PARLIAMENT

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1841, 23 August 1906, Page 3

PARLIAMENT

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

PRESS ASSOCIATION Woffington, last night. Tho Council met. at 2.30 p.m A communication was vcml from Sirs j Seddon acknowledging the resolution ol 1 the Council regretting the death of her ! husband.

Hou C LouLson moved tlie Address-in Reply. He said while all regretted the loss of Air Seddon. it was a matter of satisfaction that he was so ably succeeded, and the verdict of the country was favorable to the Ministry formed by Sir J. U. AN urd. There were many subjects ol the highest importance in the speech which would demand the earnest consideration ot the Council. If a reciprocal treaty could be arranged with the Commonwealth on terms which would properly safeguard the interests of New Zealand it would be a good thing for the country. He approved the proposal for encouraging scientific methods of production While he rejoiced at the satisfactory condition of the tourist traffic he did not consider that tho Government offered sufficient facilities to tourists to travel the country It was useless to advertise the Colony as a tourist’s resort without making complete provision for locomotion and traffic and the conveniences of tourists. Tho whole service between Auckland and the lAI u

ought to be in the hands of the Government, The Exhibition was undertaking a big work. Tho matter had been taken up keenly, and in Christchurch alone there were eighty to one hundred business men who had for the past six months devoted half their time towards ensuring the success of the undertaking. Ile was sure tho whole thing would result in a gigantic success, "With regard to tho tariff, he thought it was a question that ought to be dealt with as speedily as possible. Wc had been having large surpluses year after vear, and in his opinion, when there was a surplus steps ought to be taken to ascertain how to relieve pressure of duties upon tiie necessaries of life. Life might thereby be made a little pleasanter. • Hon. Mr Thompson seconded the motion. He considered tho Speech from the Throne a very oomprohonsivo one, 9Dd inoluded reference to measures of the greatest importance to tho oolony. He agreed with tho expressed intention of the Government to make no sudden radical alteration in tho land system of the colony. It was good news to learn that the oon siruetton of tho Main Trunk railway lines was to be p oioenied vigorously, especially in regard to the North Island Trunk line Too debate was adjourn.d on the motion of Hun. G. MoLean, aid the C.uioil rose at 4.5.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Tho House met at 2 30. First rea lings : 1 Wo Inis’ Compensation for Aec dents Aot, 1900, Amendment Bill." “Coal Mines Act, 1903, Amendment Bib,” 1 Totalisator Ab dition," " Wrimato Hospita’, ’ " Otage Dork Aoi Amendmmt,” "Palmerston North Dary Sihool,” "Wellington City Beolamaiicn," ’ Cr.minal Code Amendment ” "Jovenilo Offenders, ’’ * - q iackery and Other Fraud Prevention, 1 " Masterton Trust Land," " B allot Card Voting,” “ Law Practitioners,” " Govern* ment Valuation Amendment,” 11 Noxious Weeds Amendmsnt,” Wellington Barbor Reclamation,” ” Elective Eaeoutive,” "Law Praotitioners,” "0 agi D.ok Vduation,” " Maketa County,” ” Legislative Council Elfotion,” and " Chrietohuroh Drainage,” Between 40 and 50 papers were laid on the table aod ordered to be printed, On the motion ol Mr Kukbride for Mr Fisher, it was resolved that there be laid before this House a return showing (a) the area of the grounds attaohed to each Ministoral residenoa in Wellington, (h) the capital and unimproved values of each Ministerial residence, (c) the ocst of ODy addition or additions made to each or any of the Ministerial residences either by way (1) of land, (2) buildings, or (3) famishing, daring the last five years ended Ist August, 1906; particulars for each year to be separately stated. Six o her unopposed notices were passed. No. 8 was moved by Mr Kirkbridge f ir Mr Fisher, " That there be laid beforo this House a return showing (1) tbe area, capital, aod unimprovod value of the residences of his Exeo k-noy the Governor at Wellington and Auckland, and (2) the annual amourt spent upon . each for upkeep and maint inauce during the past five years ending Ist August, 1906; each year to be stated separately.” Tho Premier opposed oo the ground that the discussion of tbe Bffairs of thß Governor on the floor of the House would be a bad precedent. Ho appei’ol to Mr Massey to support him. The mover had given no reasons. Mr Massey dissented, maintaining that the motion in its first part did not affect the affairs of the Governor at all, and that as for eeoond part, the Houso had every right to know all about every item of expenditure. Mr Hall-Jones utged that as all tho information asked for is in the annual estima’es, the publioity now sought was unnecessary, and then fire savours of discourtesy to His Excellency. Me J. McKenzie said everybody was not so familiar with the Esiimatos as the Minister of Public Works. Mr Kirkbride defended his position. The Premior, interposing, said he had UDdarstood Mr Kirkbride to say that he had Mr Fisher’s wriilen authority to move his motion, and now he found that he had not.

