THE HOUSE.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1555, 26 September 1912, Page 6

THE HOUSE.

POSTAL FACILITIES, j Thfl Honse met yesterday at 2.30 p.m. • Air.' T. ll.' WILFOKD (Hult) gnve notice'to ask that the Postmaster-General should confer with the Minister for Public Works re the construction of a new post office at Eastbourne, n site having br«n already acq'iiired'there. Mr T. 31. WILFOIID gave notice to ask the Postmaster-General to make the r.cccs-'nry--arrangements to'have, tho post oYfico'at'PetoDo opened on week days between 0 a.m. and 0.30 a.m., and between 5 p.m. and n.M p.m., and to-providc facilities ff>r the transmission of telegrams on bundaya.

1 'LEAVE OF ABSENCE. Soven days' leave of absence was granted to Jlr. H. 11. Campbell (Hawke's Bay) 5 on account of illness. f —- ' PROFIT-SHARING SYSTEMS. 3 Mr . T. M. WILFORD (Hutt) asiced tho 5 Prime Minister to obtain information re- * garding .profit-sharing and co-partnership, - in compliance with the resolution of the . House on his motion in tho early part , of this session. He understood that some very valuable information was already in ' the possession of Government Depart--1 ments, and other information could be s obtained from authorities in England. > Tho Hon. W. F. MASSEY (Prime Min- . ister) replied that he would look into ■ the matter, and give effect to tho resoluj tion of the House. FIRST READINGS, [ The Counties Amendment Bill and the Public Trust Office Amendment Bill were ' introduced by tho Hon. A. L. Herdinan and read a first time.. DEATH OF.THE MIKADO. 1 Mr, SPEAKER read a communication from tho Secretary of the State of tho Colonies, covering a Note from the Japanese Embassy in London, expressing ap- ; preciation, on behalf of the Japanese i Government of the message of condolence ' sent by the Government of New Zealand referring to the death of the Mikado. A MISSED OPPORTUNITY. "TOO MANY COOKS." - When the time came for questions and - replies to be discussed, Jlr. Speaker called twice for the usual motion for the adjournment of tho House,. but,thero was no response, and he called on the next order of the day. Then, too late, the Opposition members were chagrined .to discover that they had lost' their opportunity. Mr. Buchanan said.it appeared that too many cooks had spoiled the broth, and the Prime Minister excited the ire of Opposition .members by saying that they were greater failures as Opposition members than they ' ;Were as Government supporters. There were a few good-humoured protests; some members suggested that the subject matter of questions could be discussed on tho Impost Bill, and the Prime Minister said ; that if the Bill were put through in reasonable time he would , give the House an opportunity to discuss questions afterwards. Mr. G. W. RUSSELL (Avon) resented the taunt that the Opposition were failures. He retorted that he had never before seen, such .absolute incompetence in leading the House and in bringing down legislation as under the present Prime Minister.. Mr. Nosworthy: Perhaps, you are no judge. (Laughter.) Mr. Russell said in reply that Mr. Nosworthy,_ while lie had never gained a reputation for ability, was fast acquiring one ns a clown. Following up his first reproach,, Mr ; Russell, said lie had never known of' instances of the Legislative Council adjourning'for a fortnight in the middle of the' session becauso there , were no Bills forward. ' He'made a reference to. Mr. Masscy's nationality, saying that he. was showing tlw real, Ulster.readiness to tread on the tail of a coat. - "• ' , The Hon. W. F. JIASSEY (Prime Minister) said lie oould understand the heat displayed by the honourable gentleman, and he could to a certain extent excuse him therefor, but he could not congratulate the honourable gentleman on his speech. "He has referred to my nationality," said Jlr. Massey. "Let me tell -the honourable gentleman that I am proud of tho country to which I belong. I don't know whether the honourable gentleman is proud of his country: Ho has reason to be prouxl it, but I don't know whether . his coftntry is proud of him." The present Government, he continued,- had met Parliament for business on July 31, after a busy three weeks spent in overtaking arrears left by the lato Government, and in preparing a comprehensive Financial Statement, which had met with general approval throughout the country. The Financial Statement was debated for a fortnight, and since then such a number of Bills— which he named—bad been put through as to make a Tecord of which any Government might be proud. It was such a record as would compare very favourably with that shown by any previous Government in an equal number of days. The debate was kept up for more than an hour, IMPREST SUPPLY. SOME OPPOSITION CRITICISM. REPLIES BY MINISTERS. I , The monthly Imprest Supply Bill was introduced by Governor's Message, and tlio House went into' Committee of Supply (It was in Committee that the above debater took place.) When tho House resumed, Mr. G. WITTY (Riccarton) asked the Minister for Jlarine what he intended to do in reference to the light which it was proposed to erect either on Tongue Point .or <on ; Terawhiti.- Personally he considered that a light on Tongue Point would be most useful. Jlr. Witty suggested a conference of mariners to consider tho best location'of the light. , Jlr. J. HANAN (Inverrargill) asked wliere the promised Land Bill was. He declared flint the Government intended to back down from somo of their public', utterances nu the platform prior to the The Government did not know where tlicy were on this question. He wonted them to demonstrate that they had the courage of their convictions. If they wanted more time to consider this question, they had not been sincere in their public utterances during the past twenty-one years. The Prime 'Minister had changed his attitude in regard to National Endowments. His party had backed down in reference to the co-opera-tive works system, the licensing question, and earning. The boasted "back-bone" of Hie Government was like that of a jelly- . fish. He bettered that this session would be the most barren that lmd over been known in this country. Tho replies of -Ministers to questions were evasive and vncillatiwr. _ . • ' Tho Primo Minister asked whether tho lion, member was in order in discussing replies to questions on, tho Order Pa nor. Tho Speaker ruled that these replies could not be referred tW. ■ . Jlr. Ilanaa concluded by accusing the | Government of bringing down unimport- j ant Bills while others of paramount importance were held over. , Jlr. J. A. YOUNG (Waikato). stressed I tho importance of erecting cream-shelter 3 | at waysido stations. These shelters wero. i , provided in somo of the Australian States, and were a valuable assistance to tho outback dairy farmers. Going on to speak of the importance of roading, Mr. Young was interrupted by tlio Hon. Jlr. Ngata, who asked whether tho lion, member was ■entitled to read from the Supplementary Order Paper containing questions anil replies. Mr. Speaker said that he could not ' prevent a member discussing a question, but that. the replies of Jlinisters could not be discussed at that stage. I Jlr. Young declared that he was dealing with tlio ronding question on its merits. It was a mere coincidence that i tho same question figured on the Order Paper! Ho went on to urge that the Government t.liould' undertake the construction of the main arterial roads. Good metalled roads in tlio out-districts would be of enormous assistance in promoting settlement and building up tho notional wealth. Jlr. T. H. DAVEY 'Christchui'eh En.sl:) Buoke o£ Stata coal taints, fls.iiatU-

