PARLIAMENTARY.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13655, 25 July 1908, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY.

HOUSE 01/ REPRESENTATIVES. P«r Press Association. WELLINGTON, July 24. The House met at 2.30 p.m. " - NEW BILLS. The following Hills were read a first time—.Mining Act Amendment Bill, Wellington Town Belt Reserves Leasing Bill, Wellington Citv Empowering' Bill. MR REEVES RESIGNS. The Premier stated that he had received a cable message from Mr Reeves, the High Comniiesiouer, stating that lie had accepted the position of director of the London School of Economics, and would, therefore, have to resign his position as High Commissioner a* from. October nest. Under the circumstances 'i* would be necessary for a, successor to proceed to London to take up the dutkf. The matter was important, and would itquire the Government's careful consideration. He proposed to make a statement to the House before the end of the sessi ri, and to ask the House to place on recordits appreciation of the services rendered to the Dominion bv Mr Reeves. THE FINANCIAL DEBATE. The financial debate was resumed bv tin; Hon. \V. Hall-Jones, who .said that if the roading appropriations were to be c:-:n-pletely spent at the end of the financial year, they would have (o be altered, ile justified the system of co-operative worlds. The railways should not be criticised o.i party lines. There were many disc >inected sections which increased the cost -,i working. It was good policy to run ?ume trains at a lose to develop the country and help the settlers. Though the enjt of material and labour had. gone up, -tbf charges had gone down. It was thepolicy of the Government when the interest earned exceeded 3 per cent, to make further concessions. Fares and freight charges were much lower here than in anv of the Australian colonies. The railways mvsb be consideivd as a whole system, nob as detached sections. Very Tow freight rates were necessary to meet sea competition. THE PREMIER'S REPLY.

Sir J. G. Ward replied at 4 p.m. He thanked the members for the way lie Budget had been debated. The Oppo :i----tipn had asked for caution. He -\voiild show that the Government's policy had been one of caution. The borrow inn- «i i in the dominion had been insignificant. Tlw Government; hud only borrowed £225,000 of the A.M.P. Society's New Zealand moneys in 12 years. What was the use of borrowing on the London market in view of the failure of the New South Wales loan in March last. . 'llie consols were interest-bearing despite what -the Opposition said. Kegarding borrowing Horn friendly societies, he said that nobody in New Zealand had been asked to take up the loans. 'J. lie -'Liberal Administration had spent more in roads than had ever been spent before. Be pointed out thai, the members of the Opposition Lad asked for caution and at the same time wanted a, heavy expenditure. Thi member for Bruce wanted five railways in his constituency. The Premier quoted a passage from a financial journal in London based ou a letter in a Wellington newspaper, stating that the borrowing was £4,000,000 a year. The journal said that the same public opinion was required in New Zealand and in England ilo prevent the colony living on borrowed money. He could not say that this was confidential information, but-he would tell them that there were people here who were always ready '.'o invest in New Zealand stock in London ""hen the price fell low enough. He justified the contention that the financial position was-unassailable, "and complained bitterly of those .who did all they could to decry the financial position of the country. He quoted a letter from Mr Booth, of Booth ,Macdonald and Co., Christclvurcb, and an article from . the ChrisUchnrch •'Press" to tshow that the Budget was satisfactory, and that certain criides were doing harm to the Dominion. (Loud applause. J

• COMMUTE (•; Or SUPPLY.

The llousj then went into t'ommitiee of of supply on the estnnaus and adjourned at 5.3.J p.m. ' The house resumed in committee of supply at 7.30 p.m. • i On the fiiot item of tlu estimates Mr Hemes complained of tltc administration oi the prison camps, aJijgmg that dangerous criminals were sent tuerc, causing alarm and uurusi; amongst the Settleis. The- Hon. Mr McOowan said tlhab the prison, camps lnid not been a failure, and that dangerous criminals were not sent there. Only men of good behaviour were cent to tbtse camps. Mr Massey said lihat the men at the camps were not properly supervised. At nig]iis they went oil' on burglariug expeditions without being detected. The Hon. McUowan said that no real uurest. existed.; He did nob believe that Mr Massey had state.l facts but had repeated wild stories. Mr Okey complained of the lack of inlorinalion regarding Uie dairy induistiy. llio Hon. Mr .-.icNab Kiid that the lcport would bj fcrbmitted shortly. Mr T. MacKcnzie complained that the Goveimnsiib offkcis did not supply enough information regarding the state of the Irfindun niarke.s. The farmers were exploited through information bdng withheld Mr H.nies hoped that! the salaries of the veterinarians would be increased. G<;od m n were leaving the service. The Hon. Mr MeNab said that the'matter would be dealt with in the Supplementary Estimates. Mr Wilford asked for better wages in the priming office and railway service.: Mr liaume nrged the'necessity for giving free railway travelling to children and young persons going to work. He also said that hotelkeeper.s should,be compelled to take children with their patents at reduced rates. Mr Massey said that there was a good deal of unemployment in Iht: cui •. ,n'l it was desirable "to control immigration so as not tk) swell the ranks of the unemployed. The Hon. Mr McNab said that it was not the duty of the Minister for Agriculture to go hat. in hand and offer an increase* of salaries to officers of the Department. No dissatisfaction was expressed by the officers. Naturally if they said they wished to be relieved of their positions he had to accede to. i'.his-request. Dr Chappie. nrged the necessity for encouraging a right class of immigrants to come here. It was-very necessary to' increase, the population. The Hon. W- Hall-Jonas pointed out the comparatively few immigrants iu proportion to the total number who comei here with the knowledge, of the High Com,r missioner. Mr Lewis, Mr Reicl, Mr Ell, and MrGray having spoken the first item of the estimates: — '■ ■ Legislative Council, £2095 was passed. * Progress was reported. The House! rose at 11.48 p.m.