PARLIAMENT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 405, 2 July 1908, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

Wellington, Wednesday, The Minister for Labour gave notice to introduce the Arbitration Act Amendment Bill, after the usual formal business. Mr Arnold moved for a return showing the railway passenger traffic between Invercargill and Bluff for the two years ended June, 1908, giving each year separately, The return was, he said, of interest to the colony, as showing the traffic from a prohibition district to a non-prohibition dis- 1 trict.

The Prime Minister supported the motion, which was agreed to.

Mr Sidey moved that a committee be appointed to consider the present nomenclature of places and towns and their geographical -, characteristics in the Dominion, y with a view to suggesting alterations or improvements. The Prime Minister pointed out that residents in the districts in which changes were proposed were very sensitive ol alteratiou, and if the committee was only to make suggestions, he did not obiect, but could not agree to its throwing the responsibility on the House to take definite action.

The motion was carried. Mr J, Allen resumed the debate on the Address-in-Reply, and charged Ministers with only louring the colony on the eve of a general election and making profuse promises respecting railways, roads, telegraphs, etc. He com, plained that huge sums of moneyvoted by the House year after year for roads and bridges and other works, was unexpended. Had the votes been expended there would have been no necessity for the Premier’s promise to spend a million pounds for roads in the next five years. While this money was unexpended they found that the Tourists Department had expended over the amount voted, and he failed to see that the Department was doing as much for the country as would roads and bridges. Mr Wilford dealt chiefly with defence matters, and thought the Defence Council should make provision for the quick mobilisation of corps along the lines of cation.

He was opposed to an increased naval subsidy, believing that the money could be better utilised in perfecting our own defences. He was also opposed to the proposed vote for the entertainment of the American fleet declaring that there was no love lost between the United States and Great Britain. H^

would strenuously oppose Partial ment adjourning or voting money for the ceremony.

Mr Poole, referring to the prosperity of the country, said they must be cautious against basing / their calculations upon boonr prices. He regretted Mr attitude towards the American fleet, and said that if the warships were visiting Wellington, Mr Wili'ord, as Chairm: n of the Harbour Beard, would be taking a prominent part in welcoming the officers and crews. He advocated the absolute majority on the liquor question, and said he would be sorry to see the Arbitration Act amended.

Mr fill referred at length to banking matters, contra verting the argument that the State cannot afford to have anything to do with banking. Mr Jennings referred to the necessity for reading the backblocks and advocated closer settlement.

Mr Reid (Taieri), contended that the chief danger of a State Bank was that political pressure might be brought to bear on it. Mr Davey complained that a quantity of parts required for the rolling stock of the Main Trunk line had been imported, despite the repeated promises of the Government that any work which could be manufactured in the colony would be. ”>•

At 11.45 Dr Chappie rose to reply, thanking members for their indulgence to him in his Parliabaptism, which made it more pleasant than it might ha\« been.

The House adjourned at 11.50 p.m.

Tuesday’s sitting appears on our fourth page.