PARLIAMENT.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 7501, 2 July 1903, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

(By Telegraph—Press Association)

Wellington, This Day.

In the House of Representatives, yesterday afternoon, Mr H. G. Ell presented a petition in favour of converting tbe Bank of Now Zealand into a State Bank. Petitions were also presented in favour of tho abolition of trade coupons, and for and against the totalisator. Mr J. A. Millar presented a petition from a number of hotelkeepers at Dunedin, praying for compensation on account of having been deprived of their licenses. Hon. J. McGowan gave notice that he would introduce a Supreme Court Judges' Bill. Two months' * leave of absence was granted Mr T. M. Wilford, on account of ill-health. NEW BILLS. The folio wing Bills were introduced and read a first time: —Bible Lessons in Public Schools Plebiscite Bill, Legislative Council Direct Election, Mutual Fire Insurance, Rabbit Act Amendment, Legitimation Act Amendment, Elective Executive, Impounding Act Amendment, Totalisator Abolition, Juvenile Smoking Suppression, Rating Act Amendment, Tenants' Bent Rebate Act Amendment, Orchard and Garden Pests, Tenants' Eights, Government Valuation of Land Act Amendment, Wireless Telegraphy, Public Health Act Amendment, Municipal Corporations Act Amendment, Local Government Franchise, Land Agents, Weights and Measures, Native Land Laws Amendment;, Sand Drift, Inspection of Machinery Amendment, Local Bodies Loans Amendment, Workers Compensation for Accidents Amendment, Counties Act Amendment, Road and Town Districts Eating, Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Amendment, Shops and Offices. QUESTIONS. In reply to quostions Ministers stated that proposals would be submitted to the House dealing with the thorough equipment of training colleges for teachers. That the maximum weight of sacks of wheat carried on New Zealand Eailways would be fixed at 2001bs. CHAIRMAN OF COMMITTEES. The Premier gave notice that he would move to-morrow that Mr J. A. Millar, member forDunedin,be appointed Chairman of Committees. THE ADDRESS-IN-KEPLY. At the evening sitting Mr £. W. Rutherford moved the Address-in-Eeply. Referring to the approaching departure of the Governor, he paid a high tribute to Lord Ranfurly, whom he regarded as an ideal Governor, and one whom it would be very hard to replace. He felt sure he voiced the opinion of the whole Colony when he said that Lord Ranfurly's departure would be universally regretted. He spoke of the worthy manner in which the Premierhad represented the Colony at the Coronation celebrations at Home, and expressed the opinion that Conferences of the Colonial Premiers should be held periodically, say every five or seven years. There was no question about the existence of the land hunger in the Colony, and he thought under the circumstances the Government were doing very well in their efforts to put the people on the land. The proposal to extend the time for the payment of rent on bush sections in the North Island had his hearty approval. Hβ urged that the first ballots for scciions should be limited to applicants residing in the electorate in which the sections aro situated. He regarded the declining birth-rato as a serious matter, and favoured the payment of bonuses to parents according to the number of children they reared. A slight increase in the graduated land-tax would not hurt any one, although he did not believe the aggregation of large estates was still going on. The proposal to extend the sale of New Zealand meat to the manufacturing centres in the Home Country had his approval, as also did the proposal to provide a training ship for the Colony. Generally, he endorsed the policy of the Government and the measures outlined in the Governor's speech, but while complimenting the Government on their policy, he could not congratulate them upon their administration. The number of ministers should bo increased or Parliamentary Under-Secretaries should be appointed, so that the growing administrative work of the Colony could be properly coped with.

Mr C. E. Major, in seconding the motion, said he was distinctly in favour of a preferential tariff, and held that so far as Freetrade was concerned, it was no longer the keystone of British supre. macy. The Americans bad announced their intention to dominate tho Pacific, and we should take the opportunity to protect ourselves against anything of that kind. He understood a measure was to be brought forward giving holders of land under lease in perpetuity the right of acquiring the-freehold, and any such measure would have his support. He did not approve of Mr Rutherford's intention to confine ballots for sections to residents in the locality- He would give Land Boards power to discriminate whether a selector in an isolated district should have to strictly comply with the residential clauses of the Act until the district was properly opened up The proposals outlined in the Governor's Speech, in regard to the Bank of New Zealand, met with bis approval; but he had not yet made up his mind as to the wisdom of the proposed State note issue. He spoke in support of the State fire insurance and absentee tax. No mention was made in the Governor's Speech of the question of local government, and it looked as if the matter was again to be shelved. The progress of the Colony under the Seddon regime had been phenomenal. Of course mistakes had been made, but that was only human and to be expected.

Mr W. F. Massey, after congratulating the mover and seconder, said be agreed that bush settlers should be able to go on the land without paying rent for the first few years. The Government had evidently come round to the opiniops of the Opposition on this point. He was pleased to hear the remarks of the last speaker in regard to freehold, and hoped he would stick to them, and help to open the door against which the Premier had once said he had placed his back. In view of the unsatisfied demand for land, he thought the Assets Board should have realised the properties in its hands more rapidly. The sooner the Bank of New Zealand was able to run without State assistance the better. The settlement of Maori lands . was important. Large blocks were unoocupied and retarded the progress of the whole Colony. Acts had been placed on the Statute Book which made it impossible for European settlers to get upon those lands. Maoris were encouraged to hold on until they get the high rentals, and then they could live in ease and comfort. They did not want a Native aristocracy. Our system of publio works was not satisfactory, and particularly in regard to railway construction; just enough was being done to keep votes and party right. The co-operative system lost immense sums to us annually. Tho expenditure on roads and bridges should not be cut down. Money could be saved in other directions. He hoped the House would not consent to preference to Unionists. Country inembors had so far been very tolerant of labour legislation, but unless the Government let well alone a reaction would take place. The present constitution of the Arbitration Court should not be altered. The last loan was not raised on the same terms as the previous one, because we had to pay interest. for seven months before we receive tho money. After all expenses were paid our debentures returned £90 2s 5d per cent. The loan was a failure, which was humiliating to those in power, who boasted of good credit and strong finance. Seddonism did nod mean Liberalism,' nor did it mean good or honest government, and the Government was in danger unless country was put before party, and unless information was supplied to members in regard to expenditure and finance.

Mr A. W. Hogg defended the system of co-operative works, and went on to condemn the freobold tenure, Mr Massoy had said they did not want a Maori aristocracy' If, Jii!-22UH!?J; but he (Mr Hogg) snicj they did not want either a Maori or a EJuropean aristocracy. If freehold tenure were generally' permitted New Zealand would no longer be a free country. The Government had no right to sell a solitary inch of the freehold/ He advqeated a slight increase in the graduated Land in view of the improvement expected by works, the cost of which now came so largely out of customs. Roads and bridges to the backblocks should have procedence over similar works that raised the value of largo private estatos, that the Government would in future have to acquire, lili supported the rent concessions to bush farmers struggling to make a horns on smiil or no capital. Mr Hogg concluded a brief speech by again con-' demning the freehold. The delate was adjourned, <m the motion of Mr J. O'Meara.