THE FINANCIAL DEBATE.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1833, 20 August 1913, Page 8

THE FINANCIAL DEBATE.

COOK ISLANDS.

Proceedings''losing their interest.

, .'The! House of Eepresentatives met at--2.30, p.m.-, '.'The'.' Roman Catholic. Arohbishop- Empowering Bill (Sir "Walter Buchanan) .was read;, a third" time and passed'. The Hon. A.- L. HIiRDMAN gave notice of his' intention to introduce the River Boards' Amendment, Bill. Other Bills iVhich iho'introdiuced'were tho Local Elections and Polls Amendment Bill, and the 'Counties' Ariiendmorit Bill. . The Him.'.FV.M. B. .'FISHER gave notice that lro would introduce-the Science and Art Bill, 1913. j Mr. W. J- DICKIE (Selwyn) brought •under'the notice of. the'Brime Minister a section in the Avenal Settlement in North Canterbury whioh Iliad not been taken up on account, of its having been,'<Jyerloadcd for improvements, and the rental having been fixed too high. The Hon. W. F. JIASSBY (Prime Minister)'said this was tho first time this section 'had been, brought under his notice, "Kilt 'hp 'would take suiqh steps as-might bo necessary- to kave'tho secfcioii utilised. unfortunately' tH-Sre frere a number of these sections throughout New Zealand whifch were not' taken uip. "The trouble seemed frrbe;that' they had been over-valued, in tho -first instance. Probably this session he would ask ParGiairiont to give him authority td reduce;tho rental of these sections,to ,a proper and ,fiqual)able 1 level. In • the meantime he.Would make inquiries about the letting of the grass of the section. v i PUBLIC SERVICE CLASSIFICATION. Mr. G. W. ETJSSELL ( Avon) asked, when the classification of the Public Service lTOtil'd be' Diaclo .available. Hfc understood that -unlcsa-.t'ho -lists-.-were• circulated on tli© moraw it would not ,be possible. to <leal with appeals at tho end of the thiirty days oiunouueed by the Commissioners as the time",.within -which appeals must be lodged. - ' / '• The PRIME MINISTER replied that he believed'.the classification, list would-be gazetted that week. Tho report of the Oommissioners • would' fee ready - nest week. WORKERS' HOMES. When tho anntiiil report on workers' .homes was .tabled, ■ilh.e Prime .Minister, in reply tOi-Mv.- Eil, Kiid .that, there was an unsatisfiod demand .all over New Zealand for workers' dwellings, a demand that it was'impossible for him to satisfy with •Uhe means at.liis disposal. While saying that, ho considered that thero was no way ill which -public money could- be -more yi'it&fiotorily -utilised-than in^thc'.erection of workete* dwellings;'•''lf the Treasurer ■tfouid only , allonjihtm -,another,. .£IOO,OOO-a year he could it .under this Qieatl'. ■; !'•;> v\ - ■■ Mr. Myers :■ ApplyM.Jittle,pressure.'. .. The Prime Minister, -said that during the last few weeks the' Government had expended i.somte ..thousands. of pouuds in purchasing land and ereoting -dwellings. Sir. Lomaa (Seoretary., ; for Labour) was dovoting practically the whole of his time at present-to this, important- work.