THE HOUSE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1489, 11 July 1912, Page 6

THE HOUSE.

NEW MINISTRY ANNOUNCED COMPLIMENTS EXCHANGED. MR. MASSEY DEFINES HIS POSI- ' TION. The House met at 2.30 p.m.. Five minutes were spent in transacting formal business. .•■■•■_• Mr. J. CRAIGJE (Timaru) said that he wished to ask the Minister for Defence a question, without notice. ■ MR. SPEAKER: I think tho hon. gentleman had better wait until we know whether there is one or not! (Laughter.) Mr. MASSEY was applauded as ne rose to make his first statement as Prime Minister. "I wish to'take this opportunity," ,he said, "of saying that since the House | rose yesterday I have been occupied with the task entrusted to me.byhis Excellency ■tho Governor, that of,the formation of a new Ministry. lam glad to 1 be able to. tell the' House that I,have. been successful in connection therewith. ' •• . The new Ministers,.most pf .whom were ;sworn in this morning, and fook the oath ;of-allegianco are:—

Mr.'W. F. Massey, Prime Minister,: Hinis- *■-! . ; ter. for • Lands," 'Agriculture. and :

. .'Labour. ! Mr.'-:'J."Allin,, Minister for Finance," De- . .'*• -fence, and Education.. 'Mr.': Av-'-L.-; Herdman; AttoriieyiGen'eral

. . and Minister for: Justice. ' Mr. W.■ Fraser,'Minister for-Publio Works ". 'and Mines.. Mr. F. M. B. Fisher, Minister for Customs and Marine. i Mr.. R. H. Rhodes, Postmaster-General. Mr, H. D. Bell, Leader, of the Upper ' House and Minister for Internal Affairs. Dr. M. Pomars, Minister for the Native , Eace.

"I • want. hpnourable members to understand," the Prime "thut these portfolios are subject to adjustment later on, and'that 'up., to tho present a number of portfolios have not been allotted. I propose to offer to Mr. Herries, on his arrival from 'England, the portfolios of Railways and Native Affairs, and I have reason. to believe that Mr. Herriea will accept both positions. I- think hon. members will understand that, it is necessary for me to r.sk for a short adjournment, so, that the Ministers'may become acquainted with their different Departments, and that preparar tions may be made for continuing the session. After consultation with. Mr. Mackenzie and other members of the Opposition, I have decided .to ask the House to adjourn to Wednesday, July 31. I had intended to ask for an adjournment to .Tuesday,, July '30, but. many members, particularly southern members, have represented to. me that Wednesday would bo a much more convenient day. The SPEAKER then stated (he question, that the House do at its rising adjourn until July 31. " THE HON. T. MACKENZIE. A PROMISE OF "ALL REASONABLE ASSISTANCE." The Hon. T. MACKENZIE said: "On behalf of the gentlemen of the Opposition I desire to say that no objection will be

offered to the adjournment proposed by tho Prime Minister. May I tako Ibis opportunity to congratulate the honourable gentleman upon tho formation of bis Cabinet, and to say that we will tfivo him all reasonable assistance in carrying on the business of this country. (Hear, 'hear.) I am quite sure we Vhould all bo able to unite in maintaining: the highest traditions of this House. With that object in view, I believe the future' is reasonably safe in our united hands." (Applause.)

SIR JOSEPH WARD. A PRIVATE MEMBER'S CONGRATULATIONS.. ; Sir Joseph WARD (Awama.) said he desired as a private member to offer.his congratulations in all sincerity to tho Primo Minister and his colleagues upon their 'attainment to their high and honourable- positions. In spito of various suggestions that had been made, lio. re'cognised that .110 man on that side of tho llouso was more entitled to the first position in tho House than Mr. Massi>y. (Hear, hear.) Had' any mischance deprived liim of the laurels he had won by the manner in which- he had fought at the head of-his party, it would have been a very unfair reward for his devoted, sorvices and great activities'. While admitting that tho spirit of provincialism should not be fostered lie .regrptted that there was no direct representation in tho Ministry of Southland, Westland, . Marlborough, Nelson, Taranaki, the East Coast, and the cities of Auckland, Christchurch, , and Dunedin. On tho other hand, the city of Wellington had three representatives in- the Administration, and he congratulated Wellington 011 the attention that bad been paid to it. All Well Qualified. From his knowledge of the gentlemen who were associated with Mr. Massey, he thought they were all men well qualified for their important positions. May I call the attention of the House to the fact," ho continued, "that we have one poor solitary leaseholder in the Ministry —the member for Wellington Central, whom I congratulate upon the distinction conferred upon him. He is a solitary leaseholder among : the freehold representatives of the Cabinet." .- ■ ■

