THE WEEK IN PARLIAMENT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 9914, 1 August 1910, Page 1

THE WEEK IN PARLIAMENT.

[I ROM OtTR CORRESPONDENT. ] WELLINGTON, July 31. The speeches delivered during the financial debate have so far not touched a very high, mark, the no-confidence motion moved by Mr Massey failing to elicit even one statesmanlike utterance, Sir _ Joseph Ward necessarily had to criticise the statements made by the Leader of the Opposition, and during the course of his remarks the Prime Minister reminded Mr Massey that in 1898 he proposed that loans up to £250 only should be advanced to settlers, and that ho had opposed the land for settlements policy. "You opposed, my advances to workers scheme, retorted Mr Massey. "Opposed your scheme!" replied Sir Joseph Ward. "It never was your scheme. Messrs Flatman, Buddo and Wilford all proposed it before you thought of it,* but of course you jumped their claims," an opinion which drew appreciative endorsement from the Liberal benches. The Prime Minister went on to 1 say that Mr Massey declaimed against borrowing, yet lie had voted for ©very loan. "Yes," interjected Mr Wilford, "and. Auckland wanted the lot." "Moreover," continued Sir Joseph, "Mr Massey wanted his own pet Waiuku railway constructed, and when he was in the South Island the leader of the Opposition said that he was in. favour of constructing railways to a payable point, which meant, seeing that he was addressing- an audience interested in the Lawrence-Roxburgh line, that that railway should he made." Mr James Allen, in taking his share in tho debate, accused Mr Fowlds of being a single taxer, a man who would make the land pav everything, and declared that the Prime Minister's late colleague, Mr M'Nab, had. been sacrificed on account of his Land Bill. "That js absolutely incorrect," Sir Joseph Ward interjected, but Mr Allen again declared that it was perfectly true, and went on to say that he had no confidence in the policy of the Government. "I don't know what it is," ho continued, "but I have no confidence in it."

The Hon R. M'Tvenzie's Tramway Act Amendment Bill, which is to be considered by the Labour Bills Committee, which will take evidence on it, is sure to meet with a rocky passage. Voluminous evidence is bound to .be given by the authorities controlling the dominion's tramways, whilst the workers are ready to tender their opinions. Last year a special committee was appointed to consider the Bill, but the result was extremely disappointing to the Minister, so this year he is sending it to the Labour Bills Committee. - Unfortunately no Christchurch representative is on this committee, although all the other cities are represented, and Mr Davey lias asked that'a southern man should bo selected to sit on the committee. It is understood that this will be agreed to by the Minister. Mr T. E. Taylor has introduced a Bill, initiated, by the Christchurch City Council, providing that the waters of Lake Coleridge shall be utilised to provide electrical lighting and power for the city of Christchurch. In view of the fact that the Government has declared that it does not propose to delegate its powers in this direction to any local body the Bill has not much chance of - success." "Its introduction, however, will keep the* subject prominently before tho Government, and may .serve to expedite matters.On' Tuesday Mr T. E. Taylor complained that the educational authorities had refused to subsidise the Christchurch Technical College, except on a £ for £ hasis, and declared that technical instruction was practically as important as a sound primary education. T|ie Hon G. Fowlds, in his reply, attacked the arguments adduced by tho North Christchurch representative. The Minister stated that the Christchurch school had been particularly well treated, as the sum of £14,000 had been contributed by the Government, in addition to subsidies, and no other place had received such liberal assistance. If Mr Taylor's argument meant anything, it meant that lip desired to protect the wealthy- ratepayer and punish the poor by providing that all educational expenditure should be secured from the Consolidated Fund, which was mainly provided by Customs revenue. In his opinion, the wealthy ratepayer should pay more than he did at present towards the educational system. After Mr Clark had pointed out that children in the country did not benefit from technical educational expenditure, and that dairy knowledge should be imparted to country pupils, a plea endorsed by the Hon T. Duncan, Mr Fowlds brought the debate to a conclusion by stating that, as every child benefited by primary education,' and only a comparative few from technical instruction, it was absolutely necessary, if a choice had to be made, that tho State should spend as much as possible on the former, a statement which mot with the cordial endorsement of members.

When introducing his no-confidence bombshell, Mr Massey read a telegram from a Native gentleman of Rotorua regarding the opening up of Native lands, the telegram concluding with the words, "God help you," and several members feelingly ejaculated " Hear, hoar." "There has been an enormous increase of taxation," the leader of the Opposition wailed. "On whose shoulder has it been put?" asked Mr Ell. " On everybody's/' replied. Mr Massey. "No," declared Mr 3511; "yon are wrong. It has been taken from banks and racing clubs." Mr Stallworthy stated during the financial debate that he was told this no-confidence business was a serious matter, but it appeared to'him. to be nothing more or less than a farce. Perhaps it was, and, yet it proved a trap for five of tho Government party, nil of whom had pledged themselves to vote for tho freehold no matter who moved to that effect. Mr Fisher has rushed into print about it. whilst Mr Wright (both are declared leaseholders) stated that his principal reason for voting with Mr Massey was that the Liberal Party had been in power 100 long and it, was time there was a change. Mr Nosworthy dropped into a Biblical train of expression when adding his little contribution to the debate, and confidentially told the House that the Government's Land Bills were conoeived h< misery and born in absolute despair, and he considered that the State should scttlo the Native lands instead of purchasing improved lands, this opinion being followed by a request that he would be good enough to tell the House how much Native land there was in the Ashburton district. It was true, went on Mr Nosworthy, that tho large landowners had dropped his party. "We a,re the despised and rejected of mei). but T say unto them, heed them not." "The old Conservative element has fire," concluded Mr Nosworthy, "and can't you give us credit for conscientiously changing our opinions? There aro good and true Liberals, on this side of the House." This was practically the. first speech delivered by the member for Ashburton, and his obvious earnestness disarmed all thought of criticism.