lieard from the men that the pumping plant at the Point Elizabeth No X. mine was absolutely inadequate. At one time tho plant was sufficiently large, hut as the '.nine grew small pumps only were added, and tho water had gol. out of hand. Tho miners claimed that much rami was being lost to the State through being submerged. This had been represented to the Government on previous occasions, 'but the Depart menial reports wero always against them. ■» Ho suggested that i should be- set up <» take •vidence. The men had made their homes on the field, and they wero'anxious that fco long as coal remained in the mine in ' payablo quantity tbey, should be allowed to win it. Jlr. G. V. I'EARCE (Palea\, after dealing with n number of questions relating to local government, and criticising tlio co-operative system of carrying out public works, spoko briefly on Hie subject of racing legislation. He stated that he would like to see the Government take this question up. lle was not in favour of giving more racing (lavs to metropolitan clubs. It might be better to lake • away from these clubs some of the days I now granted them. But more days should ho granted to country clubs. Patrons of country meetings wero entitled to their sport. If the Govfrnmout had increased the number of racing days b.v 30, and bud > granted permits to'hunt clubs, legitimate ■ sport would have been promoted, and if , at tho sam-j lime effectual measures had > been taken to suppress the bookmaker, : thero would have been no increase of i gambling. The country districts, Jlr. Pearce declared, would continue to press (heir claims until they obtained satisfaci tion. It was a significant fact that some half-dozen former members who had most strongly opposed any increase of racing days for the benefit 'of country clubs had iicen defeated at the previous election. Jlr. Pcarco said that ho did not expect the Government to bring down a Gaming Bill during the present session, but considered that it should certainly do so next session. . Tho matter was not one that should be , left to a private member. -Mr. J. C. THOMSON (Wallace) urged the Minister for Lands to acquire land for settlement in Southland. He also recommended the Government to appoint State nurses in all tho outlying districts. The debate went on continuously until 0.55 a.m., and then a little more rapid progress was made with the Bill. On the motion that the Bill b<f- read o third time, ' > The PRIJIE JIINISTER, in reply to Jlr. G. W. Russell,'said that the Government did not intend to refuse loans to local bodies, and works so as to compel them to go on to tho open market. Last year the then Government had found it impossible to lend more than JSSOOO to any county council. Unfortunately up to the present time the Government had not been able to depart from the policy of'its prcdecessdrs. He agreed that it was more important to provido cheap money for local bodies than to provide Parliamentary grants. Before the session came to an end the member for Avon would have an opportunity of voting for this principle. The Government would submit proposals to provide loans at a rate of interest which would satisfy those, who wished cheap money to be provided' for local bodies. . Tho Hon. J. ALLEN '-(Minister for Finance), replied briefly - to questions. and criticisms, .lie said in reply to Maori members that he'had come to no determination in regard to the control, of Native schools, and he would not do • so until ho had time to investigate tho subject. He stated that the reason why the amount for advances account in the schedule was so small as compared with the amounts under this head under previous Govern-ments-was simply that the Reform Government were not continuing the old wrong practice of past Governments. Tho late Government had put into Imprest Bills amounts which need not have., appeared there, because the Government had power to rais3 the money without special authority from Parliament. The money available for advances was not being reduced, but it would lie impossible to relax the rule prohibiting loans for the repayment of mortgages. Jloneys would be reserved for new loans to settlers for new homes, and to local bodies. He would make a full statement to the Houso in the course of a few' days, 'arid the particulars would be very interesting to members. Where-.'had-all -the money gone to? To th'e'ncfidy country^districts? No; J!11G,000 lent to one big borough in ono sum, «£57,000 lent to another, and sums of £60,000, £70,000, and .£BO,OOO to others. Tho money had not gone to.'.the needy county councils. The thity reading was- passed, and the Houso rose at 1.10 a.m.