PARLIAMENT.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14024, 3 July 1913, Page 3

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. (Per Press Association.) - AVELLINGTON, July 3. Tlio Legislative Con noil met at 2-30. A Bill introduced by the Hon. Samuels authorisini; ’the Commercial Bank of‘Australia-. Ltd., to, issue notes in Mew Zealand... was read the first time. T The Hon. Dutliie moved that a; respectful Address-in-Reply to His Excellency’s speech bo agreed to. -Ho referred feelingly to. the deaths'of Sir Wm.'Steward'and Sir A. Guinness, the arrival of H.M.S. Mew Zealand to enable: the people ’of the Dominion : to realise tlio true nature of the gilt. an.l the importance of/a strong . Imperial i navy. The question of.Pacific Defence was ono of vitaTimportance. ' Ho hoped the Minister of Defence would'shortly lay, icforo Parliament the matured views of tlie Government upon the subject. The. hands for Settlement 7 Act had settled a largo ,munber-of people, .but the system' was' not without defects.' . The democracy wouldiuot tolerate largo estates: Regard native land, the treaty of AVai.tangf had been hon.Qivrably observed, b.nt has been; a. great obstacle to the 1 progress of the conntry. During the past GO years the inverests of. the natives have-bad precedence'over Europeans. 'Thai must come to: an end. - Reserves should" be , . set aside for the natives as, rcoju-ircmeu.is demanded,- and. the residuum settled upon terms equitable to. the, Dominion. ..Efforts made by,, the of, Customs to develop reciprocity with Australia were, most; .'commendable, aajvowr also the wroppsnls to. extend the old age pensions.- and compulsory -military training, a. beneficial' set-off to horseracing and other -forms of amusement to which, onr tyojing. num. -were too prone: He hoped the people would recognise that liie discipllue of the young was unite valuable to the cduntry lhau, ■ even defence. Amendments, to life Arbitration. Act were urgently, wantedf Many disputes were not ihe result, of; , grievances but were due- to ll)e. desire of labour.to coerce The employers, and by so' doing' tlio workers were exceed-, big tho rights they undoubtedly hakei. It was 10 longer- a, pleasure to hq .a n; ■ einnlovor. The position of tlio worker and'the master was-deplorable. ■ Ho hoped the time, would soon come -when both would ho drawn again into sympathy. ' Tho lair had tlio right to be amended so mo, way -to assist to this end. Tho-loau floated by tho Minister of' Elnanc-e bad brought relief, but ho warned tho country against undueborrowing: Conti’nuallv it) the market : would destroy the credit of any country. Ho favoured art Elective Council, but hoped the Government would ifftrodnce a measure elastic in i»it-n;-e; •

