PARLIAMENT.

Gisborne Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1522, 2 August 1905, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

'AFTERNOON SITTING,

.(Per Press Association.)

Wellington, last night. The House mot at 2.30. Tho Shipping and Seamen’s Bill passed its final stages. The Seeds Examination Bill was read a second time pro forma.

Mr Seddon laid on the table a large number of documents relating to Mr Fisher, Captain Seddon, and other incidents conoeted with Friday night’s debate. These included the original voucher referred to by Mr Fisher, and which contained the signature of Mr Sneddon, oDd not Captain Seddon. The Premier Baid the documents provided a complete refutation of the charges made. Owing to BTr Fisher’s absence from Wellington ho did not propose to make any motion that afternoon. He would let matters stand as they wore until Mr Fisher’s return, and his attitude would then depend upon the way in which reparation was made.

Mr Massey approved of the lino adopted by tho Premier. Sir Joseph Ward said he would have a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the divulgence to Mr Bedford of tho text of certain Mnisterial memos, and he might ask the House to take legislative action in the direction of making a person receiving private information from a telegraph official equally liable with the person who gave the information.

FINANCIAL DEBATE. .(Per F*ess Association, j Wellington, last night. Tho House resumed at 7.30. Mr Massey opened tho Financial debate. He objected to the public debt being increased so greatly during timos of prosperity, arguing that wo ought to preservo our power of borrowing until tho necessity for is was greator than at present. What, he asked, was the good of talking about a surplus when the indebtedness was increasing every year; in fact the surplus was largely duo to the expenditure of loan money. If a -surplus really existed the Datura! inference was that taxation was too high. The Premier preached economy, but he more than anyone else was responsible for the enormous indebtedness of the colony. Mr McGowan urged that tbe best time to borrow money was wbon credit was good and when the country was in a prosperous condition, as .Setter terms would then bo obtained. The debate was carried on by Messrs Herries, Reid and Ell.