PARLIAMENT

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2296, 2 November 1914, Page 7

PARLIAMENT

.' ■ ■■-,■■.„■ —-— ■*— —- ...... IMPREST SUPPLY RIVAL POLICIES'REVIEWED CAMPAIGN SPEECHES ELECTORAL ROLLS, SETTLEMENT, ROADS. ■ The Legislative Council met at 11 a.m. on Saturday, and, after a short sitting,', resumed at 3 p.m. - J IRON AND STEEL INDUSTRY. The Iron and Steel industries Bill/wae j received from the House of Representatives and /read, a first time. On the second reading, The Hon. C. H. MILLS commended the measure, and expressed the opinion that the bounty would bo an incentive to the industry. The Hon. W. EARNSHAW thought that the Bill was brought forward largely owing to some person who must have some new method for the production of ore from iron sands. He did not see that the offer of the bounty was going to better either the worker or the industry.He would prefer, he said, to see.other matters of more vital import- , arice gone on with, and let the iron ore remain for future generations. .Under the Bill there was-a possibility of a firm collecting 12s. a ton for pig iron, ond their collecting another 12s. when the pig iron was converted into steel. That, He held,'was too much to pay. ' The Hon. O. SAMUEL spoke strongly in support of the measure,". and hoped that in the future the Government would also nee their way to similarly encourage the oil' industry. - . . . *. The Hon. J. DUTHIE said that if ; there were Sufficient quantities of iron ore in this country the industry was a most desirable one to push on, in every way. The demand for iron was increas-' ing, and if therewas iron the industry should be assisted. But first they Bhould a scertain if there was sufficient ore *in the. country ' to-warrant the industry starting. .Tlie Government itsolf should make an examination to assertain tho possibilities. He was not opposed to the system of bounties, but did not think any company would be found willing to put iip money for works; if Clause 11, allowing for the assignment of, the manufacturing plant to-the Crown, if required, was included in the 8i11.•,' '..:.' . ■ ■ The Hon. J: T. PAUL suggested an opening for State enterprise. ■ The Hon. J. BARE said that it'would not be -jviso for the State to undertake the industry. He did not think there would be any rush to take up the matter under private enterprise, for tho whole thing was" too problematical. If, however, anyone did take it up and got into difficulties, any: petitions for relief would have to be carefully watched. . Tho Hon. J. MACGREGOR said that he did not think the industry would be a large one in New Zealand for many years to corner He was opposed'to the Bill. ..,"••. ': "/ ' - - The Hon. H. D. BELL, in sneaking in support of the measure, said that there was wealth beyond ;the dreams of avarice on.,the shores of the Taranaki coast, and that there were tons and tons:of ore.in the hills behind Nelson.. He did.not,think, though, that the-Bill-would: be taken as a false reprceenta-. tibn on the part of the Government that there was this wealth in New Zealand., He; agreed >ith the Hon. Mr. Carncross that,the claaises relating.to lv. small penalties for offenbes against the Bill, were ridiculous. . The Bill was read a second time and considered, in Coinmittee, when Clause 12, "offences against the ■ Act," was struck out. jThe Hon. H. D. Bell explained that the position would then be ;hat persons who obtained bounties by false pretences, would be liable to imprisonment. : . • ■■'"'■ I ' The .Bill was , reported with amendment, read a third time, and passed. LEGISLATIVE AMENDMENT BILL (NO. 2). The Hon. H. D. BELL"introduced the Legislative Amendment Bill (No. 2), which provides that a member of .the Council or the House of Representatives shall vacate his seat if he is proved, to tho satisfaction of a committee, of ,the Council or House, as the_ caee may be, to have acted for commission or.other reward, as agent on behalf of the owner or of any other person having an interestxin. any land for the purpose of securing the purchase or acquisition of that land by the Crown. The Bill was put through remaining stages without discussion and pnssod. '■The'" Council rose at 10 o'clock, till 10.30 this morning. •; •'•■'