Tim Ho”. Earbshaw,.'in • seconding, endorsed the mission' of Ihe .Minister of Defence to -England, and defended theproposed expeditionary force. ‘ 'He advocated taking a share in the defence of the Pacific.' Ho questioned' tln> -wisdom of giving the manager of the'railways £3OOO per year, ns it blight I'eaL to, a- ge-’eral’ demaiid for ipcr'Cises "all I'ouud. Tin* ri'jht tvne of pia.p, had been secured. Xo New; Zealabder conbl reorganise Hi" service as It .must be re-orga-iise-l. He advised (he Government fo.go slow on Ihe question . of light, lilies. Hoad-makbig was''preferable, as e”tnnl- tractio'-i v. as the coming power. Ho denoiriced ia.boor agitators, who were ret- represe'ilative of Hie workers, but- selfish s"el;ers et i|l-'"i> a"d. power. ■Ho--did not fear eohipetilion from .-Vus•fr.vlia. and- therefore he linnet] the' reciprocity proposals would he co’-siiin-maled. He fcviiiii-ed a’’ Elective Cm'"-, oil. also .-in Eb-a‘.ive Executive. He. Hiouii'ht Hie proposals ty> reduce the cost of living Utboia". There were as 'ini-'v trusts-end combines in New Zeal‘t”d as i-> America. The adionrnnvmt of the debate was moved bv Tim Ho". Si"elair. and the f’ouucil adjourned till -l-10-p.m. to-mor-row.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. NOTK.'hV ' The. House. 2-30. r' •sfr.. WiJfopT’gh-ve n6tic<* £> introduce :v Gah> g"" -Amcn'dlnon t ■ Bill. . Tl)e Hon-. -W; hj”; Massev- wave n it ice to introduceum> T”du.slrial ; IVurciliaHo^i - Arbitr.alion Amendment Bill. FIRST REA DI NGS, following--Bills wore read,-a first lime : —Saturday Half-holiday for Shops Bill, (Mr. Biiddo). Xcv/ Zealand Standard Time .Bill (Mr. Side’y), Gamine Amendment Bill (Air. limiter'). Westnmdi Pnldte Pai'ks A'ostiriK Bill, (At: - . CVilvinß 'bights on” Vehicles Ifill (Air. B-nddo). 'Gisiiiijun; TfarbOm' Board Enahlinti; Bill; Gisborne Borough ami (fafbeni: Bomd l auds Ex- - change, and Emph-ycrieg Bi II (Mr. Macdonald). Bfettdrment Bill. (Air.., Mct'aF 1 pm), AVa ngil pii i (H atbohv I)isirit-f. and Empowering'Bill,. (Mr;.' A'eiteb't. . Eapd Transfer' A'roe'Mtheni Bill '(Air. Flerd- •)■ Amepdn'i'onts 1 'l‘H-orpni'h(ion Bill , '11.,., I-lei-flnuj,”).- Non- E'-a|'and I n.stilnte of Architects Bill (Mr. Herdman). -STATE ADVAVCIjiS. Tim Hon.. '•). Allch made'tlieTollowiur; statement' in ‘ connection-, with the -Stato _ Department; The tnfH) limit' in respect of; advances to settlers c-nno into force on !si March. 19111. Tb’e present Gowrumeut came into cilice on 101,1) July, ) 1H 2. ‘ On- 2ifib .May. 1913, the. limit of..£.)()!I imposed on Ist March was, raised to ifi-KK) owin'.’; to Dio better position; of I ho /imtnccu. The. Advances .Board lum now decided. further- extend they limit of ndutiwvs: ’:<> settlers, loans, from £(HHV to ‘£7.otV ; Tim queslion :is In whether leans should be , i granted for 1 renewal o( • mortgages comin/.; due him been faivtnlly bonsidoivil. and. it is not deemed advisable by the Board to provide-* for.’ .those at tho pr.<sent iiinme-nt. It is booed', however, that, tho increase. from :GG0(1 to £730 will make it easier for those, who have loans, coming duo to renew from outside. Tho limit of £-)(•)() .for loans to local authorities was made on. .1 ann-arv doth. 1.91,2, and of .CinOO nude.- Seethrm 9 ot tin? Act of ITST2 on -Alia'y T7,fh last. The Advances Board has. now decided t-o grant loans not; exceeding £2OOO to local, bodies.' in outlyingdistricts. The. Board is now id.so.‘prepared: toiconsidp:’ all applications for loans, in outlying districts which come within, the purposes, provided for in the: State Guaranteed; Advances Act, 1912; :whidr ; db not exceed £2ooo:in amount. Tha-tyis to sav; if an; application is ■ a bomv'fide one from an on Living district in -a comity tho .-£-300 limit will hot -apply io that county. .The .su in 'of £ 30.0(10 has . been set aside far' advances to, local'authorities for tho purposes mentioned in Sub.- . Section • 2; of Section: 9 of tho -State Guaranteed Advances Act. 1912, namely, for construction."df roads, and- bridges in' outlying districts and for metalling siicli roads for tho first time, anil It wall bo recollected that under Hub-Sec-tion: 3. of the. sa-mo section t-he,l,Goy,em-nient will,have to pay-out of-tieVcou-

