PARLIAMENT.

King Country Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 400, 30 September 1911, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

j LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. i j [KY TKLKGR.U'H. — I'RKSS ASSOCIATION 1 1 Wellintgon, Yesterday. The Council met at; 2.30 p.m. The Friendly Societies Amendmeii I Bill was read a third time anil passed j The debate on the Hon. .1. D. Or mond's motion, approving of the ian j proposals of the Government, was re j sunied by the Hon. McCardle, wh ! referred to early ell'orts on the part c j himself, Mr R. Brown and others, t j secure land in the Forty-mile Bush j the formation of an association wit; | 500 members, and the refusal to writ' i the Lands Board for a grant of gnu; i land to small settlers. This causei : the riisbandinent of the association Subsequently the Deferred Paymcn Act of IS7S and 1879 made pruvisiot for such settlements and he urged tha | the Government should now adopt souk such provision as therein contained He desired the Government to financially assist smaller men in such matters as the erection of buildings, etc., on holdings. The Hon. McGowan held that wc were going on wrong line'. The Government ought not to part with any lands, but should resume every act' 1 obtainable. The Hon. Sinclair approved of the proposals, of the Government, as they would ensure the success of settlement. The Hon. Paul thought the land policy might have been more vigorously prosecuted. Referring to speculation, if he had his way he would make it a criminal offence to speculate in land. He was disappointed with the proposals on the Budget regarding an increased and graduated land tax, but approved of the Hon. Anstey's suggestions on the subject, as being on a scientific basis. Only by n scien-

tific and graduated tax would a satisfactory sub-division be ensured. The Hon. Wigram pleaded for better consideration to men who really desired to become bona-fide settlers. He condemned the ballot system. The Hon. George pressed the necessity of settling native lands in the North Isalnd. He generally approved of the graduated tax, but contended that it was unjust to put a graduated tax on land which nobody wanted. He congratulated the Government on the settlement scheme proposed. Sir John Findiay said the Gvernment appreciated the approval of so old a

settler as the Hon. Ormond. He said the scheme, as applied to the North Island, would have a most far-reach-ing and beneficial effect. The purpose of the Government was to get men with no means at all placed upon land, so that they could fou id homes for themselves. Settlement with this end, should go on contemporaneously with public work.

The Hon. Ormond, having briefly replied the motion was carried and the Council rose. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House met at 2.30 p.m. The House went into committee on tin Estimates, Class VII., Justice Department, £370,830, being taken.

Mr Rhodes asked that further consideration should he given to a recommendation from members for the appointment of Justices of the Peace. Mr Fisher said the Attorney-General had stated in Ashburton that members were always consulted when appointments were being made. This, he knew, was not so.

Mr Buchanan said he had never been consulted in this way, and he could not say lie favoured the course. The Hon J. Millar said a number of persons proposed for appointment had not been appointed, because they did not express their willingness to accept appointment. Some members recommended over twenty people for appointment. In one electorate at present, there were over 2000 J.P.'s on the roll, and at the present rate of addition it would not be long before half the male population was on the. roll of Justices. The Crown Law Office was doing its work we 1. The department may, in the future, be extended to other centres. In the meantime the Government would adhere to the present system, which, if successful, would be extended to other centres.

In reply to Mr Massey Mr Millar stated that he understood the Webster claims had been settled. The House adjourned at ,".80 p.m. EVENING SITTING. The House resumed discussion on the Justice Department Estimate*. Mr Clark asked the Minister to see that magistrates treated old men applying for pensions with consideration. He instanced a case coming under his own notice of a man of years being treated shamefully by a magistrate. Mr Laurenson and others urged that old age pensioners be treated with due consideration. The Minister said he would enquire into the matter referred to by Mr Clark if he furnished particulars. At the Prisons vote Mr Arnold referred to a case in which an Auckland gaol warder was dismissed after an enquiry, and asked if the papers relating to the investigations would be laid on the table. Mr Massey supported the application, and deprecated these secret enquiries.

Mr Millar promised to lay the re port on the table.

The Police vole brought requests from members for an increase of pay to members of the force, and a tribunal for the po ! ico. Mr Arnold, while paying a high tribute to the Under-Secretary of Justice for his able administration of ths police, urged the importance of securing a competent man to advise the Under-Secretary on practical matters.

Mr Millar said it would be necessary, sooner or later, to import a man to take charge of the police, but meanwhile Mr Waldegrave was doing very well.

i The Justice vote was pasped unal- | tered. ! The Minna Department vote of" ; .-iZ27,1 y(J was next considorod. ! After midnight the Miner, vote was | passed. ! The void for the Department of InI ternrd AiT.ain-", .fT:.'., M IS, was next I proceeded with. Mr Allen asked '.vlicn the report, of the Puhlie Service ('htssilieut ion : Hoard wow Id be hi id on (he tabic 'The Hon. I'. i.Uiddo raid it was not ready yef. Mr Mersey want<d to know whether : steps were to he iaktsi iw institute a i system of registration among Maoris. i —Mr Field said he had urged' (he mat- ' ier for years. Native children ivcro ;d\ ing off, and no ; u-ps- werc i taken to trace (he causes, or i to combat the infantile diseases which the iirnerae.ee of Maori I mothers was permit t ing (o become ! more prolific, in results.' The Minis- [ fer admitted the system was ineomI plete. It was a dilln'uU matter, hut with the help of the Native Councils 1 he hoped to brine; about a system 1 that, would meet the difdeuity. I Alter 2 a.m. Mr Ueniman moved to reduce the amount of the electoral item by .'.V' as an indication (hat; the present, method of compiling the elec- I toral rolls was entirely unsat isfacfory. | The motion was lost on the voices. Mesrss Malcolm and Jennings complained of (he difference between the electoral census methods in country and town, districts. lion. Jl. Ruddo said there was no house to house canvas in remote districts, hut the work was dent- by postmaster? and appeared to have been d.-ne satisfeatorily. Mr Ma.ssey moved to reduce the vote for the High Commissioners' office by ,i.'f> as an indication that, the annual report by the High Commissioner shuuid Lie laid on the table of the House. The motion was lost by :M to lb. j Progress was reported a! > a.m. and the House rose.