opposition, the idea being that thereby labour could better be resisted. Lanour felt, it necessary to secure separate representation iu the House, and nobody seem•cd to care for its interests. "What was required was conciliation. The Arbitration Court with its compulsory powers must remain. If disputes could be heard more expeditiously and preference ba given to uuionists by statute, the workers wmld be satisfied. Soine of the proposals bi-iore eoumiv now would satisfy robody, bit a, reasonable Bill could be made out of the one now before the Labour Bills Committee. . ; Mr Remington (Rangitikci) said that | she large surplus had obviated greater borrowing. Unemployed of a kind would always be with us. He spoke at considerable length on Socialism, saying that Blatchfmd was the representatives' Socialist. He advised the Opposition to read several books to educate themselves on the subject. The Valuation Department had not placed fictitious values on propertties. He thought it was not wise for the Government to guarantee the full amount of money borrowed on the security of land as proposed -under the special laud settlement scheme. Many Government', members bad assisted the Opposition to keep the flag of freehold flying. Mr Hardv (Selwyn) said that some agitators had "been appointed to positions in ihc Labour Department. These could scarcely bo unbiassed officers. The Government party was nondescript ■ and the lilinistry weak-kneed and limp backed. Labour only favoured arbitration when it was in its* favour. He criticised Ministers individually, and said the Budget was full of' promises because the Govern-, ineiib had not the will or the power to resist any request. The House adjourned at 0.60 p.m. The House resumed' at 7.30 p.m. Mr Hardy continuing his remarks said that combine and tariff ";id put up the price of agricultural implements 50 \kv cent. The workers here did not want £oeiali.-iu. The-Crown tenants were dissatisfied, they wanted the freehold. Air Barber (Newtown) followed with congratulatory reference to tlio Budget, lie said that a preferential tariff <M imt favour the mother country as it should. IWerrhifr to the .public debt "bogey," ho said that a young country nuvt borrow moiiov. The workeis' luuik*; bad been a. failure. The special land settlement proposals meant transference of the freehold from one to many. The -Arbitration Act was ujireeptib's « f amendment 'fo «ati--'r all parties Mr Barbsr said the timber trust here was putting up prices and keeping many out of work. The non-as-sociated millers were being boycotted. High prices m.9ant high rents. The duty on imported timber should be abolished. Mr Ell (Christichureh South) said the Government must go into the timber mill-

ing industry to break up the ring. The exportation of white pine must be stopped in t-Jis interests of the dairy industry. Mr Ell said the tariff.had kept outl sweated and shoddy goods. The electors judged tho Government by its works. The Government had not, climbed down in the. land policy; the tariff had not lowered the standard of labour; the labour courts hud not increased tho cost of all eorinnodiik's; clothes were cheaper now than lien years ago. The Government should persevere in the workers' homes • policy. He appealed for chaaper railway fares for workers to stop rural depopulation and city overcrowding. . Mr Greenslade (Waikato) regretted altcuipts to decry financial stability. Advances to settlers had prevented a reversion ifo the days of 10 per cent. He was glad to see the Maoris uplifting themselves--. Ho admitted tho growth of land ■sottlemeut arid approved of tlio backblocks loading proposals. Mr fcSeddon (Westjla-nd) referred to the rosy optimism pervading the Budget, and said that if a tax was not put on Oregon pine ihe local industry would be killed and thousands of persons thrown ouii' of work. Continuing Mr -SSeddon sii'J that the isawniillers were not making a fortune. Timber was coming iii at 20 per cent, hiss than it could be produced here and now being sold at 20 per cent, profit and he appalled for adequate-protection. In regard to mining the -.country should be thoroughly prospected.'- He asked for an experimental farm on tlie West Coast. -He ■rx-prW.sed satisfaction at the iucrcaye of (he naval subsidy. ■ The debate was Adjourned. The Hoiifie rc«e at 12.1 a.m.