SESSION ENDS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2591, 13 October 1915, Page 7

SESSION ENDS

CLOSING SCENES

APPROPRIATION BILL

LOCAL BORROWING

HOSPITAL SHIP CONTRIBUTIONS. The Legislative Council met at Till a.m., and rose from time to time till the Appropriation Bill was introduced at 9.15 p.m. The Bill was put tliropgh all stages without discussion, and passed. ■ The; Council rose at 10.25 p.m. without tlie usual valedictory speeches. THE HOUSE The House of Representatives met at '10.30 a.m. Amendments mada by the Legislative Council in the Public Service Classification and Superannuation 'Act ( Ainendr ment Bill were agreed fo. THE APPROPRIATION BILL GOVERNMENT WHEAT PURCHASES The Appropriation Bill was introduced at 11.50 a.m. and read a first time, and then a second time, without a word of discussion. In Committee, Mr. T. M. Wilford (Hutt) asked concerning the purchase by the New Zealand Government of an option over a million bushels of Canadian wheat.' It appeared to him that the Government .was goin" to make a serious loss on this purchase, and every shilling a bushel fall in the price meant a loss of £40.000. Ihe lit. Hon. W. F. Massey said that tho total co3t of the wheat would be about £300,000, of which £50,000 had been paid. Tie Government had taken up the option. If it had dropped the option it. would have had to pay at least £50,000. The Government Was faced with the possibility of a. loss, but was anxious to prevent that loss being •m?' r" loro heavy than was necessary. -Ihe Government was acting by the advice of the Canadian Government, and tho advice was that wheat was likely to harden. Perhaps if the Government had known more about the position so much wheat would nob havo been purchased, but at that time .the outlook was very bad indeed. '

"Surprise Packets?" Dr. A. K. Newman, said he had f or ' surprise packets' in tho Bill, and it seemed to him that Clause 26, which forbade any local authority to borrow any money whatsoever without the consent of the Government, was a most extraordinary surprise packet. He also disapproved of the clause authorising expenditure from . ® Hospital ■- Ship fund on other objects, as being effect a breach of faith with the contributors. 9fi !„ r /° Se ? h Ward said tlat Clause „• j a a surprise packet. . He argued that such a clause'was absolutely ™ r >; at the present time to prevent local bodies from borrowing at very I' 50 forcin S "P tho rato of interest; for everybody. In' tho House this session they had had to cut of certain, local Bills clauses empowering local bodies to borrow at 6 ner cent. Was it likely that the Govern.'ow local bodies to run riot m borrowing, and so forca un the interest-rates? The-business of the Government was to keep the rate of hrSiwn' ? En eland: local public bodies .had long been, forbidden to raise money, even on the London Stock Exchange. .There must be control duriii" tile tunes we were now passing The clause authorising the expenditure of moneys subscribed for the Hospital Shin was necessajy. Surely if more moneys were subscribed than were necessary for the ship it was proper that they should bo expended on wounded soldiers and on similar objects. Mr. A H. Hindmarsh asked whether clause-26 would prevent the Wellington Council taking money on deposit. Sir Joseph Ward: No, it does not. Mr. ■ Hindmarsh .disapproved very strongly of the clause as being undemocratic. \

