PARLIAMENT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 3769, 11 July 1907, Page 3

PARLIAMENT.

TUESDAY. The Waipukurau County Bill (Mr Hall) and the Waitara Harbour District and Empowering Bill (Mr Jennings) were read a first t ime. Mr E. G. Allen continued the debate on the Address-in-Reply. Mr P. Mackenzie moved the “ previous question,” with a view to ending the debate, and so that the House could get on with the business of the countn - . The colony was sick and tired of this debate, and he considered that the forms of the House should be employed in order that they could discontinue what was absolutely a profitless debate. There was the land question and the Financial Statement (almost ready for delivery) awaiting the attention of members, and they should get on with the important business of the country.

Mr Mckachlan, seconded the motion, regarding the debate as a useless waste of time. Sir Joseph Ward said it would be exceedingly inconvenient for the House to resume his debate on another occasion. He suggested the lion, member for Waikouaiti should withdraw his motion. Mr Mackenzie: It must be apparent that at the present rate we may go on till doomsday. I believe we should get on with the business of the country. Sir Joseph Ward : Under the constitution every member speaking on the Address-in-Reply is well within his rights. I agree with others that an improvement could be made, and we ought if possible to avoid a repitition of these speeches. Mr Massey : It would be very unfair to those members who have got their speeches ready to be blocked now. Mr Mackenzie: Having launched my motion, with which the two leaders of the House agree, I desire to withdraw it. Mr Alison accordingly resumed the debate on the Address, and he was followed by Messrs Tanner, ]. C. Thomson, Mander, Stevens, and J. Bollard. Mr Davey having replied, the motion for the presentation of the Address was agreed to.

Mr Stevens eulogised Sir Joseph Ward’s work in England. He advocated the Governments of New Zealand, Australia, and India placing sums on the estimates for the purpose of subsidising ihe owners of the Suez Canal and reducing the dues, thus benefiting these countries. Dealing with the navy, he considered New Zealand should increase the subsidy. He favoured the All-Red Route for mail service, with a weekly connection via Sydney and Suez, but contended that an effort should be made also to restablish the ’Frisco route. Dealing with the Government land proposals, he said the proposal to give endowments, subject to 66 years’ renewable lease, would present great difficulty, as the Crown lands now open required to be carefully classified, and would not be suitable for such a purpose. They must provide good land to put the people upon, and see every settler able to get a living from the section he took up. In any legislation introduced, he hoped provision would be made for giving every tenant the right to acquire the freehold. He hoped in dealing with native lands to give Maoris every opportunity of settling on the land and making homes.