PARLIAMENT IN SESSION.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 928, 22 September 1910, Page 6

PARLIAMENT IN SESSION.

STATE ADVANCES.

WORKERS* HOMES QUESTION. LAND FINANCE BILL. NEW PROPOSALS DISCUSSED. I, The principal feature of the afternoon sitting of. the House of Representatives Iwas a discussion on the proposal that the Vice-regal residence at Auckland should bo retained. A report of the discussion will be found in .another column. In the levelling the' State Advances Amendment Bill and .'the Land Settlement Finance 'Amendment Bill.were read a second time. '•During the ."afternoon sitting a Bill providing for'itho raising 0f',£500,000 for the ; purpo6el of developing the water powers of ..the. Dominion was introduced. ;'/There was. no meeting of the Legislative .Council yesterday. I The Council will 'resume this! evening. .'..■.■ . ; .'■'

r; : ::,:;.THE : ;!IQIJSE..'.'; ;;;.f WANGANUI CHURCH ACRE BILL. -: When; the Hphse of.Representatives met yesterday : ;,;; - ~;/; ■■ , ,'.....- i The, report of '..the, Private. Bills Cotnimittce; on. the ,Wangahui Church 1 Acre JBili was • adopted without discussion. .';■ ;> - WATER-POWER CONTROL. : ' LOAN OF ,£500,000;. WANTED'.: ;', -: . A= Billi -providing ;f of' the raising ■ of; 'for'v the,:establishment of ;elec- , tricar > power .works and I the. utilisation . of : water .works ■in connection therewith' was introduced, by Governors Message... ■"■■■ Mr.'•"T. •E. • '■,TAYLOR i;:(Christohnrch North) ;• .-asked", the what irrigation.; works/litl was proposed,' to undertake.' i.;;-.These'irrigation •'. 'works' would ■.probably.'•b'ei;*established .in .Central utago. ■■ ■'I, vv',;: !■ I; ■,■■"■■;•• •'■'•> ■:■* ';.' '■••■:■■■■■.. v.: Sir Joseph: .This lias", nothing. ..to do, with the ■ general; irrigation scheme. .. ;. Mr., .Taylor /went on: to,'-'say that if the value, of private -lands |were to. be, eri.h'ariced.asla "result of an irrigation they should- be' subject, to a/bet:terment .-tax;-'.:-'. ,■:■-.'■■'■•'■'■: ■"■' ■■' //The PRIME/MINISTER'said the-pro-posal .■-.'.had -nothing to do. with' irrigation in ■Central .>-. Utago...- .It was- necessary ;to 'include : irrigation, in .the Bill,' because the -water'.■■.used for power developing: might ;be : - utilised- for "irrigat-. ing laolds ' through, whichit passed. 1 , ; .:. Mr. ■•IPBASEE, |(Wakatipu) asked where the', money I for .the -,' Central "Otago ..irrigation .was; toll cornel .'from. '.','.; '','.' ■■ , ■~The"-'Prime- Minister:. There is already. .£IOO,OOO. authorised.;. -That;.,is being carried: out I-quite '.separately. ■'. In: regard to .what Mr.' Taylor; had said, : he -pointed out that the greater/portion of the land in- .Central' Otago :already belonged to thy'Crbwri.' ', <v .';■ v.'-- '~ -•.'-'■-.','■;'■'..'- Mi''., Ell:'. What, about,l the., land that does';riot':,belbng\ to/the/.Crown? ..' |Mrl leaser:': The people- who hold small ■freeholds...or .leaseholds'.; would .have' .'to 'pay.;for-the'i : water. : :used,| so that- the Government., would 'be.recouped... irThe;'lßill was : read'a firsl/ time... ', /■