Mr. •H. Cr. Ell defended the clause, and suggested that the Minister should take even wider powers. Sir Joseph Ward said that if we had to choose between the payment of 6 per cent, for the carrying on of works and tho postponement of those works, then tho works should be postponed in tho general interests cf the country. The clause would not hamper but help the local bodies. One big local body had been able lately to arrange for a loan by way of overdraft at 5 per cent. It Mas quite certain that it could never have obtained that money at o per cent, if other local bodies were alloired to borrow freely at 6 per cent. Mr. R. M'Callum said he hoped tho Government would not; in future employ on Royal Commissions retired Civil Servants who were in receipt of amplo superannuation allowance. He objected especially to the employment of Mr. Hogbcn on tho Education Boundaries Commission, for- this gentleman had coloured the whole commission's report. The first clause was passed at 1 p.m., but after this progress was rapid. Hospital Ship Funds, Dr. ii. K.. Xowmun protested against the proposal iii Clause 25' to divert to other purposes moneys subscribed for the equipment of a Hospital Ship. He tkougnt the clause should be struck out. Sir Joseph Ward, said tliat the money had been subscribed for a Hospital Ship., but more was subscribed than necessary. Another ship was to bo sent, and a great deal of the money would be required for ' this second ship. Surely it would lie right for the power to be given in tho Bill for the Governor to oxpend any moneys not required for'these ships on any other proper object. Ho had been a contributor to tho fund, and he was not at all dissatisfied with the diversion of the money. Dr. Newman said that he knew numbers of people who had subscribed were very sore about the moneys being diverted. I

The lliglit Hon. .W. F. Massey said that after-tho.first ship was dispatched, and before' the second was arranged for, it became necessary for. us to lit put a military hospital iu England. Towards the cost of that hospital a contribution had been made from the Hospital Ship Fund. About this he did not think there could be any reasonable complaint. On Clause UG, which provides that local authorities shall not borrow money without the consent ol the Governor-in-Councii during the present war, IJr. A. H. nindrnarsh asked the Minister to accept a proviso as follows:— "Provided that nothing in this section shall alfect the loans to -any local authority of sums of money by way of deposit."

Sir Joseph Ward said that lie could not accept the amendment. Tho Bill did not alfect such cases as it was. If there was ally doubt consent could always bo obtained.

Mr. Hindmarsh called for a division on his amendment, and it was nogatived by 32 votes to 11. The Bill was put through Committee i»t 3 p.m. The Arbitration Court. On the third reading, Mr. A. H. HINDMaRSH (Wellington South) deprecated attacks that had been made in the past by the employers on the Arbitration Court, The

Employers' Association had attempted to discredit tho Judge. He held thatan attempt) was made to drive the employers' representative. (Mr. Duthie) off tho Court becauso an award had Been given favourable to the employees. Mr. J. ANSTJSY (AVaitaki) spoko. at length on tho wheat transactions, and said that there seemed to bo 110 doubt that tliero must bo.a loss of £100,000 through tho transactions. He would not have complained had the public been assisted with cheap bread. He urged tho Govornmcnt to at onco replaeo the duty on wheat. The action of t'he Government had caused a bi" •loss to millers and merchants. ° Every Man Should Drill. (Christchiirch c li. ) "PPoaled for some remedy of the drink trouble in tho present crisis, and held the Government should go the length of tho British Parliament' and restrict "treating." Regarding national defence, he thought tho Gov° eminent might encourage universal drill y ?V e !T man ' n t'ho Dominion. Ho would like to see all retail houses closing at o o'clock 'during tho summer months to allow all men to fit themselves for any crisis that might arise. Mr T. M. WILFORD (Suit) spoko n" Wis referred to as the "Prvor-fecott-Duthie incident of the Arbitraw d, . d nob think profit sjsteni of arriving at awards Was n WOlUd havc a separate Conciliation Commissioner' for all allied rades iii Nmv Zealand. Bv this "ay WI,L W01 !r 6Xl>ert ? ia cach class When a dispute arose m any trade the Commissioner and one representative from each side should form tho Courtto would have no permanent Court at

