House of Representatives

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXIII, Issue 12584, 3 October 1908, Page 2

House of Representatives

WELLINGTON, October 2. The House met at 2.30 p.m. OLD SOLDIERS' PETITIONS. The Public Petitions Committee reported that it had no recommendation to make respecting several petitions of veterans, praying for recognition. Several members urged that old soldiers should be granted a further opportunity to establish their claims, many not having been aware of the last Commission. It was pointed out that a very regrettable feature of our national character was our disregard for those who in, years gone by fought our battles. It was urged that Magistrates should be instructed to investigate these claims, as they do claims for old age pensions. The Premier, replying, said everyone was desirous of doing what was right by the old soldiers who had fought for New Zealand. During the past 26 years no less than five commissions had been appointed to investigate claims, and had travelled all over the country,, and it was remarkable that in a very short time after each of these commissions had reported, a fresh batch of claims came forward. The Government was quite prepared to deal in a proper way with all legitimate claims, but did not think Magistrates should deal with them, nor did he think there should be another commission. The Government would consider a settlement of these claims once and for all duriMt the recess. THE ESTIMATES. The House then went into committee on the Public Works Estimates. At class 28, Railways £1,250,000, a number of South and ' North Island members urged the construction of branch lines. The Minister said the Government was not justified in. carrying on many of the small lines. He urged that others would be pushed on hi due course. The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. Replying to the Hon. Guinness, the Minister said that the Ngahere-Blackbell Railway would be completed by January or February. Mr Guinness said his constituents would surely have a bonfire to-morrow to celebrate such good news, and he thanked the Minister. Mr Thomson said that the debate showed that members were playing a game of grab, in which, in spite of professions on other occasions, they showed regard neither for the Minister of Finance nor for the welfare of the country. He then proceeded to enumerate the wants of his own constituency, and concluded with a condemnation of what he called political hypocrisy. The Hon. Hall- Jones said that no doubt at this time members were well advised in asking for all sorts of things for the constituencies, but he had to do the best possible with the money at his command, and in the interests of the Dominion as a whole. The vote was passed unaltered. At the Publid Buildings vote, .£292,450, the Minister, replying to Mr Herries, said the item of .£5OOO for the old Parliamentary buildings was the amount payable for the cancellation .of the contract for additions, together with material taken over from the contractors as a result of the fire. The vote was passed unaltered. Class 30, Lighthouses, £17,500, was passed unaltered. Class 31 — Tourist and Health Resorts, .£35,000. Mr A. L. D. Fraser protested that this expenditure was pure waste of money, and was only benefiting hotelkeepers. The Hon. McGowan pointed out that Rotorua belonged to the State, as did also Te Aroha. The expenditure was justified, and had been more than repaid. The vote was passed unaltered. Class 32 — Immigration, ,£lO,OOO. Considerable discussion took place regarding the class of assisted immigrants. Several membeis'said New Zealand only wanted agricultural labourer but many were not fit for that work. I The Hon. McGowan. quoted figures to show that the immigrants brought capital with them. He said some mistakes occurred, but every care was adopted in selecting assisted immigrants. Mr Tanner said that a lot of "wasters" and the industrial scum of England were l shot out on the wharve9 here to take down the first confiding idiot them came across. He did not say those were assisted immigrants, but still they came here. After some further discussion the vote passed unaltered. Class 33— Roads and Bridges, £600,000. Mr Herries pointed out that there was a reduction of £170,000 on the general class of main roads. The vaunted £250,000 for back blocks roads was therefore not an extra vote at all. Many roads appearing as back blocks roads this year appeared as ordinary roads last year. WELLINGTON, October 3. The vote passed unaltered, and all other clauses passed without debate.

The Old Age Pensions Bill was read a third time and passed, also the Counties Act Amendmnet Bill.

The Premier gave details of the revenue of the past six months, showing a total of £3,829,641, against ,£3,829,304 tor the same period ot the previous year. He said that, in view ot the coucession. in Cuotoms, and other items, this waa veiy satisiactory. The House adjourned at 1.15 a.m.