;.POST-AUDIT: SYSTEM/ ' > Bni'RECEIVED^FROM'THE'COM;";■:;;.;:;/0;;;':,MiTTEE:;;;,; .V;'/. -' :■:;. i.-.Tie .Accounts- Committee; submitted .'its report, on the Public Revenues Bill, ..which; proposes .to , substitute.:the 'post-audit'.'.'..system'.-..-.in. lieu ;of. the;!prer audit ;system; :■■•.; .:, ; .■:' ,- !-,-'■'.. ■'..■•■ |. .■ : -„ : ■ .Clause 18, -providing for'; the /Controller arid: Auditor-General .stating a : ,caso' for "/the; - opini on.'" of:' the'; Solici tbr : Qeriefal;' has; been, struck outr/arid ,'a nbw:clause has'lbeen;inserted,,providing-;'that in the case I; of ..any, .difference .'of opiniori : ..ber tweeh; the: Audit'and.'Treasury, iis ltb„a' vote; .apprppriation,:'!fund, ; :etb. ) to I which! any le'xpehditurel ought: to 'be' charged, or .- as '.'to; tho proper / head: of .revenue, 'fund, or 'account;' to'\ whicli any receipt, should be!.credited,:.'the.question 'shall ,be. determined .by. the .Minister, , whose'/ decision shall ./.be f, laid .'before', .'.Parliament.. ■;. -, -Ifthe;<iuestioh involves matter-of daw,-the opmion; of ,/the ' Attorney-General ,is;■'. to' be, tak'en;'..whpse "opinion : and 1 . the object tions;-will.:be 'laid before Parliamerit. The '".section", of. Clause ,121 i dealing, with unauthorised .expenditure ;;, in' certain .cases.,has., beeri;'.altei-ed; : by. the. deletion of the provision that/'.any,"narbour. board, •or l-hospjtal and' •chmitablo' aid ,board may'expend,up to in! any'one year. New clauses have -been. added, : providing tbat. .ifl 'l >per_/centl.'• ofl the" general rate' does : riot .'ampriht ihl any; financial year I. to J>ls ; the'; local 1 'authbrity,■■ may ■ ,'iri that year, expend'-JiloV.;-' Any''harbour board may expend every -year, sums 'not amounting to more.,than, 1. cent, of its revenue' for,:-the "year, (exclusive-.-of loan moneys), ■ but - not. exceeding'; ,£250. Any hospital.'and: charitable, aid board may expend in lany year "sums V'not, amounting:, to. .more.'than' 1 per cent.; ''bf. the ; amount levied! on contributing local authorities "for that year, in'."respect of expenditure,, but in ho case- more than ,£250.:,"'//;;!:'; l/v ■■ ;■ ,' ~ ;':':■ Mr/I MASSEY" said, that he hoped the whole '.of the ■ evidence- would .be placed in 'the hands ,1-of; .members 'before "the Bill/was: proceeded '■ with. .'■ ' The PREMIER replied: that he made an' arrangement: to that, effect..'. When tho"members'.got:the evidence they would see! how important: it was that" the. Bill should be.;passed..-...-this isessiori.. '.'They' would/also, see;what minor points were raised with,the.objectl.of having 'the old antiquated system continued;! ,/; /Mr. .MASSEY ..said, that the.-, evidence which ho heard, was, riot altogether in favour ,of. the Bill.. The evidence came from', sonfe of .the' Government experts.On that account the , Premier should. not try';to: prejudice .the! opinion, of members until, they had I a chance of looking into tho matter...' Sir . JOSEPH ' said that the evidence would speak .for itself. The statement that .Government witnesses were against the Bill'was contrary: to fact: ". ; Mr. Massey: I said that their- eviderioe went against the proposal. :.. : ".';.■ .;■■.;Sir -Joseph-''concluded'.by stating' that the Auditor-General, ; - the. former Audi-tor-General, and theAssistiuit-Secretary. to the Post and Telegraph Department wore' in favour, of ! , it. The report was' adopted, and the evidence, etc., was. ordered to be laid.on the table,.and, printed. . • ;; STATE ADVANCES BILL. ;; : THE HOUSING PROBLEM. DEBATE ON SECOND READING.

In moving the second reading of tho New Zealand State Guaranteed - Advances Act Amendment Bill; The PRIME MINISTER said. tho Bill Sroposes that the moneys required uner tho Act may be raised in tho same manner as ordinary loans. In tho case of advances to settlers where' the loan did not exceed ■ ,£IOO the time was to be for 20 years, between .£IOO and X3OO 30 years, and over .£3OO 30J- years. The Bill also provided for a definition bf first and second-class securities, first-class loans' to be for 30 years and second-class for -20 years. Progress payments. would be pos-sible-during the time the erection of a building was going on. A fixed tirao for the payment of interest was also provided. At present interest was payable at any time, and this had been found to be very inconvenient. The proposal was to adjust matters so as to have. interest due on certain regular dates, and provision was also made to prevent a borrower in arrears losing his right to. compensation for improvements. Whore default was mado tho Superintendent was to be empowered to lease the mortgaged land with ot without option of purchase. Tho desirability of allowing workers to acquire, as well as to build, a-house was also recognised in tho Bill. Under the old Aot workers could purchase a home,