rsolidated, fund .iplo ,the advances ac-. i-VdhitU'in; each Thu years -of life, Term |, of Tny lean an"-'amount equal to 10 per cciit. of the amount of the loan; I anti, tn each of tho succeeding ton years an amount equal to \ per-cent, of the ; amount, thus relieving local bodies to that extent. '- In regard to advances To ’ workers, loans mere reduced' to a maximum of £3OO in November last, but were increased to £I,OO on-Maj Kith, 1913. There has been some misunderstanding .in tile country with regard stoftho;' -State Guaranteed Offices. Ho r wished-it.- to bo thoroughly understood ’ that ,tho: office -was outside -Ministerial control. Hq had never been to a mect- :■ ing ■qf 'the Board,-which was quite free from'political-influence,: and always had been; Everyone know there had- been stringency',in the money market, and ;if liMUbecome necessary to limit the ' amount advanced -in- various quarters. : Ho had that; morning signed authority for £25,975’ for opening.up' lands for seUleinent .and reading and . bridging., Replying to questions Mr.- Allen stat- , ed, that existing conditions made it absolutely necessary to reduce the amounts advanced to local -bodies and ' others, but ho hoped to be able to raise- . the amounts shortly. With regard to . the question.'of advances for- tho pnr- ' pose of paying off mortgages,' the Minister stated that •tho Act was-not intended to apply in that mianner. The measure so far as he understood, it was , intended to .provide, for homes, for workers, not to pay 'off mortgages. Hc.ro- , cogiiised there were several-deserving cases of that description, and they , would receive attention. Tho' Dcpa.rt- ; meat received a great number of apI plications for assistance which were I quite outside the scope of the Act. The House- acljtourhjbcl at ■ -1-15 till ; 7-30.

- ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS. 1 In reply to questions, tile -Minister .stated, the Government wero.-iu favour of retaining tho- present national sysj teni' of free seen la r and compulsory edn- , cation.' Tim Government did not intend t-' i introduce' any legislation this session : enabling the referendum to he taken .m : Bibio reading'or Bible lessons in Stiu-j : schools. ! Tlio question of amending the regu- ; hit-ion which is. intended, to prevent ; lii'qnibers of the Civil Service from be- : coming members of certain local bodies : must be tho subject of a'communication between' tho AiinTsters imd Public Ser-. - vice Comjnissi.niicrs, and tlio Government p ill confer witli tho Commission- : ers.accordingly. The- owners of property affected by the graduated laud tax had no altc"iiative but to nay the assessed tax for 1,9.1.2-13 lev iqd on their -pr •pert-ies,. because such -tax was -payable according to ownership and value as at 31st March, '1912. After 31st March, 19LI, tile: first year’s effects of the new scale will, bo ascertainable. Judging from tips.sales, made recently, however, it i.s apparent that the cutting-of larger prni pertios, is being accelerated by The increase) of. tho graduated tax of last session . . / ' ■ Tho - G.oycrnimmt had not been advised''That the provisions of .the Tramways . Amendment Act. 19.10. relating to the. Appeal Board, were defective, inasmuch as no satisfactory -provision is made to secure compliance 'with (lie determination ,of tho Board. ‘The Governnieiit would; prepare any amendment of the Act.'-necessary to enable effect to be ."•iveu 1.0 the decisions-arrived at bv the Beard.

- • ADIHXS-r.N-REPLA'. . Alr.j AVilkiiison, iu uioving tlio Ad-, - (IreSS-nf-Reply, after passihg a tribute uytlie meinu'ry of Sir A. Guinness, proceeded to.congratulate the Government . oil the prosperity of the country. Thy keynote of his speech centred in its reference to land settlement. Small holdings and freehold • tenure was. tho foundation of prosperity in that part of Taranaki;bo represented. The same ; principle .should apply To wll, parts,.of the Dominion. He strongly advocated' a more energetic emigration .policy, care being taken to select'the right class of men. Tho native land problem was , calling pressing!,y for settlement. He claimed the. natives should have- the right to sell ys thev desired; receiving half .cash and the balance being invested lor tliein by the Public Trustee. Light railways in comitrv districts were aid ; solntely necessary'. Local bodies should ; ha.vo power to construct j trinhyays to I bring in metal for roads. He faVon’-ed: |an , elective Legislative Coiinci!-. bn,c i p-rotesled against the electorates being j too. largo. 'The -proposed reduction in tho,cost of living bad his sympathy, hut ho did - not wish to see free trade | adopted, and so kill, our industries. He advocated a remission of duties -on arfr Id Os of daily consumption atid Hie im- | position ol laxation on niolor-cars-, and an increase in iiicomc-t-’.x. He suggested That w .Board of Commerce -should be set up to enquire into Hie proceedings. jol trusts.. He endorsed the 'military training-scheme, and favoured tlio esta'bfislippy.il- of oiff nm-p r.-tvy-., Tlio : woi-ke)',-;’ iiom.es scheme -was worthy o f ; extension,'and avas greatly deserving of j better attention-.

