THE HOUSE.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 702, 30 December 1909, Page 7

THE HOUSE.

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to invite offers so as to sec if they could not get the present Vancouver service to come on to Anctdand, and also to ,-m ■vito offers' to see i£ a service by way of Suez, conld bt got, calling at Auckland, •: Wellington, Eytteltoh,' I J ort / Chalmers, and Bluff "M a tender was received, it would bare to be submitted to Parliament The vote -.would not commit * the <jovernmont Jo apvthing ' i' -> Replying to Mr Hemes, on tlio vote' of <£51U /for the purchase of the steel of timber at the Kalahi sawmill from the Public "Works Department, by 'the Rail ' Tray Department, * The Hon V A JIILLAR said the Department was getting most of its timber Jrom the mill There was about\ 2000 acres of bush still to cut, and in addi tion-there was 1 a further area of)l7,000 acres'of bush t , Parliament Buildings Refcriing to the -vote "Old Parliament Building, partial restorations, etc (additional), jeaooo," „ ' Mr HBEDMAN asked if,the Govern , uicnt'would "make a statement of policy as to tho construction of a ucwi Parliament House 1 It might bo necessary to postpone taking any steps for several years, but tho lioveratnent should have a pohcy in view Personally, ixo thought the new buildings saould be on the .old site, and ho would like to see 1 Sydney Street taken in ' M 'the Hon R jrkLNZIE said the pre Gout building* would serve,,very well for ' another ten vears The'question of the lute of tho capital had bec,i> opened up and was not sottled (Laughter) Tho Government was considering the r whole question v- / . Numerous Requests Made ) Mr HLRDMAN slid he was not satis. Sed lyitli the reply! The' Government had had two years to consider the subject mnco the fare, and should have a policy by this time largo sum 6of money wcio spent on the old site ' Thoil'nme Minister That is all in isbed now The Hon K MTiENZIE said ho re cognised 61 the greatest needs was it sittingroom -for -members Any , thing required would be attended to in I the recess ' > \ "Mr MERRIES said a rijom ? where numbers could sco thejr constituents viaa neussarj j / ' n Mi TIYIOK Ranted-the 1 newspaper ' filce duplicated, to that they' could be consulted 1)11 (.ltlicr side r of Sydney Street The mail arrantcmeiits should be located in tho_ mim building, and , there should, bo a vfnting room" A room ioi heidi of Dcptfitmtnts, and ' hot luncheons were other | speakers > The voto was, passed unaltered Noxious „Weeds on Native-tart'ds I The-MINISTER 10R AGRICULTURE (lion T '■Mackenzie) '= ud there wah it present no provision f or ge'tijig a refund of mono} t.pcnt on ""eradicating noilou? weeds on-- Native lands, buf f he. thought such provision should beimado, . Mr, MASSE i said the sum ofj:i7oo for / this purpose was a mere bagatollo . He did not know whether it would bo north while; to spend such a sum The govern mont would get better, value for Uts money, if it enabled A 'and P fAssociaI toons to give t valuahlo prizes for stock, instead ol spj/ndin,; it on stud st<)ck ' Dfltertivo TnpF % L When the item, "Grant tojDetectivo J Cassells Tp special duty in England, ■£200," was reached, 'i- <. Mr v-HIASfeEY expressed' the opinion J thai particulars should be given With ' icsarcf to the vote * , < LW PRIME MINISTER said the de tective was sent Home at the instigation of the r>olioo to"look "after a nnii who wis considered, to be dangerous, and had designs on another man s life " i