and this latter provision was reverting to a former practice. The Bill was a great improvement on the existing law. Remarks by Mr. Massey. : Mr. MASSEY referred first-of all to the' raising of loans under tho measure. The .Prime Minister had stated that the whole of. the moneys for the Department would be obtained from Home; but up to March 31 last the moneys for tho Department had been obtained' from tho Postal Department. He approved of tho reduction of the term in the. case of small advances. The provision would be of great advantage in mining communities: He would like to see a clause to meet, the! case. of local bodies who had riot got advances at the old rate,' although they had made'applicatiori prior to the passing of. the, amending' Act, last year. : Legislation'on the point had been promised, but .it had not yet made its appearance. .As regards the question of sinking funds, he said it was an unfair provision in the Act that.local bodies who; had borrowed ; apart from the Government, should be compelled to invest their sinking .'.funds ;in Government debentures. If Mr. Sidby again brought up the matter he would give him his heartiest support. .'Mr.;FISHER (Wellington Central) declared that the. Government, had appropriated, nearly the'whole of the Bill : which-he had 'introduced on the sub-, jeot.' ' ■ .-. . : : Sir Josoph: I have never seen it. ; Mr. Fisher: Then great minds think alike.' .•'■■'•'• ■ .-..'' ■•' .''.■"..■ / Mr. WEIGHT (Wellington, South) was glad, to! see the clause under which a 1 worker might borrow up to the increased limit, provided .that he had. the security for the purposo. of .making additions to his.'dwelling.' '•■'-.- ■■'•"■'■■'; Mr; GUTHRIE (Oroua) said that he was afraid : that. under somoof the new clauses the, speculators' and. not ..the workers - would benefit. I It was quite possible that, syndicates might . subdividelands and .workers might not bo, genuinely assisted ' by : . the Department.:' The. injustice : which, had been; done local bodies' iii. the .matter.of sinking funds, should bo PUtlright.-' I '.',',; .;',- '"I-' Advances Board Criticised. . Mr.' POLAND (Ohinemuri)' did. hot approve of. the. new ■ proposals./in connection With I advances to .'workers.' He favoured' the proposal enunciated by tho Prime Minister, in .1907; I under which 'a. worker by;.paying: a .deposit, of taking ont afirst.mprtgagete; the Government and, a second mortgage to the. vendor could •■ obtain .a'home.., Tho. proposal I 'to increase' the poiriod of .'repayment' was' a retrograde step!; He adversely criticised the; composition of the Advances' Board,. which he said was not : sympathetically inclined towards -borrowers..'■'..;--

! Mr.. NEWMAN (Manawatu), expressed the hope that local bodies who made application prior to : tho passing of. the/Act should.be/gr'arited loans:at the old:rate.; ~ 'Mr., I'HEKRIES - (Tauranga) ~ declared .that themoneys. raised under the Act; as amended, iwould become part: of, the public debt. None; of ■ the moneys' so far raised ■ for: the ' Department I 'had been raised outside' the'■;/Dominion, f Where! the security .was' safe ,'in va; rniriing -district an /advance-; should be There were some townships which .should, not be under the" ; mining law.'.':' ', . '■' ;'" , ( Mr. 'BOSS, (Pahiatua) /said that he ;re-'. 'gretted ; that some: of; the ,; suggestions which, he had made were riot incorporated in Ithe measure;; It::appeared, .however,' that: the' interests of the Advances Board had been consulted. If the Government allowed; the ;system: of: civil', servants dictating - tot the 'Government to continue, they ..would find themselves in a.minority. He ■ noticed,..that',the,.Government: had, agreed that borrowers' should' bo allowed to obtain.advances by way .of: progress! payments,,: but. two ; other ; amerid- : monts, wliich' he. proposed; viz.,' prbfer.ence ;' to : Crown tenants /'and I ,tho full .benefit . for ,• loan, 'purposes;; of all. improvements,,had .riot been adopted. The" leaseholder/was 'being', penalised to? 'day;in that ho .was unable to bbi-iW/in the .open market .as- was-tlfe '.freeholder.: As a party: iman;'he could say.'that if they" were going to.hpld'their.pwn as.a party ,',they must take, the advice 'of,, the 'men in,/|Par-, ,liament ■-iristead of ■ that i/of members/, of the Civil' Serviced'; l ;!■:,; ■':'::"■'' ./.:':. I:!" -;