Mr. Massey: Option of freehold. Kir Joseph Ward: I have always been an optional tenure representative myself, and, I have never varied from it. . . . In my day my attention was called to tho varied hues that were represented in the' Ministers. The Primo Minister and those associated with him. will look upon it as one of the privileges of ".ono on the Oppo-. stion benches to .call attention to the' particular' feature to wliich I havo just alluded. Now, I want to say that'l also • very sincerely congratulate.-to the lion, member for Wellington North upon having won the distinction of the blue.ribbon of the legal profession ";,in this 'country., It is a high aiid honourable position, and ono .that any mail can be proud of. / I am. certain that the appointment .must have been miide with the concurrence of the distinguished . lawyer—recognised as 0110' of .tho. foremost in the Tanks of -the legalprofession in this, country—who was to till the position of Minister for Internal Affairs in another place. No one could take any exception to the latter' appointment, Sir Joseph Ward continued, from the Government or from the Opposition point of view. But in his judgment— and he spoke with some experience, possibly with bitter experience—llo did not believe that it was right or in • the best interests of this-country that any portfolio that called for a direct contact of, the people's representatives should be held by a Minister in tho other branch of tho Legislature.

Financial Affairs. There was only one farmer representative in the Ministry; neither was there any direct representative of Labour in the Ministry, though he congratulated Mr. Massey on taking, that portfolio. As far as lie was conoerhed he had 110 personal ambition, but it might be that in the future ho could be ot some assistance to his honourable friends. Ho knew' the difficulties in the way. of carrying on the financial affairs of the country, and though he was not trying to blow his own horn, he might say tn<\t it vas the most difficult task of any man in the Ministry. ' That Minister required I he cordial, sincere and active support of tho House as a whole. Thev should not try by pin-pricking to pull his legs from under his feet. (Much laughter.) Sir Joseph Ward, with a reference to his nationality, corrected this slip, and said that they should not pull at the feet and legs of the Minister for Finance in order to gjt at his body and his brain. In conclusion, he wanted to say that the country wanted a strong Government. (Opposition "Hear, hears.") He had no sympathy with a man who changed his s'de ill politics. The only masters were the electors, and not committees. No unnatural combination could hold sway, until til's electors—the masters and mistresses ■ of members—said what party- should rule in Parliament. As a private member, he would do his duty to the people who had returned him, and his duty to the country. He would not be a party to placing any obstacles in tho way ot the Adminis-

tration, upon which there rested a heavy responsibility, ancl whoso legislative proposals would have the light of -lay let in upon them. Ho hoped tliov would keep tho Parliament on the high piano upon which it had been kept by their predeces--60X3. MR. W. A. VEITCH. democratic' progress essential. Mr. W, A. VEITCH (Wanganui) said 'ho. rose to congratulate the gentlemen 'who had'just been appointed to the various positions of responsibility, but ho did not think it proper that ho should oriticiso'thom personally' or politically. . In making his announcement, the Prune Minister had stated that ho had conferred with' his friends of tho opposite side as to tho period of adjournment, and that they were agreeable. . Although tho Labour section was. not 'consulted, Labour, members would have no objection to the adjournment. It was only fair that the Government should have reasonable[ time to : preparc its programme for submission to Parliament. . Ho did notMihink farmors would complain that...there was .only one. farmer in tli© Cabinet. Farmers were looking to'tho democratic Labour element in tho House to do something for them,' and when that element became strong enough it would benefit tho farmers veil considerably. As to. the probable lifo of the new Parliament, this must depend on the actions of- the new Government. If they- brought in reactionary measures, their political life would bo very short indeed. If, on the other hand, they wero ready, to plaeo before Parliament progressive measures, they might continue in power for a long time. New Zealand was a democratic com:try, and no Government could last it wero a Government of democratic ideas. Whatever might be the result of the ohanges in thfe House .in the last few weeks, he earnestly honed that the welfare of the workers would not be overlooked. (Mr. Fiaher: Hear,' hear.) He earnestly'hoped tho new Minister for Labour would turn his attention to the serious social problems of the present time. The workers had blamed the old Government for not having paid sufficient attention to these problems,'and they hoped tho new. Government would mako improvements in this direction. • If the Government did, the Labour members would assist, them. He wished the now Government every succcss,' but 'he' personally hoped that they would be succeeded by a new and moTo progressive Government, a Government that would lead a now democratic .party in tho House. j • • .Mr. J. PAYNE. A WORD FOR HIS BILLS. ,

