Parliament.

Woodville Examiner, Volume XXI, Issue 3574, 6 July 1903, Page 3

Parliament.

X Friday. lu the House, Mr Hogg gave notice to ask whether the Government pioposed to introduce a Bill to prevent New Zealand being flooded with undesirable immigrants from Australia. The Counties Act Amendment Bill was introduced by Governor’s Message and read tbe first time. In reply to Mr Harries, Mr Seddon said the Bill was for the purpose of giving local bodies larger rating powers. Mr Massey asked whether the Government could include provision in this Bill to give a graduated system of subsidies in regard to local bodies’ rates. Mr Seddon promised to look into the matter. »

On the House resuming at 7.30, Mr Bedford continued tbe debate on the Address-in-Reply. He said he yielded to none in his admiration of the Premier for his courageous attempt to deal with the land question. In this respect he considered Mr Seddon had been a real godsend to New Zealand. Mr Bedford went on to say that the Governor’s speech was noticeable for two omissions of an important character. It contained no mention of Cabinet reconstruction or of any amending licensing legislation. He believed that from end to end of the colony the people were dissatisfied with the constitution of the Ministry. It could not be denied that the Ministry could be strengthened, but the Premier had become intoxicated with power, and he seemed to resent any attempt to curb that power in any direction whatever. Some of the recent appointments to the Legislative Council were a distinct insult to the colony. The only inference that could be drawn from the silence of the speech on the licensing question was that the Premier did not intend to introduce legislation to remove the anomalies that existed at Bruce and Newtown. Mr Taylor said that there would be many a real grievance redressed if members were not afraid of coming into conflict with the executive power. There was a feeling not in the country chat if members dared to do their duty they might find their constituents suffering. The Liberal Party was threatened because the question put to Government candidates was no longer what policy do you support ?” but “ what man do you support ?” Mr Taylor went on to deal exhaustively with the condition of the lunatic asylums of tbe colony, maintaining that the treatment of patients iu these institutions was on wrong lines. Hon. W. Hall-Jones in dealing with the subject of lunatic asylums asid he khow the asylums were overcrowded; they had been, overcrowded for years. He was with Mr Taylor in believing that there were not snfficent beneficial results from these institutions. It was intended to abolish the term “ Lunatic Asylums,” and he was confident that the large number of those who went into those institutions were curable. He felt confident that the House would not agreed the suggestion that we should part with the freehold. If we were going to do that the land ought to be thrown open for fair competition, the outgoing tenant to receive fair value for bis improvements. The Government did not propose to alter the tenure. He went on to defend the co-operative system, and said he had made up figures which showed that the cost of railway construction last year was less thau in 1891 when carried out by contract labour. He said the work on the. North Island Main Trunk line was going on very well, and it was probable that when this Parliament closed the line would be very nearly through to Auckland. Henare Kaihau said Muhuta’s elevation was a direct benefit to the whole Colony through the opening up of lands under his control. The House rose at 11.15 p.m.