PARLIAMENT.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 7503, 4 July 1903, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

(By Ttkgraph — Press Association), Wellington, This Day. Legislative Council.

ADDRESS-IN-REPLY.

The Hon. J. Rigg yesterday afternoon resumed the debate on the Address-in-Reply. Tho speaker traversed the remarks made by previous speakers regard-* ing preferential trade, holding that it was undesirable to impose additional duties upon goods which could only bo obtained from foreign countries, as that would be a direct tax upon the Colony. The benefits of preferential trade would bo to the British capitalists at tho expense of everyone else. A good deal had been said about building up the Empire, but entering into bonds would result in' friction. The Empire could best be built up by relations upon ties of blood and kindred.

Hon. W. H. Beeham thought tho establishment of a State Bank should be seriously considered. He would like to see the Government take over estates from the Assets Realisation Board, and open them up for settlement. He did not favour the granting of freehold. The sooner we taught the people how to go on the land, and make the best of it, the better. He favoured roading lands bofore settlement, and granting city men an opportunity to get land without residenco. With regard to the electoral laws, ho thought it would be advantageous to issue electoral rights with' a photograph of the voter in the corner, to prevent mistakes. Tho licensing laws should be amended, to allay the friction now disturbing the Colony. Hon. G. McLean thought the Assets Board should have realised the estates long ago. He complained of the difficulty men of small means had in getting upon tbe land under the present laws. He -advocated pushing .on the North Island Trunk railway instead of spending money on sectional lines over tho Colony. This would enable a million and a half acres of Native land to be opened for settlement to the great advantage of the whole Colony. With regard to land tax values, he combatted the mover's assertions that land was under-valued. The Land Tax Department knew how to look after its business.

Hon, A. Lee-Smith moved the adjourn' ment of the debate until Tuesday.