PARLIAMENT.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXII, Issue 8854, 3 July 1907, Page 3

PARLIAMENT.

House of Representatives. Press Association. Wellinoton, July 2. The House mot at 7.30. The Premier moved that Mr Hall-Jones ho granted six months leave of absence. Mr Massey seconded tho motion which was agreed to. In moving the Address-in-Reply, Mr Davey, after referring to the deaths of members aud expressing thanks for tho Premier’s good work at tho London conferences, agreed with Sir Joseph Ward in tiie matter of the Naval Subsidy of £40,000, which was little enough to pay, and should be increased. He would like the Premier to state whether he had made any arrangements with England to induce immigration, also as to whether ho knew who issued the pamphlets said to have misled persons entering tiio colony. Referring to tho Chinese question, ho said it was an everlasting disgrace to the people of New Zealand .that they dealt with tho Chinese at all. It was incumbent to pass a law forbidding Chinese to enter the colony. Referring to the Conciliation Act, he described it ns a farce, aud from what ho learned|of Mr McNab’s proposal in the Governor’s Speech for an lunstrial Council, he thought it the best possible means to settle differences between employer and worker. Touching the Kauri timber trade, lie hoped tbo Minister would inquire why it could bo purchased cheaper in Melbourne than in Christchurch. Ho could not s:vy ho was much impressed by tho proposal to change tho name of the colony to Dominion, though it could not do harm, but he should prefer some other _ distinct name. Ho considered it would ho beneficial to follow Canada, terming tho Upper House members Senators aud tho Lower House M.P.’s, ' The latter two words wore understood throughout tho world, whereas an M.H.H. was probably not understood outside New Zealand.

Mr Poland, in seconding the motion, congratulated the colony cm the change in title, which \yas more in keeping with New Zeaalnd’.s status and prospects. New Zealand would in future be the loading country in the Southern Pacific, Referring to the mining industry, he considered, as a sound industry, it should receive assistance in its development, and particularly Jin regard to prospecting works. Referring to the Land Bill, he said it hit the Opposition squatocracy in a vital place, and it was “evident the days of tho squatter and tho old nobility were coming to an end. He strongly advocated setting apart a portion of tho Crown lauds as an endowment for education purposes. Endowments wore advocated by Sir Robert Stout, Sir George Grey, Mr Rolleston, Sir Julius add Mr Seddon, and ho supported the same, also tho graduated laud tax. Referring to te Workers’ Homes Act, ho hoped the Minister for Labour would propose an amendment to enable men earning six or seven shillings a day to take advantage of the Act, as one day’s'pay was quite enough for’a working man to pay as rent. Dealing with the workers on the Main Trunk Railway, he contended that they were paid a miserable pittance, aud should bo paid a minimum of 10s a day._ Oh the motion of Mr Kidd the House adjourned at 10.17.