; Mr. J.'PAYNE (Grey Lynn) also congratulated the new • Ministry, but he recalled'tlie pre-election ' pledges of . the 'party, and he hoped these would bo made good in fact. Ho hoped that Labour members would .have hearty support for any humanitarian measures brougnt down :by'them, for liq was, not .content, to stand by'• aiid wait for the Prime Minister to .bring down humanitarian' measures. He had some measures before the House'-and he hoped they n'ould receive full and fair 'consideration from the .Prime Minister and 'his party. He "maintained that 'last election showed the party now ■ occupying the Government benches were doing so on a minority They had something still to pull up; and when the party went-to tho electors again it would Iks shown that their ' complaints about reckless' extravagance and reckless' borrowing had fizzled out. They had all been exC- ded one by one. Many electors had n encouraged to vote for the Opposition to clear theso matters up, but tho poor stand made by the late Opposition to substantiate these charges had had its effect on the people. When tlioy went before the country the Liberal party would come into its own again, supplemented by a very fair share of -Labour representation. He had a little to say about ■pledge-break-ing. He' hoped The Dominion newspaper and the rest of the Conservative newspapers of this country were going to be. consistent in the present state of affairs. From time to time' during- the last few months oortain members, of the House had been charged with pledge-breaking, and the charge had been, hurled at the late Government that they wero' holding office bv the support of pledge-breakers. ■ He maintained that the charge, so far as it related to liim, had absolutely broken down. But the present Government had got into office by yirtuo of still more drastic pledge-breaking—of men who had belonged to the party for twenty years, and had then gone over into the Opposition camp's ranks. He hoped those papers which had first made the charge of pledgebreaking against those'who did not merit it would be equally consistent and condemnatory against this Government which now held, its position by virtue of breaking of tho worst kind. In conclusion he congratulated tho Prime Minister, the warrior who had fought a good fight. MR. J. A. HANAN. Mr. J. A, HANAN (Inrercargill) said lie congratulated .those members of the Government who had not received Ministerial rank. There-were members on that

side of tho House who 'had done splendid work for tho party when in Opposition, and "who now were taking their exclusion from the Ministry with the best of feeling. He nindo tfiat observation becauso this, was in. counter-distinction to what had been exhibited in regard to tho selection of tho late Ministry. Ho could not belicvo that there wero in tho ranks of the present Government party men who would play tho part of political traitors becauso tliey were disappointed oiliceseokers, or who wero dead to principle, and had lost that recognition of an honourable pledge which was duo to their constituents. - During tho present Parliament, there had been a violation of political pledges and views that ha,d degraded the political life of the country. So far as the Ministers .wero concerned, he believod that all of them would bo found energetic and hard-working. To'carry out their Administration effectively, they would find long hours and closo application necessary,' and ho trusted they would enjov good health. Their attainment to .-the. treasury benches was merely a temporary triumph.. Ho could not beliovo. that the people desired that the present Government should remain in office, and •he was' satisfied that if an appeal was made'to.the people to-morrow the Government would rot bo returned with a mandate to continue in office—in other words, tli »y would not enjoy the confidenco of the people.

