PARLIAMENTARY.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13661, 1 August 1908, Page 6

PARLIAMENTARY.

.•, P«r Presa Association. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. ■ WELLINGTON, July 31. TW Council met at <s.c.U. p.m. • I COST OF LIVING. "Mr Baxr moved tnat, in the opinion of the Coancil, the Government- should immediately consider the devising of j» scheme of practical measures whereby the heavy cost of living to the married workers compared with tne unmarried may be lessened, and that men with families be tspecialiy considered to that the rearing of families may be looked -forward to with l*ss anxiety, and parenthood encouraged. The question, he said, was -of Hupreine moment ...throughout the world, and the 'day had arrived when matters other than wages, the employer and employee, and the general public, would have to "be taken into consideration,, and not merely the employer and employee as hitherto. The present immigration met. all requirements, bat immigrant's were assisted'who were not entitled to the concession. The Government had done something in the direction indicated by the motion. Homes for workers should be the initial step. He quoted statistics to show the disparity in the cost of living between the married and single workers, and the disadvantage to the former as compared with the latter, and urged that preference should be granted to .married ■porkers by employers. State labonr agencies should be established similar to those existing in Germany. He thought, too, that there was an unjust tax upon everyday necessities which could not be manufactured in the/Dominion. Doctors should be employed and paid by the Government, and should regularly visit the echools and bouses of the people without waiting to be sent for when too late to save life. Parenthood carried "with it a claim on the State.

Mr Loughnan seconded the motion, and said that Mr Barr'6 motion, represented the - true wishes of the country. Th« debate was adjourned. BDLL? PASSED.

' The Consolidated Statutes Bill was put through all its stages. The New Zealand Society of Accountants* Bill was read a third time, and passed. The Council at 5.30 p.m. adjourned until August 19th. HOUSE OF BEPRESENTATTVES. .The House met at 2.30- p.m. COUNCIL AND HOUSE. .The amendments made in the Incorporated Societies' Bill "by the Council, with the exception of a - couple of claims which in the Premier's opinion, would tend to form a close guild were agreed to. A conference was arranged to consider these. THIRD BEADING. • The Consolidated Statutts Enactment Bill, after the Premier -. and others had eulogised Mr Joliffe, secretary of ihe commission, was put through all its stages. COMMITTEE OF SUPPLY. • The House went into committee of supply for consideration of the estimates. Class I.—Legislative Department, £30,074. '•.'■.. - Beprying to members, the Minister for Finance' said that the Government would do what was pessi&e to give clerical assistance to members in dealing with correspondence. The vote passed unaltered. " " Class ll.—Department of Minister for Finance, £57,588. - The Minister explained in reply to Mr Herries, that the increase irom £3500 for discount and 6tamp duty on remittances in London was due to the stringency of the London money market. The vote passed. Class Hl.—Post and Telegraph, £796,638 Beplying to Mr Herries, the Premier said that the Government had done a great deal for the improvement of the mail services. The sum of £20.000 had been offered for a service from Vancouver to New Zealand, but as the steamers could not come here the Government had been thrown back on the Suez service, and had paid the Union Co. and Hnddart Parker lines a subsidy for an improved service connecting with the Suez service. This was, however, unsatisfactory, owing to the extra time involved. The Government were anxious to bring about a fast mail service in conjunction with the British .Government, but could do no more than assist in its creation. If 6Uch service could be brought about, ifc would becheap at the price. The House adjourned at 5.30 pan.

The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. Mr Fraser indicated that one of the difficulties of an All Bed service was that New Zealand insisted upon a 21 : knots service. . .

The Premier said thafc was the first suggestion and the Government, would be prepared to give £IOO,OOO in subsidy for (he Pacific service, but when other Governments felt a 21-knot, service too expensive the Government had expressed its willingness to give for a" 18-knofc service, the new boats to have good passenger and refrigerating accommodation. •In. "answer to several members who wished for more telephone construction in the backblocks the Premier asked whether an expenditure of £155,000 and the erection of 2307 miles of wire last year was not doing what was asked for. How muck jiid members expect tha Government to epend? The Government had done more for the backblocks telephone service in the past five yeare. than any-country in the!

world and they were constructing and ex : . tending as quickly as possible. He pro-, tested at the incessant demands for greater facilities at ever increasing cost. If every demand coming along were conceded, it would not be long before the rates would have to be put up again. The vote passed unaltered. On Industries, Commerce, Tourist and Health Resorts Departments, £71,289, several members complained that the Government and Dominion were not getting anything like ralue from the trade commissioner at a salary of £450. The whole department was antiquated and useless, and the money spent |on it was wasted. The Prime Minister justified the appointment, and argued that the trade representative had done valuable work. .-■',.

Mr Massey said that the department; not Mr Gow, was at fault. It was absurd to send a trade commissioner to the East when we had no direct communication.

In the discussion on the Tourist Department the Premier justified its operaA tions. The YoUe passed unaltered. Old Age Pensions, £7772. Passed unaltered. The House rose at 1.55 a.m.