Mr. Massov Was the man who was supposed to bo dangerous a 'former resident of Wellington! 1 , Sir Joseph He was only a visitoi , 1 Mr Massej Hi 6 name was Robertson, and he was eraplojed hero ioi somo considerable turns I know him slightly I thought ho wis one of tho most harmless men I had over 6een. ' iir Poland (OhiEcmun)i You never saw; him in tho horrors. Mr. Ma&ey That is a very unfair thing to s>ay, for Robertson was a strict, straight going,/honourable man, a university man, and a religious man 110 nas not a man who would take drmk Sir JOSEPH WARD said ho did not wish'to dibcuss aD) man on tho floor of the House. If tho hon member saw S.OlllO Of tho letters in the possession of the polico in London, piobablj change Ms opinion. -. ~ Mr Masse). I saw one here. s Sn Jooeph Personally, I am not afraid of any man Threats have open mado to mo before Tho Bntish police said that the man required watching, and tins proved to ho right. > Members Oh 1 Sir Joseph- After I arrived in London something happened which showed that their judgment was right \ . Members What was it? Sir Joseph <I won't say what or where. The Webster Claims. There was considerable discussion in , regard 1 to the vote "Grant to Dr Fitchett, Solicitor-General, to defray expenses on visit to London on puolic bust-1 ness, »MSO " i Mr.'HERDMAN (Wellington North) thought the House should be given somo details with reference to the, Webster claims, in' regard to which it was understood Dr Fitchett went Home. ,The PRIME MINISTER said that there were eome points in connection with the matter which were, confidential' It was i a pretty diffioult matter, and'it was not by any means finally settled, so tai as Now Zealand was concerned. . Mr. HERDMAN said that from what !he* could gather tho claim which tho 'United States was pressing was against tho British Government, and not against tho'Now Zealand Government Webster, it was understood, took up the land in question befoio representative government was granted to New Zealand If the matter was one between Webster s descendants and the British Government, tho expenses, Dr- Fitchett in connec tion with his recent trip should not have to' bo met bv tho New Zealand Govern.ihent < The duties which Dr Fitchett performed might have been dono by tho Chief Justice, who was at Homo at the time T Sir Joseph then in LonMr Herdman Or by Mr. H. D Bell, K.C, who was at Home , Sir Joseph- How much do jou think vto would have had to have paid in fees' Mr Herdman I have not the remotest ide-v what the duties wore ' The PRIME MINISTER said that if Mr Herdman called on hjm. he would show him the position, but he could not ma\e it public . It was not clear that there was no liability on New Zealand Beyond that ho could not go. It was absolutely' necessary that someone -should have gone Home in connection with the matter Ono reason whv it Y°^ d n °J have done to lave' engaged the Ctaet Justice wwi that the matter might ultimately come before tho Courts of Now Zealand Ho was of opinion that the Government would not have beenunified m paying such a large, fee as would have* been required by. Mi. M> Within ttie last fortmght he had received conndential communications on the mattei