MR.-G. W. RUSSELL. "A LONG AND GALLANT FIGHT." Mr. G. .W. RUSSELL (Avon) added his personal congratulations to Sir. Massey, who had fought a long and gallant fight. The late Ministry loft the benches without any ill-feeling or vindictiveness. The present Government, however, wero tho successors to those who had in the past fought against Liberal legislation. Every member of it, with two exceptions, were members of the old Conservative party. These exceptions were Mr. Fisher and Dr. l'omare. Ho mentioned seven individual 'Ministers who had been previously supporters of the old Conservative party.. Whore-were the men who had been elected from tho back-blocks.as supporters of the Reform party? Mr. C. It. Wilson (Taumaranui). Behind them. (Ministerial laughter.) ' Mr. Russell: And that s where the hon. member (Mr. -Wilson) was -meant to be from the time he was put there. . Mr. Wilson: He's.behind a good man. (Hear, hear.) Mr. Russell continued with the query, '"Where aro the small fanners?" Mr. Wilson (promptly): Over here in s dozens. (Laughter.) ' i Mr. Russell, following an interjection by'Mr..Buchanan (Wairarapa) referred to the latter gentleman as "his corrugated ■friend." Mr. Buchanan had stated only the other day that the largo landowners were prepared to work .upon the lines planned by tho Reform Party. (Hoar, near, from Government supporters, who apparently interpreted Mr. Buchanan's statement in quite a different light from Mr. Russell.) ■ An lion, member-(to Mr. Russell): Tou own more land than lie does. (Laughter.) Another hon. member (to Mr. Russell): What land do you hold P "Read the Dominion." "Read The Dominion ! . Read . The Dominion! Read The Dominion of yester-. terday morning!" Mr: Russell' shouted. "The ■ honourable gentleman himself had been.asked whether he, owning several thousands of acres of valuable land, would be able.to represent the small farmers. Hi said that, so far as the large landholders were concerned, they were prepared to follow the line of action laid down for them by the Reform party." He insisted that the connection between the large landowners and the party in power was admitted. Taranaki, a place of small, farmers, was not represented in tho Cabinet. If the Prime Minister did not put Mr. Hine into his Ministry after the emEhasis that gentleman gave to what were nown as the Hine charges, it would bo a case of the basest ingratitude. But lio saw the look of confidence in Mr. Hine's eye, and probably lie would bo given a portfolio shortly. • So far as Mr..Horries and Mr. Rhodes were concerned, he did not think they would bo'looked upon as representatives of the small farmer.

Mr. Noswortliy: They know who their friends are.

Mr. Russell congratulated the' Prime Minister,' but ho had not carried out the undertaking that when ho became Prime Minister, ho would include in his Ministry men whose- inclusion in tlio lief orm party would indicate that he had- abandoned the old Conservative ideas of many years ago. His Ministry contained seven apostles of tho old Conservatives, to the exclusion of small farmers. Mr. Wilson: You are a 6qnatter. MR. J. VIGOR BROWN. A WORD FOR A RAILWAY. Mr. J. VIGOR BROWN (Napier) drew tho attention of the Prime Minister to the importance of the East Coast railway. Large areas of. land were privately held, m threo counties through which the railway was to pass.

HON. K. H. ERODES HON. P. M. B. PISHBR HON. VV.PRASER BOX. PH. BOMABB (Postmaster-General). fL'ustoin?- ami .Marine), (Public Work?]. (Renrcjputinj: Native Race). HOX H. D. BELL, i1.L.0. HON. W. F. M'ASfKV LOUD ISJ,IXQTOX. HON. .TAS. ALLF.N HON". A. L. HEEDMAN (Internal AutUrs], , (Prima Minuter). (finaiiM, pefenco, aud Education). (Altomey.General and Justice), 'iMflt ft.t tie basfc Bf tlis is .the of Hr. Ei Ewjits, sto ir'euceUd to iplatkst llintotJT .wit.fi Eor'tloiioi. of E&ihyajs aud Xatlva'Affairs

Mr. Anderson: Why wasn't the land bought beforo you built the railway? Mr. Drown: Would you speak up? (Laughter.) Ho went on to slate that a quarter of a million acres of land woro hold by twenty-four people in the counties through which tho railway would pass. A Government member: Whoso fault is that?

