THE COUNCIL.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 643, 21 October 1909, Page 8

THE COUNCIL.

SPEECH BY HON. W. BEEHAN. The sittings of the Legis3ative,.Council were resumed yesterday afternoon. The" Hon. W. BEFiHAN (Auckland) in coninning, the debate !on the Address-in-Reply aid he considered the offer .of the .Dreadnought ras the most courageous act which hladevei Docn made on behalf of any oversea dbminion the Empire. He had no" doubt but that the fiewH ' which Sir ' Joseph Ward expressed at ;he' Defence Conference. would bo pretty gensrally approved. What must not be overlooked nras the inland defence of New.Zealand. He xas in hopes that the youth of the Dominion, is well as the cadets, would have to undergo i yearly course of military training, [t was his opinion that the' Land Settlement ffinance Bill would prove a beneficial measure, fn-regard to the friendly societies within the Dominion; he thought a scheme should be derised whereby about JEIO.OOO .of their funds, ivhich • was at present non-interest ' bearing, vould. become productive! Then again the •egistrar,'|in-his-spare time, 'should; as was ;ho case in New South Wales, deliver lectures; :to.; on'friendly society work throughout th( iountry. He'complimented the Attorney-Gen-iral on the efforts thathe w;a6 making to effect irison reform. ' It : was his opinion that Dr. Findlav's scheme was on correct lines and that t prove, a. great boon to prisoners, esjecially to the younger ones.'"Mr. Beehan spoke igaiiist the abolition of' the duty on sugar, vhich. he said had not resulted in benefit; to ;ha consumers. . Then again he could not sec ;hat there was any great necessity for the removal of the sheep tax. . THE TIMBER INDUSTRY. Tho Hon. i.: MARSHAL!',(Vestland) 'erred' in. complimentary.' terms..'to;.the, work vhich the Prime Minister had.'performed on jehalf of the Dominion dririhg fhis recent visit :o England. Ho thought Sir Joseph's proposal vhereby, local- bodies would be> able to obtain iheap money, would prove ,of great benefit, STative'land owners should,,,in his opinion,. be >laced on. the same footing as European hold:rs in the matter of taxation. Ho declarod ;hat the present Government had,done a good leal ■ to' encourage settlement. The present land lystem was, in his opinion, a good one. Re'erring toi-thfy timber, industry,.,he.said.that the istablishment ofth'ei late-commission" was very iroper. ,No matter what' it had cost it would it well worth the money. He had not read :hrou:;h the,., report, and for . the most:, part vould toko it as read; Thero were timbers in 'few Zealand suitable for sleepers, without any reparation for 25' years. Ho also .agreed with ;ho commission that ' 1 the ~.railway.-"freights ihould, be reduced in' J respect of short-length imber, which now .went to waste. Tlicn again, he areas of cutting busli. should :bo increased, 0 as to encourage millers to: put in good limits. He disapproved of the proposal that ;he royalty should be'payable on the round ogs as they, were received on the skids. It vas his belief that if that were, done ,it would :end to increase 'the price of timber. ■ Mr. Marshall next' referred to the, necessity for n rare milk ; supply, for the'people in all parts if the Dominion. He noted with pleasure that ;he mining industry was .promised additional mcourageiment' from the ' Government, . NECESSITY FOR MORE MARKETS., The ' Hon. C. M. LUKE (Wellington), thought ;he. Government was to be commended for the nanner in which it had stimulated trade ami •.ommcrce. Itjwas his view that the recent Em>ire Chamber of Commerce Congress would be iroductivo of much good. He felt that the Timber Commission's, report was not so .'valuable as he people had had a right to eipect. Tho sawaills in' New Zealand were, ( as a matter of act, .as well equipped for their'siz3 as those n other countries. He thought it would be , good thing > not only for the sawmillers, but ,lso for the users. The recent depression had ieen .overstated, especially as far as Wellington was.'concerned, and it was more, acute nor; han elsewhere in the' Dominion;. He -held that here ; were not nearly so many unemployed is,.had been represented..' 'Under, the .present ;onditions he oouldnot see how periodical doiression .was.,to bo prevented., The, Government ihoiild. take-further steps to try- and open un jarkets in the East and other countries; to wliioh ■Jews Zealand sent practically, none of its prolucts.■■■' A depression affected fthe- employers is well as -the workers.." There, had been "very ittle building going on in Wellington during he past six' months. He claimed that no nember had more sympathy with tho wagelaming "class than himself. Although New Zealand had passed much valuable labour legislation, it. bad'imposed on employers vhicli were;.too heavy under'present circumtances. Mr. Luke went on to say that for New Sealaod ;to build, a local -navy would be a erious mistake. ' Tho Prime Minister had nado: the best possible ..arrangement .'.for the imc being. - Ho-, thought that: military ,trainng'could not be as attractive as formerly, but le would .not, like to/see.conscription.'or com-, mlsory training adopted. Referring to the nail services, lie favoured the Vancouver oute, with a special connecting, stenmer from iuvn.to Auckland. There should.be greater aeilities, for peoplo to go.on 'the bind. ...Tho system of- tenure in force' was,, in his opinion, -he best. He trusted. that whatever variation >f tenure might take place, the national endowments Would "not be interfered . t'ith. If ;he Natives would not utilise their surplus sud, they should' make room for those who rished to' do so. If the right were given to 1 Crown tenant to acquire his freehold at the iriirinal value, it would.be a crime. . Upon the motion'of the Hon. J. E. Jenkinion,, the debate "was adjourned. iuid the Counsil will meet again this afternoon.