A;Burning .Problem^;,!;.//; v ;: / : .-±-J': : Mr. ;;T.;l'E.i'l TATLOR':(Christchuroh' North) ■ welcomed the-.. warning given.- by thepreyibus speaker '.to the leaders of the! Liberal party. Whether.or not. he would forget;it to-morrow,remairied to;be seen. Freeholders •■'.had..,been : .-.welcomed'..to'the. Liberal party because they' were prepared to : pledge .themselves I to I support, a political leader./ ;:To-day, wheri.; a'; man - : with 'small capital .wanted a home,' ; he became', ac'qua/intcd with a hungry land agent/and a .jerry-builder. It was :onljy: a;matter,'of. a .few years' when the homo passed .infer the-hands ,of" the.mortgagee.,, 'Advances to workers might; bo increased to-a'still •higher amount. In.New. Zealand; there" were thousands of hoiries which were riot suitable for human habitatiohv.-l-'-.Thisiwas' more noticeable in Auckland, than: else-; where. • The Prime "Minister, had given a| pledge >that. the.workerwho'/could., muster -ClO would bo, assisted by. the. State; ,- At the . bottom ,:of,' the : whole problem was /the- question.'; of-. valuation. ;'He. /would sooner ;haye seen, tho Governrhent stake its''existence upon the acceptarico by; the ..cbuhtry , of-' a- housing 'scheme involving ~;,two ..millions than.', ssb ■them; violate all cons,titntional proceduro by ; forcing '! Parliament to I,'eridorso/''the/ expenditure', of- two millions;on a;Dread-' nought/for' presentation to a Government, which was. embarrassed /as; to, what,/it was,, going/ to df in, regard ,'to" the offer. It .would 1 be better,/to spend a year on the housing problem than on a miiriic; army which , might never, bo 'required., I. !,, !.;•'••;-'.■' ';,"■/■:. ■■'.•' ■Views of Mr, Hcrdman. ~ Mr., 'HERDMAN (Wellington North) also.•:contended /that,.no,'problem of greater importance than that of .housing the people. He..would.like to. know/what, had been done in connection with I the. Mudgeway Estate, Knighfs property/ and theNai Nai Estate,.which"had been purchased for the erection of workers' homes. As'regards tho criticism ,on;;the ■composition: of tho Advances Board,- lie would like to point' out that. tho members were bound : by .statute, and, regulation. Messrs. Poland' and Ross might have been more specific in the matter, of their complaints. It had been:stated by .the Prime Minister that .there had been practically no loss in regard to, the administration of the Department. To him it was astonishing if such was the case,' for all lending 'institutions had losses at times. The Leader of the Opposition: was the first member to move in the House that advances should be made to workers. An easier/system by whichia man in poor circumstances could obtain a home with' the aid of the State might be devised. Supposing i! 500 was advanced at\a rate of four per cent., as interest, and two' per cent, as redemption, the annual .charge would be . and the debt would run off in twentyeight yeaTS. If the amount, of the redemption was one per cent, the term would be forty-one years. ;: Mr. OKEY-(TaranakO expressed the opinion that a man with, a mortgaged home should haye the same right to obtain an advance to clear his home as a man who borrowed to build a home. Mr. BUXTON (Geraldine)' said a great deal had been said decrying what the Department |had He ■ thpnght, the workers all over New Zealand were largely satisfied with tho Department. In his own district the work had been most beneficial for the. workers, who, generally speaking, were well satisfied . with, what had been done.' . ' : Premier Defends Advances Board. . The PRIME MINISTER,, in- oply, 'complained that there had been a great' deal of misrepresentation during the, debate. Ho was surprised that some membors .should havo abused the members of the Advances. Board. Its members wero honourable, painstaking, and capable men, and would not yield to improper pressure. Tho member for Pahiatua wanted "preference for Crown tenants, but this was not going to lie adopted, ne (Mr. Ross) also wanted the Department to ignore tho ordinary valuation. He was not going to get this either—criticise or advise the Government as ho liked.. The board was going to do nothing unless the security was safe. Before ho (Sir Joseph) .loft for Home on his last visit ho-arranged' that the board should give orders stating that at a later, date an advance would bo made—theso ..were really letters of credit. And what