Mr. Brown, urged that tho Government should see that all this land was settled. This was the position which ho desired to impress upon tho Opposition. (Mr. Drown meant tho Government)., All the largo laud-owners, 6aid the member for Nnpier, .woro Tories. Tlioy could not be anything olso. A Government member: What about the beer-owners; what are they? MR. A. HARRIS. FOR THE GOOD OF THE COUNTRY. Mr. A. ILVREIS (Waitemata) said that ho could not allow the'statement of tho member for Avon to pass'unchallenged. : The Reform party had gained its present position largely,bccauso of the love and I confidence with which its members regarded their He ridiculed tho idea that new members of the party were looking for portfolios. They were there for the good of the country. Beforo vory long, Mr. Harris predicted, the new Government would havo confidence, approbation, and approval of niaiiy gentlemen who wero now benighted enough to sit on tho opposite side of tho House. Ho ventured to -say that tho Reform party was far 'more liberal than gentlemen on the other side of tlio House. If ho thought for one moment that tho Reform party was going to bring down anything of a Tory, Conservative, or reactionary nature, lie would leave it at once. Ho was thero to give his leader all possiblo assistance in. passing the' humanitarian, liberal, and progressive measures which he intended to place on the Statute Book. The member for Avon had said that the Reform party was behind the large landowners. Very few of them, at any rate, owned GG.OOO acres of freehold land! Tho hon., member for Avon and his party were behind the large lamd-owners. Mr. Harris'expressed a hope that tho gentlemen now in the ..shades of Opposition would unite to place .good measures on the Statute Book.He was quite satisfied that the country-w;ould be rhoro than pleased with 'the.'-'change of Administration. The . Reform party did not shrink from an election. . On the ground of expanse to the country, an election was to vbe avoided if possible, but he felt confident that-when'an election did take ■place tho Reform party would not come back only 42 or -43 strong, but would probably be joined by ten. or twelve men from\tlio other side of the House. MR. H, ATM ORE. '■NOT QUITE SO SURE." Mr. 11. ATMORE (Nelson) said that while adding his congratulations he was not quite so sure that the country was to be congratulated. . He bitterly attacked those Literals who, he said, had put out. tho late Government.' Mr. Payne (loudly):, Hear! hear! Mr. Atmore, in conclusion, expressed his intention of supporting the new Government if they would bring down Liberal measures. He particularly referred to legislation for closer land settlement.MR. G. LAURENSON. HIS CONGRATULATIONS. Mr. G. LAURENSON (Lyttelton) also expressed his congratulations. Ho had no doubt Mr. Massey would fill his high position with dignity and with credit to , the country. He also congratulated other members -of -the -Ministry. Ho thought it would bo inappropriate of him at that juncture to strike 'any discordant note. (Ministerial applause.)

benches with whom I have been on terms of friendship for quito a number pf' years and that, in spite of our political differences and of tho fact that wo havo crossed swords on many occasions, Ihopo and bcliovo that our friendship will continue right up to the end. It was suggested by Mr. Mackenzie—whom I am glad :to seo occupying my old position—and 1 sympathise with his remark, that wo should endeavour to work together to do something for the country to which wo belong. I hope that personal differences and party differences as far as possible will bo dropped. In reference to a remark thiit was mado by the hon. member foi* Nnpier, I want to givo the hon. gentleman ono word of advice. Ho used the term 'Tory.' In my opinion that is an ol'.jcctionablo term. I know perfectly well that tho hou. gentleman did not op-, ply it directly, to tlio gentlemen now on the Treasury benches, or to ruemlxrs lx> hind them, but lio did apply it to those .whom he said wtoe supporters of this -party, I would direct tho attention of tho hon. gentleman to an old adage about those people who live in glass houses, and its being' dc-cmed advisable on their part not to throw stones. I leave i.ho lion, gientlcman at that. The member for; Avon tried very hard to make out a caso' against us as Conservatives, and endeavoured to justify tho titlo as applied to w. Liberals and Conservative!. Tho lion, gentleman has no more right to call us Conservatives than he lias to' oill. himself a Liberal. Wo are not Con. sorvatives, and I honestly believe tlin lion.- gentleman is not a Liberal, He r<* ferred to my leaders in former years, Sir. William Russell and the lato Iton. Win. 1 Rolleston. I was proud to follow them, and. no. more libaral, broad-minded, and patriotic men ever sat in the Parliament, of . the oountry. Then, in tho course of his remarks the hon. gentleman tried hard to connect us with tho old Conser. vative party. The hon. gentleman got on to dangerous ground. There are vert few members of tho old Conservative party now in tho Houso of Representatives, but I ask him to remember that* the gentleman whom he is following now and whom he has followed for some time past is one of 'tho very few remaining members of tho old Conservative party. I am not speaking disrespectfully of tIW old Conservative party. It had passed out of existence long before I came into, Parliament. Tho old Conservative party weht out'of existence'in 1891, aud i en« tered the House in 1891. A Small- Farmers' Representative. The member for Avon aisked who was' the representative of the small farmer! in tho present Ministry. I can 6peak'us a. representative of tho small farmers. I am a small farmer to-day, and have been a small farmer all my, life. It is. trua that I intend to make provision for iiiy sons in the ordinary way, but, having done that, I shall still be a, farmer." The niomber for Avon, Mr. Massey continued,"' was a "fifty-thousand-acre- man." , Mr. Russell: What about value? Mr. Massey: Tho hon. gentleman cannot contradict, what I have said.* Continuing, ■ he stated that the .policy of his Government would be liberal, progressive, and. democratic. Territorial Representation. ■ ' i Sir Joseph Ward, had'boon i facetious in his remarks with ;regard to ■ territorial' representation in > the Cabinet. He practically suggested .that direct represfinta-1 tion should be given to eleven importantdistricts, but if cffcct w*re given to that' proposal, the. Cabinet would have to comprise over twenty members." ' Prom his re. . marks it appeared that Sir Joseph Ward approved an-increase in tho number of Cabinet Ministers, and lie. hoped that if at some future timo he found it necessary to ask for suoh an increase, Sir Joseph Ward would support tho proposal'. Though it was not possiblo to-give direct representation to every district, ho stated that!, every district, whatever its importance-' would receive full justioe.