That Little Bill. <V? +? M ' COJrBS (Lyttelton) attack, n°n S'enimenfc.for having dropped cm,nn tl ! 8 7 ith al,e sed victimLnon on the waterfront at Auckland. He i ! Wlt , h the Government <rt n' Purchase operations, rhe Right Hon. W. F. MASSEY said ritti !," 10 ? / 1 ' for and his rnends, by obstructing another Bill, had made it impossible for his Bill to pass. After the obstruction a number of members had come to him (Mr. Massey) and ntw lrn ? would not allow the other Bill to go through the House. lo»?„ Iw >er x or kyttelton would yet leain that stonewalling was a doubleedged weapon, very dangerous to use. How over, he (Mr. Massey) was not sure, in view of the protests he had received that he would have gone on with the Wheat Purchases. The honourable member had attacked tho Government concerning wheat operations It was not correct that the statistical Department had made mistakes ni connection with wheat. It was tho estimate that was wrong. Mr. M'Oombs: What a quibble! • Mr. Massey: Tho- honourable gentleman by that interjection shows that this is a'subject about which he knows nothuig. The people who had made the mistake, he continued, were those people who were .expected to know what a standing crop was 'likely to yield. In estimating tnis mistakos were by no means uncommon. It happened that St i. P eo l^ e Canterbury and North.Otago expected a 20-bushel crop, the crop actually yielded 30 bushels. But even in spite of this, it was absurd to 6ay that importation was not necessary. At one stage wo had only ten days' supply of wheat and flour in the country, and the Government had a most anxious time.. The wheat arrived just in time, and if there had been no importation we would not even now have had sufficient wheat to feed us until the Australian harvest was ■ ready. Much had been made of tho huge losses tho Government were alleged to have lnado in the purchase of wlieat. In actual fact we had! lost' in all £24,559. The Government had lost the money not through bungling, but deliberately btlioving it was the proper thing to do. And the people got the benefit of it. He was not able , to' say- whether we should make a loss on tho purchase of the million bushel option, but he hoped wo could quit without loss. At any rate he was advised that very soon ths price of wheat in Europe would rise. Our Deal'ln Meat. He believed that our deal in meat on behalf <.<f' the Imporial Government would mean the gain of a million pounds to this country. In one little branch of the meat operations he had saved a great deal of money.- He had arranged to supply from stores all tho meat required for military camps, and honourable members would bo surprised j to know that this little transaction had saved to tho taxpayers of this country 10s. per day. Tho Imperial authorities might at any time say that they wanted the whole of tho meat. As far as ho could see there would not be a carcass; in the freezing chambers at tho end of this month. Members had to remember that this was tho offseason. Ho hoped when the' new legislation came into operation that something more would lie done to keep prices of foodstuffs down. . Statements were mado that Australia had' done more in this conncction than Now Zealand, but figures taken out by the Government Statistician for September showed lower prices in New Zealand than in Sydney. Tho Government lioi'e had been able to keep down prices. Had thoy not taken action in regard to butter they' would havo had it up to 2s. per lb. t'o-day. Instead of abuse and recrimination the Government should bo given a little credit for what they had done. Replying to Mr. Isitt, he promised to see that the lion, member's suggestion with regard to restricting "treating" should he placed before Cabinet. ' Mr. H. G. ELL (Christchurch South) demanded a redistribution of the seats in the National.Cabinet, alleging that the most important portfolios weiro hold by members of the late Reform Government'. An Announcement. Shortly after tho House resumed at 7.30 the Prime Minister announced that unless the debate was concluded in both Houses about 10.30 p.m. tho House would have to meet tho following morning. He did not wish to burk discussion, but he thought it was right that honourable members should know the position. Mr. Webb did not take the hint, however, .for 'he spoke for nearly half an hour longer. ■ '

Mr. J. PAYNE (Grey Lynn) said that Labour was loyal to a degreo in the present Empire' struggle. In proof of this ho referred to what had been done by the Socialists in England. He expressed unstinted admiration for our own young men who were volunteering for service, and ho declared emphatically that it was the duty of all young men to offer their services l —first the single men of well-to-do families, next the single men without family ties, and last of all the married men who were physically fit.

