THE HOUSE

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2582, 2 October 1915, Page 7

THE HOUSE

The House of Representatives mot at 2.30 p.m. .- Mr. 11. M'CALLOM (Wairau) asked the Minister 'of Lands whether he would .duriiig the. recess givo instructions to have the Land Act'and its amendments, and also the Land for Settlements Act and its amendments,- consolidated. He suggested that there should be either one consolidating - measure, or perhaps two. ' The Right Hon. W. F. MASSEY replied in the affirmative. Ho said that bis experience of the last three ur four years had led him to the opinion that it'ivas now in the interests of the public and in the interests of settlement that the Land Act. and'the Land for Settlements Act should be consolidated, and lie proposed-to give instruction to have tho work done. . ; The Public Works Statement was laid on the table at'2.so p.m. by the Minister of Public Works. The Public Wprks'Estimates were introduced by Governor's Message. '

KINC'S COUNSEL'. . The amendment made by the Legislative Council in tlie Law Practitioners Amendment Bill was considered. The amendment was to strike out the clause inserted on the motion of Mr. A. H. Hindmarsli, preventing King's Counsel hereafter appointed from; practising as ! a solicitor, or having a partner so' acting. The Hon. A. L. HERDMAN moved that' the amendment should be agreed tO. '■ Mr., A. H. HINDMARSH (Wellington South) moved that the clause should be insisted'on 'in its/entirety. After discussion, Tho Hon. A., L. HERDMAN suggested that tlie' matter, should be left over for a year, in'order to allow him to consult 'the members of the profession. During the recess he would take that opjwrtunity,-and if the members desired it ho would consider bringing in legislation. The debate .was adjourned at the dinner hour.

, THE RAILWAYS STATEMENT. ; The Hon. W. H. HERRIES (Minister of Railways) 'brought down the Railways Statement at 7.30, p.m., and moved that it should-lib on the table, and be printed. Mr. G. WITTY (Riccarton) contended that there would.be no opportunity to discuss, the statement' if that course was.adopted, .'S they had to deal with the Public:»Works^Stote'inent.'.;, He protested against T uimecessary"' I Kaste; add

urged tho Minister to withdraw his motion.

. Air. W. A. YJiITCIi (Wangnuui) said that, any discussion Mint took phicu that night on Hie Railways Statement would bo a, farce, for they could not deal intelligently with a statement they had never seen, lie tool; tho opportunity of asking tho MinisLer to wtatc what provision ilo had inado this year for tlio building of rolling stock in New Zealand. Ho further desired to know what concessions wore to be granted tlio owners of starving stock. Thoy should see tho Department was not being "had" in connection with tho concessions, tie also hiiid that the American engines wero inferior. After discussion, Tlio Bight Hon. ; W. F. MASSKY (Primo Minister) said that the Statement, was laid on tlio' table in accordance \itli tile promise made to a .liicmbor in tho House during the afternoon. Tliero was no attempt to trick tho Houso out of discussion. If the members wanted to stop another week lie was perfectly willing to lot them, hut be reminded tlic-in that tho country wassick of,.tho session, and would be _ glad ito' sce members back .in thoir districts. Tho Hon. W. H. HERMES said that one of the reasons why ho had presented tlio report was to allow, discussion on it when tlio • Public Works Statement .ivas discussed. Regarding tho complaint about the imported engines, he 6aid ho was assured tlio engines wero the best we had ever had.Ho favoured the. construction of engines here, and the Department during his management had not heen neglectful of this branch. The motioii was carried.' •

PUBLIC WORKS DISCUSSION. On the motion to go into Committee of Supply .on tho Public Works Statement, Mr. J. T. M. HORNSBY (Wairarapa) contended that' his district ,liad not been fairly treated in connection with the Feafchcrston-Martinboroug'h • - rail- " Dr. NEWMAN (Wellington East) complaincd tliat the-Manawatu Station was at the '.-wrong end of tho line. There ivas no reason why tho trains could not come into Lamhton Station. As there was no hope of them getting the Central Station for the next ten years, provision should be made, at a email expense, to bring the trains .to Lanibton Station.

I The Minister in Reply. I The Hoii. W. ERASER (Minister of Public Works) rose to reply .to the ,varj ious arguments at 1 a.m. He said that | a good deal of the criticism was of a character with which ho was. very conversant. r A number of members seemed to think they were justified'in saying one thing in'tho Chamber, for the benefit of the public, and another thing in the lobby, which was more often their truo opinion. Referring to employment on Public Works he said that lie had conferred with tho Minister of Labour to see what labour would be required in the industrial world. The Farmers' Union had been consulted on the " matter, and lie'intended to see if they could not organise the labour supply for the primary industries: The member for Wanganui' had inferred that the Public Works Department: had to keep on all the men they took on. That was not so. In many cases labour was taken qn when it was not needed, just to relieve tho number of unemployed, but as soon as other work became available ha felt justified in putting'- the men off. Members had to remember that a number of tho Departmental officers had gone to the front, and it was difficult to carry out surveys which had. been promised. The motion to go into Committee of Supply was carried at 1.15 a.m.

: His Worship the Mayor has consented to tlie Salvation Army again having the privilege of their annual street, collection'in the streets, of Wellington, in .aid pi their Self-Denial Fund. In .previous years thre has. been an excellent response from • residents of .Wellington, wlio appreciate tho work being performed by the Army. This, whether it be ainon" the. troops, or among the needy ana destitute of all classes. The Army lias had a heavy year in many respects, some regular channels of income have been seriously affected, while expenses and new schemes necessitated by the world war have been a heavy drain on its funds. The responso in the country towns is, said to augur well for a really successful collection on Saturday next.