House of Representatives

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXIII, Issue 12582, 1 October 1908, Page 2

House of Representatives

WELLINGTON, September 30. The House mot at 2.30 p.m. REPLIES TO QUESTIONS.

Ministers replying to questions stated: — That it is not possible to widen the borrowing powers under the Government Loans to Local Bodies Act. That when the Manawatu Railway was taken over the goods conveyed over that line will be subject to the Government scale of charges in operation at the time. Replying to a question asked by Mr Bollard, without notice, the Minister said that the Government had no vessel to send to look for the missing Loch Lomond. The Government had taken such steps as it could. Those who knew had little hope (hat the vessel had not foundered. The Premier said the only place where the vessel might possibly have drifted ashore would be on the Auckland Islands, and he had asked the Governor that day if he would arrange for H.M.S. Encounter to visit the Auckland Islands with a view to verify the accuracy or otherwise of the supposition he had indicated. Sir W. J. Steward, also without notice, asked the Premier whether he could make a statement regarding the delays in paying advances agreed to by the Advances to Settlers Department. Many persons were borioubly inconvenienced by the delay, and complaints were coming from all parts of the Dominion regarding these delays. Sir Joseph Ward said that if the course followed lately in regard to this Department w ere persisted in, he would be reluctantly compelled to instruct the Department to stop all further' lending operations until the loans already agreed to had been completed, and until time had lapsed proportional to the advances already made during the current financial year. The Department had only a certain amount of money at its disposal, and loans must be dealt with in sequence. The position was that the demands were so enormous that it was impossible to meet all of them m one month. j>300,000 had been advanced, and H they went on at that rate it would be impossible to meet all demands. Everybody had a right to consideration, but if any attempt were made to bring pressure to bear he would be obliged, with great regret, to instruct the Department to suspend further operations for a time.

PETITION.

The Railways Committee, reporting on the petition of Samuel Vaile, praying for a trial of his railway zone system, recommended the matter to the consideration of the Government. This was adopted after a debate initiated by Mr Herries and participated in by the Hon. Hall-Jones, Mr Massey, and the Premier. The arguments pro and con were on similar lines to those advanced on previous occasions 'on the same topic. The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. SECOND BALLOT BILL.

A committee of managers was appointed to confer with a similar committee from the Legislative Council relative to the Council's insistence upon its amendments in the Second Ballot Bill.

In a discussion, on the appointment of managers, Mr Massey complained that they were all from one side of the House, which was grossly unfair. Sir Joseph Ward replied, "I am not going to let you get to windward of me." He further said the Opposition .had moved heaven and earth to kill the Bill, and he would be doing a gross injustice td the House if he asked that one manager should be selected from amongst his opponents. r

NAVAL SUBSIDY BILL

Sir Joseph Ward moved the second reading of the Naval Subsidy Bill, providing that during a period of 10 years, commencing on May 12th, 1909, a subsidy of .£IOO,OOO shall be paid out of the Consolidated Fund to the Imperial Government in aid of the Imperial Navy, such subsidy to supersede any subsidy payable under the Naval Defence Act, 1908. Sir Joseph Ward explained that the subsidy was not loaded with any eonditious, and he felt no elaboration was needed on his part to recommend the Bill to tin House. We were doing no more than \%e oujrlit in recognition ot the great services l. t'.ie Imperial Navy. Mr Massey expressed satisfaction at having a Bill before the House over which there was practically no difference of opinion. All recognised we must bear our fair share of the cost of Imperial defence if we wanted our commerce protected. He hoped a British squadron of warships would visit the Dominion to inspire us with a sense of the power of our Empire. He thought we should have a national system with, if necessary, compulsory service. Ultimately we should follow the noble example of Australia. Mr James Allen said nobody would object to the Bill, but it was desirable that they should enquire what was the position of the naval agreement existing hitherto. It was well known that Australia had asked to be freed from her agreement, and if that happened the agreement would collapse altogether, and he asked whether this .£IOO,OOO was given unconditionally under the terms of the Bill. He contended we should put our coast line and harbours in a proper state of defence, and averred that compulsory service must come sooner cr later. Mr Allen, continuing, said that we and Australia would in the course of time have to see to the protection of the trade routc3 in the Pacific, and he warned the country that though the Japanese were allies ot Britain, we here were doing everything, by immigration restrictions, that would make the Asiatics our enemies, and we must be prepared to hold our own when the time came.

Mr T. Mackenzie argued that it was inevitable that, sooner or later, the yellow races must over-run these rich but sparsely populated countries. It was necessary, therefore, that our young men. should do their duty in the matter of defence. After some further discussion Sir J. G. Ward replied at some length, quoting from his Imperial Conference speeches in regard to defence to illustrate his point of view and attitude in regard to imperial defence and the part New Zealand should play therein, and in relation to Australia's behaviour. We had no right to lay down any conditions as to where the Admiralty should send any vessels. The Bill was read a second time.

ADVANCES TO SETTLERS AMEND-

MENT 'BILL.

Sir Joseph Ward moved the second reading of the Government Advances to Settlers Amendment Bill, for increasing from .£5,000,000 to .£6,000,000 the sum at the disposal of the Department, and from -3200,000 to .£500,000 the monies of the Advances to Workers branch, to extend tke usefulness of the Department Mr Massey supported the Bill, bnt thought too much money was being borrowed locally by the Government. Mr Jennings urged the necessity for assisting the back-blocks settlers. Mr Ngata urged that better facilities should be afforded the Maoris under the Act in regard to the class of securitiea upon which advances can be had. He asserted that the Government was not doing justice to industrious natives who desired to farm their lands/ and earnestly pleaded lor a much-needed reform. Several other members supported the Bill. . * WELLINGTON, October 1. The Premier, replying, quoted figures showing the operations of both branches of the Department, and said these should bo an answer to those who complained. As for borrowing, 2£ times as much wae raised outside than inside the colony by the Government. The Bill wa3 read a second time. The Hon. J. A. Millar moved the second reading of the Immigration. Eestriction Amendment Bill, regarding existing Chinese residents in New Zealand. These two Bills were put through their final stages, and the Naval Subsidy Bill passed through committee. The House roae at 1.12 a.m.