After some discussion it appoired that Mr Kirkbride bad misunderstood the question put to b>'m by Ihe Premier on tho qu:stion of the neoessity for written authority in such oaaos. Mr Speaker ruled that the usual practice is for an hon. member’s asierticn that he has authority to be aoo.pscd. The motion was lost. —AyGs 12, Noes 38. Tbe House adj jurnod at 4 p,m. Tbe evening sitting oommenoed at 7.30 o'clock Mr Ssddon mime] the Address-in Reply. He congratulated rha Government on tbe ability of its persoone 1 , He oh iracterised the Governo.’j Speeoh as comprehensive and businessl ke. He weut through onehalf the items, and thanked tho House for its kindly hearing, (Applause ) Mr Poole, who seconded the motioD, said he. was sensible of the honor done him by his Halection, He proo'aimed him self as still an Independent L beral. He eulogised tbe speicb, but thought it cautiou--, and none the worse for that. He approved of most of tbo polioy. Mr Marsey attacked the Governor’s Speech, wbioh he condimned asa thing oi shreds and patobes. He oomplimenied the member for Wesland, and wished him prosperity and a high position, and criticised Ministers for an hour. Sir Joseph Wa-d rep'iid, highly com plimentng tbe momboc for Wis-and and the member for Auckland Wost. He ridiculed Mr Massey’s saying the Speech bad nothing in is, aud then spending an hour io criticising it.

MR MXS3EY AND MR FOOLE.

Special to the Times. Wellington, last night

Mr Poole, who seconded the Address-in-Reply to-night, was twitted by Me Massey with the fact that altboogh he had posed as an Independent on tbe occasion of his eleolioD, bo had by seconding the Addre3s-in-Reply, comm tted himself to the position of a supporter of the Government. The Premier, who subsequently spoke, said that since the election a new Ministry bod como into office, and that this, he claimed, altered tbo position of the member for Auckland West very materia,ly’ THE MODERN JOSEPH,

In speaking of the composition of the new Miaistry to-night, Mr Massey said that the Premier resembled in one respect his Damesake who had lived in Egypt a long time ago, in that be had surrounded himself with a Ministry cf many colors. He (the Premier) wculd hivo to be careful that he d cl not fall into a pit and fail to get out again. (Laughter.) Tbe different colors, he said, appeared to have been selected with the ohj ct of one counteracting tho other, and now tho Premier appeared to bo anxious lest tho various hues should como out in the washing. Premier, in sutsiquently referring to the master, ea ! d that if he oould not emulato his namesake ju all 6hings_Jre

and "ho oatue nut on top in tho end, and so will I” (Liughtor from Ministerial brno ics.)

MINISTERS’ DIVERSE VIEWS. Wo have a Ministry,” snid Mr Maseoy to night, ” that is two thirds leasehold and one-third freehold ; it is partly prohibition i -1, and partly anti-prohibitionist; one sootion nro oxtrouio freetraders, and the other half aro extreme prot, olionisis ; ono sroiion is in favor of tho toffalisator—-(l-uightoi) —and tho other is opposed to Iho gambling nt-obino and all us wotks; out section, again. is in favor of preference to unionists, anil the oilier sootion is opposed to it and then again," continued Air Massey, with a glance in the direction of the Minister for Labor, " we have the San Francisco mail service. We shall be a happy family in regard to this service in future. One of the pleasures to which I am looking lorward is that of being with the Minister for Labor in the same lobby in regard to the San Francisco service It will prove, and I have no doubt he will admit it, that I have been right all along and that he has been wrong."