PARLIAMENT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 508, 18 November 1909, Page 3

PARLIAMENT.

Upon the conclusion of the Government caucus on Tuesday morning an official statement was made to the press as follows : There was an attendance of 44 memberrs of the party, and only two members - unaccounted for. The caucus was called by the Prime Minister for the purpose of discussing- the position of business in view of the limited time available between now and Christmas. Members were recommended to agree to re-assembling about a month after the adjournment to continue the wcrk of the present session in the event of the important policy Bills that were contained in the Budget not being finished by December 22. The Prime Minister stated that the policy Bills included in the Statement which it was intended to pass were the whole of the Finance Bills, viz.:—• State Guaranteed Loans Advances Bill. Land Finance Settlement Bill, Death Duties Bill. Graduated Income Tax Bill. Banking Taxation Bill (including notes). Racing Club’s Taxation Bill. Lands Settlements Bill (which includes the amount of money to be raised for the purpose of acquiring Maori lands in the north). Customs Primage Bill. Other Bills which it was intended to pass were as under Defence Bill. Land Bill. Native BiU ; Licensing Bill. King Country Licensing Bill. , Superannuation Bill.

Railway Betterment Bill. Hospitals and Charitable Aid Bill. . Annuities Bill. This was agreed to. In reply to an inquiry it was officially stated that in the event of Parliament being required to re-assemble early next year it would probably not re-assemble before February i.' FINANCIAL DEBATE. The debate on the Finauical Statement was continued in the House of Representatives yesterday, and concluded at midnight. Early in the afternoon, Mr T. E. Taylor’s amendment was unexpectedly ruled out of order on the ground that it was similar to a motion of which he bad given notice. Mr G. W. Russell then moved an amendment in favour of referring the land proposals to a referendum, which was defeated by 50 votes to 17. Mr Fisher contrasted former opinions of Messrs Fowlds, Millar, and Laurenson with the present laud proposals. The debate was continued in the evening by Mr Herdman, Mr Herries, and other speakers, and Sir Joseph Ward rose to reply at n p.m. The Prime Minister, in the course of his speech, defended the Government’s land proposals, on the ground that a majority of his party had always been freeholders and had naturally exercised influence upon the Government. Sir Joseph Ward also made an interesting statement in reference to the primage duty and his estimate of a surplus for next year. The House rose just after midnight.