PARLIAMENT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 497, 21 October 1909, Page 3

PARLIAMENT.

Mr F. M. B. Fisher’s Absolute Majority Bill provides that each elector who votes must indicate upon the ballot-paper his or her preference for every candidate by placing the numeral x, 2,3, etc., before candidates’ names. In order to ascertain what candidate has been elected, the returning officer is required to mark in figures on each valid ballot-paper, against the name of each candidate, the number of points representing the value of preference indicated by the voter. The value of this preference is to be fixed by the number of candidates. Thus, if there were three candidates, the figure “1” on .each ballot-paper would represent 3 points, “2” 2 points, and ‘‘3” one point. If there were five candidates, the figure “1” would' represent five points. Similarly, the figure “5” would represent only one point. Any ballot paper on which the preference is not properly indicated will be invalid.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

The House met at 2.30 p.m. on Tuesday. The Address-in-Reply debate was continued by Mr Scott, who expressed satisfaction at the Government’s desire for the freehold as shown by the speeches of members. Mr Greenslade dealt with the recent prosecution of an Auckland company for execessive moisture in butter, and read lengthy correspondence on the subject which went to show that the whole incident was the result of a mistake and cast no reflection on the company.

• Mr McEaren, in dealing with the land problem, pleaded for security of tenure for workers in towns as well as for settlers on the land. The land question must be considered from the standpoint of interests of the State and posterity. We must avoid the conditions existing in the Old Country where the people had been driven to the towns. He advocated the decentralisation of population of the Parliament franchise to the election of local bodies. On the House resuming at 7.30 p.m. Mr Davey supported the election of local bodies on the basis of the political franchise. On the land question he considered that the Act of 1907 had not had a sufficient trial. The endowments under that Act were imperilled by the attitude, of the Opposition. The demand for the right to purchase the freehold at the original value was absolutely dishonest and criminal.

Mr Herdman, replying to Mr Davey, denied that the Opposition manufactured evidence to condemn the Government. There was no need to do that. It was said that the railways were paying 3.03 per cent when they were losing a year. He favoured railways under a Commissioner, He congratulated the Government on the determination to deal with the land question this session. The policy of the Government as announced by Sir Joseph Ward in America was to find out what people wanted and give it to them. It Was the duty of the Government to lead the House, and not be driven t 6 give people everything they wanted. The Government would never have a policy so long as borrowed money could be used for sweetening electors.

He condemned the Government’s financial methods, which were reckless and extravagant. The Premier pointed out that Mr Herdman had ignored in his criticism of finance the purchase of-the Manawatu railway, and the provision for advances to settlers of nearly two and a half millions, and consequently his statements were misleading.

Mr G. W. Russell defended the retrenchment scheme. In rebuttal of Mr Herdman’s statement .that loan companies had been driven out of the country, he said the business of such concerns had actually increased during the last four years by