Farmers in the Ministry. member for Awarua had stated . that there lyas only ,ono farmer in tho Cabinet—the Prime Minister, Was not ' Mr. Herrif.<? a farmer? j Sir Joseph' Ward: Ho was, but ho is not. (Laughter.) , . The Prime Minister: If a.man has,boon ' V? 1 .' m< i r nnd happens to have disposed -, ot Ins farm luid has not yet picked, up', another, ho is-still a farmer by profession.' and naturally jiis sympathies and infrfests are. with tho agricultural industrv. ihat is tlio caso with Mr. Horries, aiid that cannot bo denied. Mr. Fraser has " been a farmer all his' life; Like Mr. Her-'' nes, ho has not a farm in tho sense that ho does not own or occupy l land, but ho is by profession a farmer. Mr. Rhodes ' is a farmer to-day, and so far as area is concerned is really a small former. Dr. Pomaro is also a farmer, and a.particu- ' lariy -good- one. :J- venture to say that tho agriculturists.of this Dominion wew> 1 novor so well popresonted in any Govern ment as in the ; one which at present occu* ■ pio3 the Treasury benchcs ■ Labour to Have a Square Deal. . : Rcfercnoe was made to the represents- 1 tion of Labour. "I do not want to make ; comparisons botwwm. the present Minister f for Labour and his predecessors,". said > Mr. Massey. "I will just say that tho , present Minister has been a worker in tho very best sonso of tho word, ho practic- ' ally commenced his life as a wage-earner, ' and worked as hard as any man in the ■ Dominion. He lias every sympathy with i tho genuine aspirations of Labour, and bo long as I. am Minister for Labour, my Labour friends will have a square deal. | One.Chfinge Indicated.' 1 "Thore was.some reference to the fact that tho Loader of the Legislative Council has been given control of tho portfolio of Internal Affairs. It is intended—and it is actually, neoossajy—to readjust the portfolios. Wo also intend to, readjust tho portfolios which, for tho time being havo been placed under the control of tho Minister for Internal Affairs, so that tho ■ contentious departments • will be in 1 tho control of a member of tho House of Representatives. With.the final arrangement there will bo very little fault to ' find." The Opinion of, the Country. As to the opinion of the country, Mr. ' Massey exhibited a great pile of telegrams moro than a foot high that a messenger had placed on his desk. That, ho said, expressed tho opinion of,the country, and ho was not afraid of a general election. (Hear,'hear.) Mr. Isitt: I had as many as that. . Tho Prime Minister said he would , not like to doubt tho word of, the hon. member. He had, not been able to count ; tlio number of telegrams ho had received, but ho was told there wore some- three thousand, and they woro still coming in at the rate of a hundred an hour.

