PARLIAMENT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 608, 11 December 1909, Page 3

PARLIAMENT.

THE LAND Blljy.

During tbe course of the discussion in the Council on Thursday night on the Land Settlement Finance Bill, the Hon J. Mc'Gowan prefaced his remarks by stating that he would reserve his comments on the land tenure, because the Land Bill might come down later on,

A member : I hope it won't, Dr. Findlay : But it will.

The opinions of members appear to be divided as to the chances of the Land Bill being brought up for a second reading discussion before the end of the session. Some ot the members say that there is a likelihood of such a debate taking place before the Bill is shelved, but two or three prominent leaseholders, on being sounded on the subject, state that they do not anticipate that the Bill will get any farther than it has already gone. They state that if the second reading of it is moved the majority of the leaseholders will speak on the subject. Many of the freeholders in. such case would necessarily be drawn into the debate, and if the Bill were pushed to a second reading it would probably take up nearly half the remaining time of the session.

THE DREADNOUGHT OFFER. CABINET SECRETS.

A persistent attempt was made by Mr T. E. Taylor (Christchurch North) on Thursday to extort from Mr Hogg a full confession of the circumstances in which Cabinet was induced to agree to the Dreadnought offer. Mr Hogg bad stated, in reply to Mr James Allen, that he agreed to it because it. was represented that a very grave emergency had arisen, and if the same representations were made he would do the same again. . Mr Taylor said it would be very interesting if Mr Hogg would tell the House what the evidence was that was brought before the Cabinet to justify their vote on the occasion. Was there any document, a cablegram from Mr Asquith or any member of the British Ministry, which suggested a grave national crisis ? v Or was there simply a general conversation, initiated by the Prime Minister. He did not suppose that the Prime Minister had any-objection to Mr Hogg taking the House into his confidence to that extent.

Sir Joseph Ward with the Bill.

Iyet's go on

Mr Taylor : Yes, I daresay. Sir Joseph Ward: He can't tell you what takes place in Cabinet.

Mr Taylor: I don't see why the Star Chamber should be able to cover up all its tracks by saying that its secrets are inviolable. He wanted Mr Hogg to say what evidence was brought forward by the Prime Minister. Did the King cable out to say the Empire was in trouble? Were all the members of the Cabinet very excited ? The Prime Minister: What reply did you get from Mr Asquith ? Mr Taylor said he had never regretted sending his telegram to Mr Asquith. If the Prime Minister had gone to Christchurch after he sent the telegram he would have tound what was the real opinion of the country on the Dreadnought question. Christchurch was the only city where public opinion had expressed itself. Seven out ot nine people in Christchurch, at least, had been entirely opposed to the violent action taken. The member for Mastertou would earn the gratitude of the whole country by saying what took place in the Cabinet. If he did not speak, he might die and take the secret with him. "Let him tell us now," urged Mr Taylor dramatically, "before he dies."

The Acting-Chairman (Sir William Steward) at this stage hastily put the question "that this clause be agreed to."