thanks did the Government got? Throughout the country it was circulated that the Department lacked funds. He was surprised that the Opposition should want to rc-vort to the old system of making advances. ■'"..,'''..,. . Mr. Allen: It was better for the local bodies. Sir Joseph: But only a proportion of the moneys now being advanced would be let outResuming, Sir Joseph said that later in the session ho would introduce a Bill to meet the case of those local bodies Who had applied for loans under the old Act and had not received them. The Government could hot do more for the workers at the present time. During the past three years 4253 workers had received in all. ~".'■ Has the Government Had a Policy? He was surprised to hear Mr. Taylor say. that the Liberal party had had no policy since 1890. 'Subsequent to that date ■ the -Liberal party, had adopted 'practically the whole of the labour legislation; besides a new' lands for settlement scheme and Bills providing for the creation, of State undertakings. As the result of the operations of! the' graduated land tax the extra amount of taxation in that regard had now increased as under':— 1892-93. 1909-10.'. Taxation paid ...... 750' 1,387! ■■■„'"■ „ ...... 833 1,666 - '■'„" .'•- „ ...... 1,106 2,473 •"• „ „ .;.... 1,484 - 3,437 ; „ . .■ „ 1,822 4,557- „■■'•.- ....... 2,187: 5,833 .' .„;,;. „ ........ 2,408 -; ;: 6,125 . ; Continuing, Sir' Joseph stated that it was ,true ho had declared that a .worker who could muster .£lO should get'. State assistance. to .'enable .'him'.' to get a homo." The Government. intended to'.; carry . out that r proposal—and do it this session. It ,was to' form part. of another '• Bill altogether; Complaint was made that he did.not rush all his Bills into the.House at. once..., Ho did not do so -because . he was not going to fill up the Order Paper to enable: some members', to say !that they would not' help'the Goye'rriment to carry them .through.' The -Bills would-be brought down by {degree's, and-he!felt sure that the . House would adopt;, them.-. In his opinion Sir!! Herdman's system, under which workers . might purchase;; their homes, would;be unsatisfactory.-' ';'.

Further Help for the Workers,

"The/Workers' Dwellings . Bill would provide' that' every' application: /for,:. a' workers'.'dwelling must .be accompanied; : by; a;, deposit of '~£lO, ■ 'and 1 .that ."-every, weeklyor. other/instalment in reduction ; ; ,of .the .capital ..value'."'and interest,'should ■ .consist! partly, of capital and/partly' of '. interest. / In addition,: if the workor'' de-. sired;, to, purchase: a dwelling, he:-might: • at any, time do so" by payments of J7 ' or':any; multiple of £T ; at any -time.: -He! was surprised that'jjlr...Taylor.should'try ; and ihHaih'e the workeis by; telling: them' that : the . two'-. millions which: had' been' ; spent, on. the Dreadnought /would 'have been lietter' spent in erecting houses, for ; the .workers.:. Besides'.the provision-that : was made in the.State;Advances;Act for! giving assistance : towards the erection of ■workers'. homes, it /'was "proposed under .the Workers' /Dwellings. Bill -to give .a : worker :'an' opportunity/to .get' a. home . if ho. had y£W,' by .making] payments off ; capital and; interest as he . What, however,:would;.be the use if the country/did not''take the .trouble in- the matter, of /'defence?. -The./'interest.■■ and sinking fund, .£IOO,OOO per annum; which. New Zealand paid to the British Government,/was a very small premium/for -the ■ protection afforded:; /'When :,a worker made his deposit under-the proposed:Bill. 'the , Government 1 /'.would"-' build' hini'/'a.. home, and there wbu'ld'be ho doubt'as to its value- ."/'■'- •'¥..'■■'■'• ■:'■'■--.■■.. :'l;:■;ji::-'.';.'"'.;V- ---.'• 'The Bill was then read a second, time. /; LAND FINANCE BILL;;'; - :^ .■'.-■ V A-POPULAR;^EASUBE." "'^}''[ : In moving../the second reading of the Land Settlement Finance; Amendment Bill,! : '..'■':.'■ ■:■■/:■;';.;.:•/ : '-v•'.■:':'■■; ThovPRIME .MINISTER. explained that. the Bill amended the/Land :Settlement Finance: Act of last year.': in"matters, chiefly of detail./The.idea.oftha'origiiiai; Act was to enable: groups' of settlers-to form;assbciatiohs.: and "acquire land,' the associations/getting, financial-assistance for' the proportion' 'of-which each individual member' of; the association /became liable. : The amendments ■;' proposed were , dub to the.experience gaine'<l,by: the: working of ; the measure',:since.'' it had .been placed:, on/the Statute Book,; and :were framed to make a popular measure still more popular'; : It was proposed to extend tho 'area:to allow allotments .to'.'comprise land up. -..to ;.' 500: • acres; -' with, a limitation of value' of; .£2000:. Provision was also made to,facilitate, the: associations ahdrowners 1 !-of :'■ land /coming to /terms. If the. owners "of land rand/the members of the'association could npt; agree, the matter'could,;' under, the amendment;' bo" referred''; to'. -.'- '.Experience had■ shown/the necessity?for; ment ■ of ; "land -settlement/ finance'\;com : missioners, and provision was. made for such appointments,.,so as.to assist'/those who:. took up land under, the association proposals.": The /appointments ■ would be made from, members of the Civil 'Service./ In', all'probability the Government would; .avail, themselves, 6f : the,; services"'of the .Commissioner of•■ .Crown Lands in eaeh -centre, or, if not;-the:Commissioner,;some other! competent .officer. '■■'.'■ He' . thoughtthere; was an enormous / future> /before this branch of ,lan"d" settlement.: It/was uneasy, process,/- under, which'- men could; form.'. associations to/, take} up land,"; and one. which,would,be availed of from end. to end of .the/Dominion. ; ',/ '. '.

