PARLIAMENT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 495, 16 October 1909, Page 3

PARLIAMENT.

MR NEWMAN CRITICISES THE NATIVE MINISTER.

“Which is the party of progress?” asked Mr Newman (Manaawatu) in the House on Wednesday. “Can it be possible,” he added, “to associate with progress a party of which the Native Minister is a leader? It is stated in the Speech from the Throne that there are seventy statutes that have to be consolidated, which are complex, profuse, and inconsistent. And who is responsible for that? Most undoubtedly the Native Minister, who has been in charge of that Department for the last eighteen years.” Mr Newman added that he believed the Native Minister had been actuated by the best motives in protecting what he believed to be the interests of the natives.

The Hon. J. Carroll: You have referred to legislation of the last forty years. Mr Newman repeated that Mr Carroll had been more responsible than any other man •in this Dominion for retarding the settlement of the Native Land question. It was beyond his understanding how any North Island member could support a Government in which Mr Carroll had charge of Native affairs. Without reflecting at all upon the Native Minister, he considered that the control of Maori affairs should be taken out of the hands of any Maori gentleman and put Into the hands of a business man.

The Hon. J. Carroll: “Make an exchange, and hand over the control of European affairs to Maoris,’’ Mr Newman said he would like to see the Hon. Mr Fowlds or the Hon. Mr M’Kenzie or any other man who had had a business training- given an opportunity to use business methods, and bring about an early settlement of the Native Land question. He believed that there would then be something like a resurrection from the dead on that question. Mr Newman stated that he was in favour of bringing Native lands under the Lauds for Settlement Act, and putting the Maoris on the same footing as Europeans.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

The debate on the Address-in-Reply was continued on Thursday by the Hon. A. T. Ngata, Messrs Malcolm and McDonald. The” Premier made an important announcement in his speech on the motion for the Address-iu-Reply. He said they intended to have the land question threshed out and settled before they went home. The country would not go on purchasing landed estates from landed proprietors at an enormously increased price put upon them as the result of the country’s own progress and the efforts, of thousands of its people. The Government would not go on paying for land at prices that would mean 30s or 40s rental to those poor people who had to go on to it. They were not going to allow themselves to be used under any pressure by any of those big landowners to give prices that meant ruination to those who went on the land. The Government would establish a system whereby men with small means, both in the country and near the towns, would be able to go on the land, Mr T. Taylor expressed his gratification that the Premier was this session going to have the land question threshed out in all its bearings. He was reminded of the historical character who was so affected by the eloquence of the Apostle Paul that he remarked “Almost thou persuades! me to be a Christian.” After the Premier’s statement, said Mr Taylor, he could not help thinking that if the Opposition only hammered hard enough on the land question there would be some chance of the Premier becoming a real land reformer. No more important statement .had been made in the Governor’s speech than that night by the Prime Minister that it was this session intended to have the land question threshed out in all its bearings. NOTES. The Opposition feels bound to air its eloquence. If it cannot bite, it can at least bark. Such barking, too—such gentle barking—was never heard before in the House of Representatives. The debate, so fat, bids fair to be a prolonged yawn.—Wairarapa Times.

There is no doubt (says an exchange) that if the Opposition at the present time had a speaker capable of rousing the enthusiasm of his hearers, he would be able to carry the country with him.

A verbal passage of arms between the Prime Minister and Mr James Allen on Wednesday night enabled the House to understand that a further loan Bill is to be introduced this session. Mr Allen effected to prophesy that the Government would come again to Parliament this year with a loan proposal. “You know I have already intimated that to your leader,” interjected the Prime Minister, and you are giving it away.” Mr Allen: “I knew it, because you are bound to.” Sir Joseph: “Be fair 1 ” Mr Allen’s retort was that he was not going to be tongue tied. Mr Hanan has presented the petitioq of I*. F. Watson and Ix 6 others for the establishment of a system of free immigration from ihs United Kingdom of Great Britain ami ’lreland for sing]

young women who are suitable for and willing to follow the calling of domestic service.

While Sir Joseph Ward was defending the cost of the banquet to the American Fleet (over Mr Massey interjected that he saw more extravagance at that banquet than he had ever seen in his life. Sir Joseph Ward: “You were there.” Mr Massey : “Yes, and I may say that sovereigns were simply thrown away in shovelfuls,” Sir J. Ward : “Well, I hope you got some of them.” Mr Massey: “No, but your friends got them.” Sir J. Ward ; “No, I won’t allow that to be said.” Mr Massey : “ They did nevertheless.” Sir J. Ward went on to warmly defend the expenditure in welcoming our American cousins.

In the House yesterday Mr Poole referred to Mr Buick as “the Hou. Ignoramus from Palmerston.” Mr Massey demanded a withdrawal of the phrase. The Speaker also interposed, and Mr Poole had to retract his characterisation of the member for Palmerston. Mr Buick, rising in his seat after Mr Poole withdrew the remark, said, “f’ll take it for what it is worth/’ “That’s very kind of yon,” replied Mr Poole.

Mr Poland has given notice to ask the Government whether they will take into serious consideration the advisability of importing and supplying sewing machines at cost price to the people of the Dominion. The average retail cost of these most necessary articles is, he says, fully three hundred per cent, higher than the cost price, and is a severe and unnecessary tax upon poor people, who are in consequence, in hundreds of cases, deprived of the advantage of these machines in their homes.

The Haluma estate, said Sir Joseph Ward cost the owners ios qd per acre, and the Government paid £5 8s for it, yet its value had been made by a trunk railway going through a portion of it and by the erection of post offices, public buildings, and other expenditure by the colony.