Mr. It. FLETCHER (Wellington Central) referred to the dropping of the Industrial Conciliation Amendment Bill. Something should havo been dono to deal with those watorsiders who could not get employment. As no legislation could bo- brought down before next session, he suggestod that the Prime Minister and Sir Joseph Ward should, act as arbitrators in an endeavour to sotfclo a most regrettable position. Dr. THAOKER (Christchurch East) thought that we should pay a mark of respect to the great and glorious work done by the - women of New Zealand sinco the war broke out. They had done magnificent service.

A Reply to Labour Members. The Right Hon. SIR JOSEPH WARD (Minister of Finance) referred to discussion on the Factories Act Amendment Bill, and . the remarks jnade by the member f<vr Lyttelton. He had

left a wrong impression in dealing with the Bill, which had to do *uly with one factory in Southland. The "stonewall" on the Bill had boon the most spurious and unworthy effort he had over heard siuco lie had been in Parliament. Tho factory was in the country, and labour members asked why thoy should not duplicate tho men and prevent the overtime on Saturday. As a matter of tact, there were no workers there—the only people interested wero the small farmers who wanted to got their milk dealt with. Tho schedule of the Factories Act gavo exemptions to dairy factories, fellmongcrics, etc., and because it was proposed to put that factory in the same schedulo tho Labour members almost died on tho tloor in their attempt to block the measure, even to the length of jeopardising a Bill to deal with victimisation on tho waterfront. Tho proposal under the Factories Bill was made by the Labour Department in tho interests of tho farmers, and then they had the Labour members almost allowing their "blooming hearts" to burst their waistcoats in an endeavour to stop it. Tliore was no proposal to work on a Sunday in tho Bill—it was only to allow overtime on Saturday afternoon to prevent waste of a perishable article. The honourable member for Lyttelton and his friends must not run away with the idea that thoy wero the only members of the House representing workers. Ho himself represented workers. Thoy wero by no means the only pebbles on the beach. Noxt session lie hoped to see the Bill reintroduced and sent to the Labour Bills Committee, and that the honourable members would be here to support it. Mr. Webb: Wo'll stonewall it again if it provides for eleven and a quarter hours work for women.

Sir Joseph Ward: Then you will do a very unwise thing. You will show, lack of judgnient, and the first esential of a successful politician ia sound judgment. Sir Joseph Ward went on to refor to tho cost of living. Much had been made of the fact that livo butchers had had to go out of business in Wellington because they could not got meat. He wished to tell the honourable member for Grey that it had always been difficult to get beef in New Zealand in the montli6 of July and August. It was said that tho Government should take from the producers and wealthy people all their war profits. The Government was taking over a million in taxation from tho people earning war profits. In considering the question, the Government had to keep in mind the fact that we should have to get the money for several years to come. Assuming as was suggested that we were getting four millions a ■year in war profits, which he very much doubted—he doubted whether we wore getting more than two millions—and assuming that the Government took 25 per cent, of those profits, wo should not be getting as much as we were taking now'. Ho beliovod that the arrangement made by the Prime Minister and 'his Government before the National Cabinet was formed, by which a. price was fixed at which meat could bo bought for export, had been the nieans of bringing a million moro money to New Zealand. The National Government. Tho National Government was formed to meet a great crisis, and the formation of it had given rise to a feeling of satisfaction and confidence in the country. And he believed it had done good in helping this country to tako its part in the war. This was no time for fault-finding. (Hear, hear.) We should forget petty personal and party differences for tho general good of the nation. After the war was ever there would be time and opportunity for reverting to those domestic affairs which had promoted lively debates in the past. He thought that wliqn the history of this' period in New Zealand was written the historians would say that the National Cabinet came in at the right time, and did 1 good work in the best interests of the Empire and the people of New Zealand. The Bill was read a third time and passed; The House adjourned at 9.10 "until tho ringing of the bell." The Bill was returned by the Legislative Council without amendment, and the House adjourned again while Mr. Speakor went to Government House to get His Excellency's signature on it. The House resumed at 10.15, when Mr. Speaker announced that the Bill had been assented to by His Excellency. The House rose at 11.48 p.m.