PARLIAMENT.

Waikato Times, Issue 12179, 14 September 1911, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

YESTERDAY'S PROCEEDINGS

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

(Per Press Association)

WELLINGTON, Wednesday The House met at 2.30 p.m.

ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS

Replying to questions Ministers stated that periodical revisions of sub-postmasters salaries was almost complete. Under this revision, increases representing improved business will be paid to offices where such increase is warranted. Crown lands in the neighbourhood of Otautau will probably be open for selection in February or March. The attention 01 the Minister of Marine has been drawn to the statement of ( Mr Bishop, S.M., that steamship companies are gradually whittling away every right that passengers have had conserved to them for years past by common law, and the question as to whether there should be further legislation in the matter is now under consideration. It was never intended that a State superannuation fund should accept liability in respect to persons who have once been contributors to the fund but who subsequently left the service. The present principle could not be departed from in connection with the Railway Superannuation Fund. DEBATE ON FINANCIAL STATEMENT. Mr Hine (Stratford) continued the debate on the Financial Statement. He was sorry that he could not see anything particular in the Statement. It appeared to be simply a vote catcher. He mentioned that Sir Joseph Ward's statement gave the amount spent on railways as £25,000,000, the Hon. J. A. Millar made :t £30,000,000. The amount spent on roads and bridges was the greatest condemnation the Ministry could have, He cited the case iof a backblock farmer who had been eleven years on his section and had no track thereto. The farmer in question h a d eight children, and when "his cas& was brought under the notice of the Ministers for Public Works all the sympathy he got was "Why don't you abandon your section." There was, Mr Hine continued an entire absence in the statement of two of the most, important matters of the day. They were land tenure and the cast of living. He stated that since the Ward administration took office £970,508 remained unexpended out of the amounts voted for roads and bridges. Mr Sta'lworthy (Kaipara) refuted the Opposition suggestion that the statement was a vote catcher. It was only natural that every good proposal should catch votes just as iV rotten plank lost then. The people of the country recognised good proposals when they saw them and that fact accounted for the continued return of the Liberal Party. With reference to the cry of ''Open up native lands," he would like to see both native and other lands put together and dealt with collectively ant'i not as at present.

Mr Mander (Marsden) said in ' reference to the remarks which were always directed to Sir Joseph Ward's opposition. They did good work in probing the Government up and in making suggestions which the' Government usually took up. With, regard to loans to local bodies he suggested that the Government should guarantee to banks, money to be voted to local bodies before the Estimates came down. This, he contended, could be easily done and local bodies could have access to the money at an earlier period than at present. He held that; both Maori and pakeba should be treated similarly in respect' to taxation. Farmers should contribute towards the cost of Works through which they derived benefit. He instanced the case of the main trunk railway increasing royalties on timber on native lands from Id to 2s and 3s per hundred, and the natives paid nothing towards the cost or upkeep of the railways. If the Budget programme was carried out he saw no reason for two parties. His objection was to what had been left out and the had administration of the Government. BOUNDARY OBJECTIONS.

The Premier stated in 'the House in the afternoon that the representation Commission would .not * take evidence by deputation. AH objections must be in wrilfcng. The House adjourned at 5.30 p.m.

EVENING SITTING

The House met in the evening. BUDGET DEBATE CONTINUED

I Mr Scott (Tuapeka) continued the | debate on the Budget. He said that I the members of his side of the ; House were poor hard working farmI ers, not land monopolists. Referring to the importance of afforestation, he advocated emrtployinigj two experts to be placed in charge of the work here. On the subject of immigration he stated that the farmers were willing to pay any wage l'or efficient labor. Mr Glover (Auckland Central) urged the Government to make early provision for the old soldiers who were rapidly thinningi. Also to bring down the period for old age pension for females from to UU years. He complimented the Government upon the proposed insurance against unemployment. Mr Nosworthy (Ashburton) stated that the Government was absolute;ly afraid to bring down a land I policy, being destitute of such policy jin any shape or form. He was ' prepared t > support a co-operative tank, if State oteccei, and assist- ! ance as indicated could be supplied jto farmers without State aid. He : asked why large city firms were not burst up ihet as large estates, when : small men could [net a living. The ! whole Budget appeared to him to be | a dose of chloroform for tbe eleci tors. Mr Poole (Auckland West) con- ; sidered that the Budget was the most progressive, one ever placed be- | fore the country. The debate w ;l s adjourned and the House rose at 11.20 p.m.