. Mr: St.atham. Ip seconding, rougralnuilcd the Government on the bnsiness'ike siatenient'put into Hip Governor.':-; ; hands; He claimed there was ennsist- ; (yi.e-y la-tween-(he pledges and nerfonn- ; anccs of tiie- .lHd'orm party.- They had :set 'iibpiiL putting the finances, of the ; Dominion ill order, and The success of ! the loan in the London market proved j that the - English investors have, imo'iciii coniicleiice m Hie Government. fli'i Gnvennm-ut. wore not the friends !of largo land-c-wiiers. lairgiv estates ; nins-t be broken -up. Witli that end in ; view. Hie - graduated tax bad • been iii- ; creased, and' largo areas of laud also .purchased. This-month 2;):(36f) .•iciv.s : -.vein in eit-i.ble for settleimmt. The Government intended 1.0 deal, fairly with : tho, natives. ■ The limit of advances to i worker;; litre)’ I.icon- raised, to £jTOO ns'.soon i as'the- Government found Hie money was | available,' thus allowing thev were"alive ' ito tho interests of tho workers. M-oro jniqncy had also been spent on railwavs ; than during the , previous, vear. Tim .selection of a.n English -manager for the - railways anas a wise -provision.; Tin; ; extension of the Pensions Act was -T ■; great-.puldic henelit. but thev ha.d, to be* cai-efnl hot to .exceed the financial re’.sonrccs of tile Dominion. Other legislation.' passed -was reviewed to show tho . pa.iti s efforts had been m tho direction of progress.'. Ho claimed Hint the Civil Service was now free from political in ■ ffifen.ee.'; Thp amendments, to- the Public -Trust. Act nvere calculated to increase

tjiq.efficiency.of.the office- He repiMia.;-, e.d (ho idca that tho legal profession ' iiiad hostile to'.Hip institution. Military training was only part of tho education of the youth of tho Dominion, and ho cordially supported it. The fUhrr.ne of .arhitira,tion n.-onld pot lx 1 aholiphod, but .amended autl.-givch another trial. If the Speech was, not full ■of promises, what: wars promised would be fulfilled. - Mir. Macdonald, speaking for the Opposition. congratulated • the mover and seconder on the temperate tone adopted. If the mover desired to check monopoly' lie was on Hie wrong side of tho House, his party having fought for monopoly for tho past twenty years. Ho 'questioned whether the Elective Council would settle the legislative problem, and doubted if -pakeha. lessees in Taranaki were the chief sufferers from the native land tenure. He' knew lessees who had sublet their lauds, mid were living in retirement on- the increased value. He was''strongly of ouiniou iliat the native owners were the-greater sufferers. Air. Macdonald dealt exhaustively-with the land setlle--inov+i proposals of the Government. Fie had no confidence in. the Prime Alinister as Minister of Lands. He had rjo knowledge of tho back blocks conditions whatever. All the knowledge ho had trained bad been either from a motorcar or railway Train. He adversely , criticised the vt irchase of tho Beetham estate, and. declared that if the Government had remained in office for all ; eternity it would noi be able to settle 1 as much land -as the Liberal party, Alio 'had opened no two million acres ami > placed 38,000 settlers on the hi"d. lie I ridiculed the talk of one law for tlio : European and one for-the Maori.' The ■ position was beset, with difficulties, but : tlio administration of .Sir dames Car- ; coll had prevented thousands of nalives from .I)o,coining paupers. Dealing with i finance. In' wondered whether the Hon. I Allen s success in .London was due to : his own .ahib'ty or to the excellent work 1 do»e hv Sir .Joseph' Ward, The-time limit in ter run led, tho 'sneakier. and the debate was adjourned till 2-30 to-morrow'. On (ho mol lon of the lion. I'raser, (he House rose at 10-55.