MR. J. COLVIN. EXPRESSION pF, KINDLY FEELING. Mr. J. COLVIN (Buller) expressed a kindly feeling, for the now Government, but ivhcn the general election carao round •again ho would be found fighting them the same as ever. (Laughter and: applause.) . THE PRIME MINISTER. VIGOROUS SPEECH IN REPLY PLAIN WORDS ABOUT PASTY NAMES. Tho PRIME 'MINISTER rose to reply at 3.55 p.m. "I want," he said, "to reply to the many speeches delivered this afternoon, to which I have not taken tho slightest exception. Allow me, by way of commencement, to thank the hon. gentlemen opposite for their congratulations and for their kindly courtesy and generous references to'myself.- There are many gentlemen eittinp now on the Opposition

Mr. Isitt: Oh, well, I withdraw It. (Lnught'-r.) . Mr. Massey added that, in nddition, . there were received hundreds of , letters that ho, had not yet had tiiu« ! to op«n. Sir Joseph >Vard: I got that, too. Mr. Colvin: 'Wo got them, but we did not'exhibit them. (Laughter.) Mr. Massc.v, in conclusion, s.iid that whether thejerm of office of hiniself and hi? colleagues wos Ion? or short, their highest ambition was that the people of this, country would bo able to soy that they had done their best for them, and that when the time came - for them io leave the high position they r>t. present occupied they hnd left the country better than they hnd found it. .

Mr. Russell explained, that in'regard to tho land ho held, its value was not so great as the area would seem to indicate. . ' . .. •„ Mr, Mnnder: Improve it, and it will incroaso in value. The motion that the House shouldl adjourn at its rising to 2.30 p.m. on July 31 was carried on the voices. CADETS FOR CANADA. , THE REDUCTION IN NUMBER. Mr. J. CRAIG IE (Timaru) made com. plaint about, the reduction of tho number of cadets for Canada being reduced from 20 to 14. He thought it a very harsh and cruel thing to select the boy?, to put them through a course of training, and then to inform them that the invitation was for 14 ■ and not 20. He asked the Minister - for Finance to seo what could be done to have them all pent. Possibly a telegram!to the Canadian Government would put matters right. If it were ti matter of finance the money could, _ he believed, be raised by public subscription. . . Hon. .TAMES ALLEN (Minister for > Defenco) said he had not had the opportunity of perusing the invitation, but he believed it-was for 14. He promised to

£■» w - ~ t make all proper inquiries, and if, without transgressing tho ordinary civilities with tho Canadian Government, ho could send twenty boys, ho would do £0.

SIR JOSEPH WARD (Awarua) said that tho invitation had como in his time, and tho terms of tho. invitation related to tho cost Of transport by sea and land for the cadets in question. Ho did not seo how tho'Minister could witli proper courtesy , ask their hosts, tho Cauadian Government to receive moro cadets. Mr. A. M. MYKRS' (Auckland Fast) agreed that'it would ))0 impossible, consistent with courtesy, to ask the Canadian Government whether :more cadets could bo ■ sent. Ho said that through somo misunderstanding in the Department h-.cto than tho proper number had unfortunately been chosen in the first instance. He suggested that tho method of selection of the fourteen boys from among tho twenty should be such a method as to place thorn nil on an. equal footing. Jlr. H. POLAND (Ohinemuri) said thoro could bo no method of selection which, would not imposo hardship on tho boys, who, after being chosen, making their arrangements, and. going through a oenrso of training, woto to be rejecte-1. He hoped the Minister would do all ho could to obviate this hardship. A QUESTION AND A DOCUMENT. /"RATHER UNUSUAL." SIR JOSEPH WARD ,Awarua) asked leave to ask Mr. A. M. flyers a question without notice. He wished to ask Mr. Myers What the. position was under the Public Revenues Act of 1910 in regard to the. system of pos-t audit. . Jlr. A. M. ,311'EES (Auckland East) said he was glad to have the opportunity of replying to tho question. In accordance with, the procedure laid down under the Act nil details', of revenue and expenditure had been listed, and he had in his hands a statement jnado up to March 31, giving in detail overy item of expenditure in that period. This statement was in manuscript, form, and was very voluminous-. Ho moved that the statement lie on the,table and T)e printed. Mr. Speaier: It is rather unusual fo®. n private member to lay a public document on the table. The Hon. James ALLEN. said he had no .objection to the presentation of tho paper, but ho thought lie should liavo an opportunity, of seeing what was" in the document before it was printed. He suggested that Jlr. Myers move that the Statement lio on tho table merely. Cabinet niight then without reference to Parliament authorise tho printing of it. . . Jlr. MYERS accepted the Minister s previous suggestion, and moved that it lio on the table merely. Mr. G. W. RUSSELL (Avon) then moved that two specimen pages of this document, which had been printed, should lie on the table. Both motions were carried. The House adjourned at 4.35 p.m. until Wednesday, July 31.