PARLIAMENT.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2258, 1 August 1908, Page 3

PARLIAMENT.

THURSDAY NIGHT’S SITTING. [Press Association.] WELLINGTON, July 31. In the House, after midnight, Messrs D. Buddo, F. E. Baumo I'. R. Flntnnui, A, R. Barclay, 'l. Mackenzie, and T. M. Wilford opposed tho Licensing Polls Absolute Majority Bill, and tlm second reading was lost by 54 to S. The House adjourned at 12.0 d. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. AFTERNOON SITTING. Tlio Council met at 2.30 p.m, Hon. J. Barr moved that ill the opinion of the Council tho Government should immediately consider the devising of some practical measure whorcbv the heavy cost of living to married workers, compared with unmarried, may be lessened, and that tlio man with a family bo especially considered so that tlio rearing ot families may ho looked forward to with less anxiety and parenthood be encouraged. 'The nuestion, lie said, was of supremo moment throughout the world, and the day had arrived when matters other than wages, employer, and employee, and tho general public would have to bo taken into consideration, and not merely omploycr and employee as hitherto. For the present immigration mot all requirements, but. many immigrants wero assisted who wero not entitled to the concessions. The Government had done something in the direction indicated by tho motion. 3ho home for workers should ho the initial step. He quoted statistics to show the disparity in the cost of living between married and single workers, and the disadvantage to tho former as compared with the .latter, and urged that preference should bo "ranted ito married workers by employers. State labor agencies should he established similar to those existing in Germany. He thought, too, there was an unjust tax upon evory day necessities, which could not bo manufactured in the Dominion. Doctors should be employed and paid by the Government,. and should regularly visit schools and houses without waiting to be sent for when too late to savo life. Parenthood carried with it a claim on tlio State. . (Applause.) Hon. R. A. Lough nan seconded tlie motion, and said that tlio Hon. Barr’s motion represented the true wishes of the country.

Tlie dobate was adjourned. The Consolidated Statutes Bill was put through all stages. Tho New Zealand Society of Accountants Bill was read a third time and passed. Tlio Council at 5.30 p.m. adjourned until August 19.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. AFTERNOON SITTING. The House met at 2.30 p.m. In regard to the amendments made in (the Incorporated Societies Bill by tho Council, with the exception of a couple of clauses which, in the Premier’s opinion, would tend to promote a. close guild, a conference was arranged to consider these. The Consolidated Statutes Enactment Bill, after the Premier and others had eulogised Mr. Joliffe. was put through all stages. The House went into Committee of Supply for tho consideration of tho Estimates. Class 1, Legislative Department, £3o.o74.—Replying to members, the Minister of Finance said the Government would do what was possible to give clerical assistance to members in dealing with correspondence.— The vote was passed unaltered. Class 11., Department of Minister of Finance. £57,588.—The Minister explained, in reply to Mr. Herrins, that the increase from £3500 for discount and stamp duty on remittances to London was due fo the stringency of the London money market.—Tlie vote was passed.

Class 111., Post and Telegraph, £796,638. —Replying to Air. Herrios. tile Premier stated that the Government had done a great deal for the improvement of the mail .services. £20,000 had been offered for a service from Vancouver to New Zealand, but as the steamers could not come here, the Government had been thrown back on the Suez service ail'd bad paid the Union Co. and Huddart Parker lines a subsidy for an improved service connecting with tho Suez service, but this was unsatisfactory owing to the extra time involved. The Government was anxious to lining about a fast mail service in conjunction with tile British Government, but he could do no more than assist in its creation. If such a service could be brought about it would be cheap at the price. The House adjourned at 5.30 p.m. EVENING SITTING. The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. Mr. W. Fraser indicated that one of the difficulties of the All Red service was that New Zealand insisted upon a 21-knot service. The Premier said that was the first suggestion, and the Government would be prepared to give a £IOO,000 subsidy for the Pacific service, but when (the other Governments felt that a 21-knot service was too expensive, the Government bad expressed its willingness to give £75,000 for an 18-knot service, new boats and good passenger and refrigerating accommodation .

In answer the several members who wished for more telephone joust ruction in the backblodks, the Premier asked whether the expenditure of £155,000 and the erection of 2307 miles of wire last year was not doing what was asked for. How much did members expect the Government to spend? The Government, lie declard, had done more for the backblocks telephone service in the past five years than any country in the world, _ and were constructing and extending as quickly as possible. He protested at the incessant demands for greater facilities at ail ever-de-creasing cost. If every demand coming along wero.conceded it would not be long before the rates would have to bo put up again. The vote was passed unaltered. On the Industries. Commerce, Tourist, and Health Resorts Departments, £71,289, several members complained that tlie Government and tlie Dominion were not getting anything like value from the Trade Commissioner -ait a salary of £450. The wliole Department was antiquated and useless. Tlie money spent on it was wasted.

The Prime Minister justified the appointment-, and argued that the trade representative had done valuable work. 'i Air. AY. F. Massey said that the .Department, not Air. Gow, was at fault. It was absurd to. send a trade commissioner to the East when wo bad no direct communication.