THE ADDRESS-IN-REPLY.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 441, 21 February 1912, Page 5

THE ADDRESS-IN-REPLY.

Mr Reed, in moving the Address-in-Reply,. said the most important thing in the Governor's speech was contained in the first paragraph. The present was the first, occasion for many years' that a no-confidence motion had been move on the. Address-in-Reply. lie would like to know why? whether some members of the House had been sent to vote against the policy of the party or against the Administration. lie contended the Opposition party were not in the ascendancy in the House, or they would have challenged the Government's nomination of Speaker. The motion which Mr Massey had given notice to move in connection with the Address was a direct attack on the advisors of the Governor: not on the party. He wanted it thoroughly understood that if Mr Massey's motion was carried it meant the exit of the Liberal party. There was nothing in (.he Governor's speech that was not in conformity with the policy of the Liberal party, andi n conformity with the past work of the party. lie praised the proposals to increase the benefits of old age pensions scheme. He pointed out the present Government had introduced many beneficial humanitarian measures and had extended the greatest assistance to small farmers. The Liberal party must be judged by work, not by profession. He desired to point out to Independent members, who at the present time controlled the situation, that the carrying of Mr Massey's amendment meant the putting out of a Government which had helped the people. He moved the Address. Mr J. C Thompson, Wallace, seconded the motion. He suggested establishing a fund for aged legislators who had spent their lives in help ing the people, and maintained that the progressive Liberal party had not been defeated at the last polls. Liberal votes man for man were greater than those recorded for the Opposition side. He svas convinced the political warfare in the Dominion wa=i degenerating. Some of the things which took" place during the second ballots were disgraceful. (Hear, hear). The Governor's speech contained reforms which would come to pass in course of time. There could be no moreliberal or democratic policy than was contained in the speech. He challenged Mr Massey to show how he was going to bring about limitation of areas. The Liberals could do it but not Mr Massey. He approved the extension of the eld age pensions scheme. If the iron industry were nationalised sufficient material could be provided to pay off the national debt.

The Speech was interrupted by the 5.30 p.m. adjournment. The House resumed at T.oO p.m.

Mr Massey said the putting into the mouth of the Governor of such a Speech was a serious indignity to him, and to members, and to the people of the country It was an attempt to bribe the people with the expenditure of their own money. With regard to the administration of native lands it had been suggested that the Opposition would allow trafficking therein. He would say that they wanted to see the natives get a good price for their lands, and not sell to the speculator. During the past IS years he had dona his best to obtain cottage farms for gum diggers, but had met with no success. With regard to nationalising the iron industry, he pointed cut that the Government had last year propounded a proposal to hand over the whole lot to speculators. He averred that attempts had been made to show that the Government had not forfeited the confidence of the House. The present state of it showed that they had, if ever a party had the tip to go out. the present one had. The party was like a ship without a rudder or compass. When an Administration allowed the interests of the party to clash with the interests of the State, it was time to make a change. In connection with finance the Government seemed to have got an idea that they were paramount to Parliament. The present Administration had forgotten the fundamental principles of democracy. The probable solution of the present situation was another appeal to the country. lie did not want to force it, but he was quite willing to face a general election. With regard to the surplus explained by the Premier, he held it was bad finance to extract more from the pockets of the people than was necessary for carrying on the affairs of the country. Whatever Government hold the treasury benches in the future he predicted would be faced by the rent problem. Sir Joseph Ward said' he had heard more innuendo and misrepresentation prior to and during the election than ever before. He had been dogged from town to town. The production of figures from departmental officers showed he had never stuffed the public service. He believed he would win the. division and would be content to relinquish his present position and give his best energies in the rank and file of the party. He had left the country in a better financial condition than it. had ever been in before. He denied ever receiving anything from the floating of loans. He held no interests in any commercial concern outside his own business, and two or three newspapers. He would be a much more difficult man to deal with as a private member than as a man I who was obliged to curb his tongue.

MR. JVIASSEYS OPTION. ANOTHER ELECTION PREDICTED. SIR JOSEPH WARD OPTIMISTIC. CONTENT TO RELINQUISH POSITION.

Mr Allen deprecated putting into the mouth of the Governor the speech delivered by him on Friday. It was an insult to the Governor, tho members; and the country. Dealing with finances Mr Allen complained if was very unfair that the Minister U)v Finance had only provided for the country's finances till March 31st. There was only .-fir.;),ooo in the Public. Works .fund. It was manifest the next Government would be handicapped in carrying on works unless a fresh loan was raised. Mr Payne moved the adjournment of thi House at 11.. r >:") pm. CARRIED IN COUNCfI. The Council met at 2.30 p.m. The Hon. Cailan in moving the Ad-dress-in-Reply said the Speech vindicated the Government's claim to be called a Liberal Government. He agreed with most, of the proposals, but. the details were open to censure in some cases. He condemned strikes as barbarous and hoped the utterances of Labour leaders in Australia, would be taken to heart. He was not opposed to the constitution of the Council ,and if the Council was elected it would survive. He gave qualified approval to the. Local Government, scheme.

The Hon. Barr seconded tin? Ad-dress-in-Keply. He agreed with tho necessity for the alteration in the constitution of the Council. Referring to the land system, he pointed to the necessity of putting an end to all gambling in land and the adoption of a scheme to secure to the community a reasonabl r_art of the increment, of land values. He would support, a proposal removing from Parliament such matters as roads and bridges. On labour matters ho upheld the Arbitration Act and spoke in condemnation of stirkes, sectional or general, lie said a huge, majority favoured aribtrafion as against strikes. The Hon. Paul believed many of the proposals contained in the speech would be carried out in their time to the benefit of the country. lie contended that Parliamentary reform was essential in both Houses, but believed the GovermenCs proposals regarding the Council to be reactionary. The Hon. J. McGowan spoke briefly, advocating life appointments for members of the. Council. The motion \vas carried and the Cuuneil rose. The House, met at 2.30 p.m. The Sunday Labour Bill, Legislature Amendment Bill, Proportional Representation Hill—-Mr Fisher were read a first time. The Legislature Amendment Bill and Local Government Bill- -Sir .Joseph Ward were brought down by Governor's mesagc and read a first, time. Sir Joseph Ward gave a general outline of the provisions of the Local Government Bill which contains over four hundred clauses.