PARLIAMENT

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 291, 4 September 1919, Page 6

PARLIAMENT

THE COST OF LIVING PROBLEM OF THE PROFITEER DISCUSSED . LOAN FOR SOLDIER .- SETTLEMENT ADDRESS-IN-REPLY DEBATE IN THE COUNCIL, . ' ■ , The legislative Counoil met at 2.30 p.m. yesterday. COMPANIES AMENDMENT BILL, Sir Francis Bell introduced the Companies: Amendment Bill, which was read a first time, read a second timo pro forma, and referred to the Statutes .Revision Committee. Tlio Bill makes provision for the protection'of mortgages secured <on uncalled capital, and provides thatjlhoprovisions of the principal Act as to-"reserve capital ho not applicable to private companies,'

RETIREMENT OF. MR, L. STOWE, C.M.G. The Hon. SIR FKANCIS BELL ijovod: "That on tho occasion off tho .retirement frtfm office of Mr. Leonard Stowe, 'C.M.G., who has Jmld thp office of Clerk of the Legislative Council from the year 1865, and also tho office of Clerk of Parliaments from the year 1889, the Council desires to record its sense of the value of the long and honourable public service rendered by hiin to the Council and to the Dominion. TJIO Council sincerely regrets that Mr. Stowo had found it to be no longer possible to occupy his place'at the table, and desires to assnro liim that he carries Into his retirement the esteem and respect of all its membeft." . The Leader of the Council fpoko in the highest towns of the retired, officer, and reminded the Council of tho time at which Mr. Stowe celebrated his jubilee of service. Ho acknowledged hin personal indebtedness,to Mr. Stowe for much assistance. Mr. Stowe would be missed as tho friend of the whole. Council; but not on account of that only, 'but on account also of his great knowledge, his loss w%uld bo deeply felt. The spoaker hoped' that the Council would present to Mr. Stows an illuminated message in token of tho appreciation ho had earned,

The Hon. 0. SAMUEL described Mr. Stows, a? '.'courteous beyond measure, and considerate." Mr. Stowe had endeavour, ed to maintain tho highest traditions t'liat he had imbibed. He retired with the universal respect of the Council he had served 'so..faithfully. . The Hons. .T. G. W. Aitken and G. Jones also supported tho motion.

The Hon. the SPEAKER read a, letter in which 'Mr. Stowo expressed the regret he felt at resigning a position with which so many pleasant memories were associated, and in n'hicih He had enjoyed so many kindnesses from all members 'of the Council.

■The . resolution was carried witK applause^

• Sir Francis Bell observed that on Mr, Stowe's retirement it was decided that promotion to tlie office of Clerk of Parliaments was due to Mr. Lowe, ivho would remain in the other House till the end of jlho session, and would then take his place at the table in fae Council.

CHAJRMAN OF. COMMITTEE?!. Sir Francis 801 l moved the reappointment of the Hon." 0. Samuel to tho position of Chairman of Committees. The motion was seconded by the Hon; J.-G.-W. Aitfam.

Both mover and seconder of the resolution expressed tho opinion that a better Chairman that the Hon. Mr. Samuel had proved himself couH not lie found. The "'resolution was carried with 1 applause.

ADDRESS-IN-REPJ.Y DEBATE,

PROBLEMS OP THE FUTURE. The Hon. -J. B. GOW moved the Address-in-Keply. >Ho considered that from the experience of the past few v years we had lessons still to learn. Wo had .been faced in the war with the fact that might was asserting itself as right, and we had fought to ensuro that right should rule. We had to congratulate ourselves upon thb fact that right had triumphed, and as a country we had to congratulate ourselves upon the position we' .had attained iu. the':comity of nations. Our new position Imposed new duties upon us. : - We had the mandate for Samoa. What the distinction was between'a mandate and sovereignty we had'yet to see. The tiling was new, but Die was sure that the Parliament of New Zealand would not shirk its duties. He did not believe that the League of Nations would do away with the possibility of war, but he did believe that once properly established it would go a long way towards preventing the recurrence of such a catastrophe as we had lately suffered. To-day those c who had borne the brunt in the front line must bo considered. It was indicated in the Speech of His Excellency that the obligation of the country to those who had fought was fully realised. The men who had returned would form a stable element in the community, and give fresh strength and virility to it. First of the [tasks ahead-, the speaker considered, was a return to regular customs and government. A continuation of methods that were necessary and proper in war tinio would in peace time militate against tho best interests of the country, (near, hear.) Events occurring in the world | to-day boro homo, upon' the observer the truth that tho first duty of a government was to govern. Elements that happened by the natnre of their employment to occupy a position of vantage could not be permitted to rule the majority. Industrial reconstruction was necessary, and for that* order was essential. He I was pleased to noto the movement towards the development of sources of olectrical power. During tho war period wo iiad been marking timo in public expenditure. But it ..was essential to-day that tho piecemeal system of prosecuting public works should <be abandoned. He believed that the contract system should be restored. Better machinery, too. should he employed. (Hear, hear.) His Excellency's Speech had referred to llio prevailing unrest. Unrest was not, however, necessarily an evil. • It was for the people of New Zeaand to see that tho unrest was rightly guided and directed, and had its outlet in new lines of effort, and not in faction or the destruction of order. He considered that inducements should be offered to bring about tho immigration into New Zealand of tho light kind of citizen for the country.

The Hon. J. CRIMMOND seconded tlio motion. He believed tlint the work of those who had represented New Zcalnnd at the Peace Conference had given canso im gratitude. He touched upon the coal question, and advocated the ■nationalisation' of the mines. Some legisla3?on to enoourago' tlio production of gold in the country was needed. He also thought 'that ttio Government was entitled to give a greater subsidy to the British Navy in order to ensure our defence upon the sea. A much larger sum must be. devoted to education. He was in favour of the abolition of education boards. Proper development of hydro-electrio power would revoliitumiso Now Zealand. He hoped the Government would givo much Attention to the report of the Industries Committee. The Council adjourned at -1.7 p.m. on the motion of |Sir John Sinclnir. THEHOUSE The House of Representatives met at 2.30 p.m. Tlio Hoard of. Trado Bill (the Hon. W. D. S. MiicDonald), the Proportional liepresentation Bill (Jlr. Veitcli), the Ternporary Employees Bill (Dr. A. K. Newman), the Dominion State Bank Bill (Mr. Veitcli). the Invercargill Borough Boundaries Extension Bill (the Hon. .T. A. Italian), tlio Nntivo Land Amendment Bill (Mr. Wilford), the Mining Amendment. Bill (Mr. Semplo). and the Coal Mines Amendment Bill (Mr. Semplo), were introduced and read a first tinWj