PARLIAMENT.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 37, 28 September 1911, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

BOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. (Per Press Association.) Wellington, September 27. The House met at 2.30. The Prime Minister, replying to questions, said it is hoped to bo able to announce the decision of the Go\cm merit respecting the question of increased pay for tiro rank and file of tho police force before the end of the cession. That it is not proposed to introduce this session a Betterment Bill dealing with- increased unimproved land values, but the question of what is the best course to adopt to obtain lurt-hor land for people is receiving earnest consideration. That it may bo necessary to review from time to time tho rentals charged for railway houses occupied by employees. That railway employees receive pay for Dominion Day holiday. That provision is being made on tho Supplementary Estimates for increasing the pay of mental hospital attendants. DEATH OF CLERK OF HOUSE. Ti e Speaker announced the doatli of Major Campbell, who was clerk of tho House for 35 years. On the motion of the Premier, a motion of regret was recorded in tho journals of the House. CIVIL SERVANTS AND SUPERANNUATION. The Premier, replying to Mr Allen as to the right of civil servants who had served in provincial governments to include such services for superannuation purposes, said the proposal involved an important question, involving the stability of the whole superannuation fund. Ho promised careful investigation of the matter. The remainder of the afternoon sitting was occupied in discussing answers to questions. EVENING SITTING. The House resumed at 7.30. Tho House went into committee on tho Administration Amendment Bill. Objection was taken to a new clause moved by the Minister which provides that three months be allowed to take legal proceedings to enforce the claim. Mr Allen moved that the period for the proceedings be six months. Ho point'd out that absentees in England or America could not possibly move within three months. On division the amendment was negatived by 35 to 24, and tho Bill reported with the amendment. • The Honso considered the report on the Hauraki Plains Amendment Bill. Mr Fisher moved that the Bill bo re-committed for the purpose of reconsidering tho clauses authorising the Minister to levy taxation without tiie people concerned being consulted. The amendment was lost by 44 to 18. Sir Joseph Ward, speaking on tho

motion for the third reading of the Hill, said that the area of land settled during the past ten years was 4,844,865 acres and the selectors numbered 16,715, which meant that 66,000 people had been put on the land within the decade. The Government had lent millions of money,to those men to go on the land. If they had doubled tho amount lent, as suggested by the Opposition, - there would have been a fiiiareial crisis.

After midnight, Mr Allen, continuing, said tho statement of the Premier concerning the settlers put on the land was misleading. He wanted to know if the figures quoted included pastoral leaseholders. The Government had no land policy and very little other policy. The Bill wase finally epassed on the voices', and the House rose at 1.35 a.m.