PARLIAMENT.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1821, 6 August 1913, Page 7

PARLIAMENT.

A DAILY SUMMARY.

Tho kgislativo machinery worked very smoothly in the Hlusb of Kepresentatives yesterday, and the speeches made showed a 'great improvemoat, both in regard to manner and matter, as compared with the closing days of last week. 'Memljers uniformly kept thuir tempers, and showed, themselves, for the time-being, more inclined to 'analyse than to abuse. Tho first dissuasion of any ltngtli that aroso in tho afternoon was vpon'the subject of tho condition of landless Natives in .the. South Island. Tho Hon. W. 11. Hetrics .indicated., that tho Government would take, early action either by appointing a -Royal Commission to investigate the condition of the landless Natives, or by legislation. A Christclmrch Tramways Bill was introduced, and notice was givon of the introduction of three other local Bills and me priva-to measure, the Education Amendment Bill, in charge of Mr. Vigor Brown. The- Magistrate s Courts Amendment Bill was recommitted • in order to amend tho drafting of a «üb-cl4uise which makes olerks of magistrate's oourts, who have served continuously for ten years in that capacity, and are barristers and solicitors, eligible for -appointment as magistrates. Afterwards the Bill was reported and read a third time. The Old Ags Pensions Reciprocity Bill was'read a third time without discussion. Two _ hours in the afternoon and an hour in the evening were spent in tho second reading debate upon the Local Bodies', Loans Bill, which is in part a consolidating measure, but also amends the State lending system in some important particular. Sir Josfpli Ward took his seat in tho House for tie first time this session, as the Hon. Jas. Allen was moving the 'second reading of the Bill, ond took part in the debate. Upon the whole.' the Bill was favourably received, although some Opposition speakers,and one Government supcorter (Dr. Newman) expressed doubts as to the nracticabrility of tlie proposal that the State should guarantee the loans of certain local bodies to the amount of half a million sterling a year. The Hon. Jas. Allen.' in. replying, stated that lie. had satisfied himself from inciuiries mado in London that the pro - vision was workable, and would benefit and assist local bodies. The second reading was agreed to on the voices. . ■ The next item of business wa-s the second reading debate upon the State Advances Bill, which is complementary to the Local Bodies' Loans Bill. AVhile the. Advances Bill was 'being discussed, the Prime Minister stated that he did not concur -in a suggestion which- had beon made a few days previously that the consideration of financial questions should be removed from the field of party politics. He considered that all financial proposals 6hould be keonly. scrutinised by the Opposition.' ■ . ; . The Opposition critics of the Bill agreed in condemning the proposal to remove the Minister for Finance from the Advances Board, and also asserted that the provisions of the Bill were inconsistent with the former anti-borrowing pretensions of the Government. A particularly effective party .speech was made by tho Hon. AY. H. Herries," who told the Opposition that they were disgusted with the Government because it would not put on tho Tory cap with which its opponents were anxious to fit it.- The Opposition, he further stated, were jealous of the Government because it had introduced this and other Liberal measures. . At 0.15 a.m., the Minister for Finance entered upon a vigorous reply to -his critics, in the course of which he referred in strong terms to 1 the vote-catching financial policy of his political opponents when they were in office. The Houjo rose at 0.42 a.m.