A Strangs Coincidence j Mr MASSEY thought the papers in. the matte* other than the confidential documents might be laid before Parliament. Sir JosSph 'I ijpuU atronriT recommend that they he held back for the f Jfr." Massey Of course, it is too" late this session , i , ~_ 'In the couise of further discussion, Mr. Massei paid that* rumours were current that.' although there were at one time real claims the present idaiinsvveie .factitious " . '"' , Sir Joseph They have been pressed on the British Government by the American Government ,c , Mr Massoy It is a coincidence that each tune you have gone Home on Imperial business the Solicitoi-ueneral went Home ~ * Sir Jo«eph He went on each occasion, but) I did not s requiro"him "• Tho House =at on until 600 pm, and then, having completed tho Supplemental t Estimates, adjourned until 7.30. > APPROPRIATION BILU expensesVf royal commis- ' SIONERS. , " ~ When the House resumed' at 1 30 pm, > the resolutions from Committee of, Supply were confirmed, and the Appropriation Bill was introduced, and briefly explained by tho Prime MinislerJ ' Mr. iLLEN questioned the/propriety of amending tho Public Revenues Act by means of a clause in tho Appropriation Bill iClause 23, extending the provision for tbflj issue Of Treasury Bills) Mr. BUCHANAN, referring to Clause 28, which permits tho payment of mernJ bers of j Parliament as members of the Timber Commission, said that in such circumstances members thould only receive their travelling expenses. /The TRIMK MINISTER said that tho sarao thing had been done before, and the services of members of Parhamonti. were ot value on Iloyal Commissions He also defended the point objected Mr. Allen. ' ~,",> "Mr. HDRBIES, at a later stage, objected to the provision for payment of members of tho Timber Commission. Ho did not object t& this particular instance, but it was a very dangeious jmvet to give to any Ministry, It was entirely new, as tho only previous instances that could bo quoted were tho Federation Conimission,_which had to go out of the colony, amPthe Native Land Commission. If this power had been used in tho past, the Mnpounka trip could havß been made a Boyal Commibsion. •> . The PEIME MINISTER said tho oralmission required tho services of the members of Parliament Members need not be afraid that anything 'impropei would be done / - Mr MASSDY said the payments to the members of the Nativo Land Commission —a mombei of tho House and a Judge of tho Supieme Couit—were a public scandal Ho warned tho Prime Ministei not to repeat such a step. ) 1 The Bill passed thiough all its stages without amendment > \ COMPLIMENTARY SPEECHES/ iTHANKS AND GOOD WISHES Beforo adjourning to await the passage of tho Apiuppriatioii Bill by the Council, Tho PltlVE MINIbTEB thanked the Speaker foi the way in which ho had carried out- his duties in tho chair. Ho bad shown'tho utmost impartiality, and had enabled tho Houso to prcsorve its high tradition of dignity and decorum. He would also like to .-express tho high appreciation of the House for tho services of tho Chairman of Committees (Hear, hear) Mr Wilford had shonn the most excellent qualification for his difficult duties, and had performed them with maiked ability He had been warmly commended by raombers on both sides of the Hous? ' - ' Mr MASSEY endorsed the Primo Minister's Tetaarls with legaid to tho Speaker and Chan man The House thoroughly appreciated the impartiality and dignitj Kith which tho Speaker had conducted the proceedings He hoped that next boston woulJ bo held undoi more pleasant circumstances . Sir JO!?EI'H "ffAED snid he wished iminbors a very happy time during the iocess He hoped if anything had been said by hi-melf in tho boat of debate that had ruffled the' feelings of any nierabers, they would recognise that he had been trying to dischurge his dutv and that no soro feeling lonjamed so fni as, he was cancorned In conclusion, fair Joseph expressed thanks to tho olhcors ol the House for their able services (lining the session Mr ALLEN (Mr Massoy bavin? been called out) expressed tho thanks of tho Opposition to tho officers of tho House, and endorsed the good wishes that had been expressed « The Speaker in Roply. Tho -UPEAKEK expressed his thanks for what had been said regaiding himself The session .had been a strenuous one, but he hoped that after a short recess thry would all come back thoioughly roinYigoratod. Ho congratu-

luted the new members on having so rapidly learnt the forms and usages of tho Housp. Etc- wished paiticukuh to thank tho officers of tho Houso. This was the first occasion on winch tho Speaker had not beon able to \»ish Eiembcfs* a Merry Christmas at their homes (Laughter.) Ho had great pleasure, however, in wishing all a bright, happy, and prosperous New Year, good health, and all happiness. (Applause.) , Mr. WILFOKD (Churinan of Committoo) acknowledged the kind remarks which hod/been niado concerning hun. Daring tho J sittings, ho had kept in front of him twoj cardinal principles- (1) To allow as much latitude in discussion as possible, and (2) to bo particularly careful, to sec that it did not degenerate into liccnt.o. Ho felt stiong in his petition, because he know that there iwas abovo him such an able Speaker. In conclusion, Mr. Wilford paid a warm tnbute to the assistance which had been given hnn by tho officers of the House. / The Houso adjourned at 8 30 p m. until 10.5 p.m. THE END. The Giovomor's assent to the Appropriation Bill was receded,at 11 p.m Tho PEIMB MINISTER/moved "That this Houso do now adjourn." , A division was taken, according to custom, and ,tho motion was carried by 28 to 23. i The Houso rose at 11.11 pm.