A Stonewall

Horowhenua Chronicle, 13 September 1913, Page 3

A Stonewall

In Pari anient.

THE EST 1M A TKS I) IS(J I' SSI']J)

[Pl'.K TREKS ASSOCIATION.]

Wellington, _ This Hay. After the Telegraph Office closed at 2 o'clock, the House of l(e----preseutatives continued to discuss the emigration policy of the Government. An attack was led by the Labour t'arty, who claimed there was no rOoni for imported labour, and no land for intending settlers. Mr Hindmnrsh said the country could support five million people in the near future: what was wanted was closer settlement and more intense cultivation. The

Government must bring down a land policy to attract people to the country, not drive them out. Sir Joseph Ward said he was not in favour of indiscriminate im-

migration. which must bring about a serious condition of affairs ir. the labour market of New Zealand. Ihey wanted a fresh supply of people every year, but il must be done with discretion. There could be no harm in bringing out people with small capital, but if an attempt were made to populate the country within a limited period there'would be great danger of glutting the labour market.

Mr Russell said the AlacKenxie Government had been endeavouring to arrange lor the introduction of suitable emigrants: to that extent he favoured immigration : but he Avas not in favour of an absolutely open door. The Minister for Immigration said he agreed with Sir .Joseph Ward that immigration must be carried out with discretion: be-' cause in !!)()!), when 900 people were retrenched from the Civil Service, » people were brought into the country. Sir Joseph Ward said the reply of the Alinister proved one thing that he (Sir Joseph Ward) had fought to convince the then Opposition: that retrenchment Jiad taken place in l!M)!). Had the Government desired to do so it could not have prevented anyone of the 4!!)'! immigrants coming to the dominion. The inference of the Alinister, therefore, was most unfair. Mr H indniarsh's motion lo reduce the vote was defeated by "J!) IoLM.

A lengthy discussion look place on the conduct of the Govern men! Printing Office, the debate resolving itself into a due! between the Hon. Air Fisher (Minister in Charge) and Air Russell, his predecessor. At 4 o'clock Sir Joseph Ward suggested an adjournment, but the Hon. Air Alassey refused to eoiisid r the proposal. A discussion followed on the advisability of adjourning, during which Air Anderson urged lho Premier not to give way. Sir Joseph Ward took this as a threat, and moved to report progress. A division was taken, and the motion lost by 2{) to IS. The Hon. Air Massoy then slated he might have been prepared to consider the proposal to adjourn but for the ruling which p'reA'ented a class once commenced being postponed.

"Mr Witty then began a discussion on mental hospitals, censuring the Government for no! bringing down the repor! of the Inspec-tor-General, who had expressed bitter disappointment that no provision was being made to provide adequate accommodation for the patients. The Inspector-General had .complained that the institutions were dreadfully overclouded and no steps wen 1 being taken to remedy this disgraceful condition. Mr McCallum rase at this stage to a point of order, by challenging the Premier's statement that progress could not be reported on an unfinished class. The House at once proceeded to discuss the point of order, until the Chairman of Committees ruled ' f That progress could be reported tinder such circumstances.'' Mr I'ussel resumed the debate, moving that the salary of the In-spector-General, -Elooo, be reduced by £1 as a protest against the failure of Parliament to properly see to Mental. Hospital requirements. At 5 a.m. a number (iT Opposition members who had been absent during the early part of the sittings arrived, and proceedings developed into an obvious stonewall, members being repeatedly checked by the Chairman for tedious repetition, the burden of the speeches being the over-crowded condition of the mental hospitals. At 7.10 Mr Ngata suggested t-hay might, take the Tourist Department and then adjourn, but the Government refused to entertain the suggestion. At 7.80 tlie question was. put and negatived on the voices. Mr Witty at once moved to reduce the salary of the .Medical Superintendent at Auckland by ,£2O, as an indication that the Mental Hospital at that city was over-crowded. At 7.-35 Mr Malcolm, wlT'b had been relieved at 5 a.m. by Mr Hine, resumed the chair. The Minister said nothing could be gained by pressing the motion, as he admitted that over-crowding existed, but was doing HTs TTost to meet the exigencies of the ease. Buildings already were authorisd,

and lie hoped soon to huve Hie necessary accommodation to iieet all requirements.

Mr Wilford at this stage oliered himself as a medium of mediation between the Government and the Opposition, to see whether some arrangement could not be arrived at to end the impasse, but the Premier refused to accept the olive bra noli as olfered .

Mr Isilt hoped tlie.ro would bo jio tullv of compromise until tlie reports wore brought down. Not one single class should go through until the necessary information was supplied. The House adjourned at 8 o'clock and resumed agaiu at 9 o'clock.

The House resumed at 9 , ( .m. .Much discussion centred around the administration of mental hospitals. Eventually the .Minister said he had just received a proofcopy of the report.

Sir Joseph Ward said the Liberal Party had been accused of doing nothing to assist the mentally afflicted, but the Liberals had established the most efficient Health Department in the world. He appealed to the Premier to put through (he minor class and adjourn. The Hon. 31 r Alassey said that that course was impossible: the whole class must be put through that day.