'Views of Other Members.',, . ; ; ' Mri HASSEY; said that lie had advocated: a' similar . scheme'for. ;a number: of years. .'Ho approved of the extension.of the maximum ,• area whioh.. a member' of a 1 settlement association- might take,, up to' 500 acres." . It ."was/also 1, his opinion that the minimum •;• area ; should ;be reduced, below .fifty acres. Ha did not, wish to raise'the question of land tenure in the debate,'as. he -hoped'the House would have :aii■- opportunity :• to ;•. discuss that subject, on'the Land .Bill ■ this.;'session.'/'-: :■■'■■'".■'.'.'•'■". , ' : ':.:-.1'.-■', : .",:.:. Mr.. BUCHANAN;-(Wairarapa) .said that he:'would' help 'the.' Premier ,to- get his ;Bjll through in the most useful form possible.- "'■"■•'::'.'' : " ''; -'. Mr; FKASEE ..(Wakatipu). wished to know how it: was' proposed to- get over the difficulty which would arise in the case of a member, of ail- association. making default.", ! '.'■'•:■'' ;. Mr; HINE (Stratford), referring to the. iC2OOO limitation, said it.would presshhearv r ily on the men who wished to avail themselves of the provisions. of the Bill in'districts, whero there -was' only firstclass, land. ;■'•■■'■■■['■■■■- "."'." Mr. MAIjCOLH (Clutha) expressed, his anxiety'tosee.the measure, put into force. He had inado certain suggestions in the. past in the direction aimed at, but ho did not care.who got the credit so long, as the Bill was adopted.". "'■.-'. "■''"'- Mr. PEARCE (Patca) _ approved of. the Bill, but he did not think the svstem of arbitratiou'would work Out successfully. Mr. BUXTON (Geraldine) congratulated the Minister on the amendments proposed in the original Bill, the difficulties in connection with tho working of which ha had had some. experience. Tho doubt, which seemed to exist in the Bill in regard to the 'liability! .of _ the individual members.' of the . association should ; be cleared up. With the amendments proposed he believed the. Bill would-'be one of the most favoured land; settlements schemes over put on'tho. Statute Book. Messrs. Guthrie (Oroua), Smith',(Rangi-: tikei), Anderson (Mataura), Forbes (Hurunui), and Okey (Taranaki) also.spoke. '.-'.•.:• Premier in Reply. ,' The PRIME MINISTER (in reply) referred to the fact that certain' members claimed to have made suggestions ■ with the object of improving the Bill. Tliero was, however, more responsibility on the: Minister than on private mombors making proposals, because ho had to take tho blame for any failure, although,the mem-' ber making tho .suggestion might claim some of the credit of any success achieved. Ho had no reason to beliovo that there wns any ground for coming to the conclusion that individual members of associations were liable under the Act to a greater extent than was intended, but he would have further inquiries made .on'the point. Tho question as- to whether tho maximum value of a single allotment should be increased should also engage his attention. , .The second leading of the Bill wasthen agreed to. The House rose oi 0.35 a.m.