HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 50, 23 February 1912, Page 5

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

The House mot at 2.30 p.m. Government Buildings. In laying the return on the table, Sir J. G. Ward informed the House that the value of Government buildings burned during the past ten years was £57,637. This was exclusive of school buildings. Had those buildings been insured the premiums would have cost £90,000. It would be brought on, but could not be debated.

Liberal-Labour Fusion. Mr Sidey continued the debate on the no-confidence motion. He said the debate was destined to become one of the most important that had ever taken place in the New Zealand Parliament. The result of the election was a vote of want of confidence in the legislation of the Dominion. That had been admitted throughout the debate. He went on to urge the advisableness of a union between the Liberal and Labour parties. As to the present position, he said ho know very well that opposition to the party was directed personally against Sir J. G. Ward, and an impression had been created that ho had been reaping pecuniary benefit from the raising of loans. A Government Supporter. Mr McDonald carried on the debate till 5.30. He spoke in praise of tho policy outlined in the Speech, and said if any Government carried out that policy it would have done well for the people of New Zealand. The Liberal Party intended to be loyal, to its chief, and not give away the reins of power until it had been decided that ho was not supported by a majority of members. The Opposition urged the necessity of settling native lands, but to his mind they. appeared to be anxious to settle tho natives. The Opposition raised a continual cry that the Government had not settled tho land. It was a red herring drawn across the track to save their friends, who held thousands of acres. The Government had always pursued a progressive land policy. They had refrained from putting settlers; on poor country which, would mot gjive an adequate return for a man's labours and which, therefoj-o, ■; would not make it possible to pursue road and bridge construction. Tho House rose at 5.30. Tho House resumed at,7.30 p.m.

Mr Payne’s Position. Mr Payne said the policy as out-, lined in the Governor’s Speech was in sympathy with his idea of the Labour policy. So far the Opposition' had given him no opportunity to learn I what they would do. As far as the Governor’s Speech was concerned, he had heard a great deal about it being an insult to the Governor, members and people, but he could not see where the insult came in. He had given his pledge to the Leader of the Opposition to vote for his side last Friday week, but he could not now see any justification for keeping it. If he deemed it expedient to break a pledge he would not scruple about doing it. He would rather break his pledge than commit the labour interest to mul’der. He, while in the North, had been led to believe that there were certain irregularities going on in the conduct of the country’s affairs. Since he had been in the House the only things he had been able to hear were innuendoes. Last week a meeting of his constituents had been called to ask him to resign in consquence of rumours circulated in Auckland that he intended to vote for Sir Joseph Ward. The meeting had finished by requesting him to vote against the Reform Party. Innuendoes had been in circulation that! he had been bought by the Ward Government for a thousand pounds. It: had been told him by the Leader of the Opposition himself. Mr Massey: “Tell 'what you told me in my room.” Mr Payne, continuing, said he would deal with that matter later. Any attempt to influence him by specious arguments would bo futile. He considered he was conserving the interests of the people by supporting ; the Liberals. He had heard Sir Joseph Ward repudiate the slanders issued during the elections, but he had not heard thorn discussed by the Opposition. He had hoard of recklessness in finance of the present administration, but he had not heard or seep anything to warrant him believing it. He believed there was a new party in the making, combining Liberal and Labour interests, and he had to consider what was the best bargain for the Labour Party. Referring to the charges of reckless borrowing and squandering, ho characterised them as inventions, and cited from an English authority to show that what had been done in New Zealand was what was being done in England by municipalities. In New Zealand as in England they wore expending money on works of utility and profit. He had come to Parliament with an open mind, and had listened to both sides. Ho had, he declared, never listened to such “dish-water” arguments as had been uttered against the Government. To sum the position up, bo had not heard anything to pass on to his constituents in Grey Lynn as sufficient to vote out the Liberal Government on a no-confidence motion. He looked forward to a combination of Liberal, Radical and Labour members to work together for the general good.

. Mr Payna Attacked. Mr Harris (Waitemata) said ho was the representative, he believed, of ten thousand of the most intelligent electors in New Zealand. His electors had sent him down on a definite mission, and he intended to fulfil that mission. It was to oust the Ward Government. He was ashamed to know that any man was prepared to stand up and say he would break his election pledges. Mr Payne called himself a Labour representative. Ho himself represented as much Labour interest as Mr Payne, and what had tho Government done for them? All they had to thank the Government for was a lot of empty promises not carried out. Healing with railway matters, Mr Harris said New Zealand railways were tho most disgraceful in the world, and it was time some administration other than tho present one undertook the management of them. The policy pursued by the Government in connection with native lands called for severest condemnation. In connection with the Dreadnought, he submitted the Government had lost the confidence of tho country in allowing that offer to be made without consxdting the House or the people. The offer, as it was made, was distinctly autocratic. Even the Czar of I Russia would not have done what Sir! Joseph Ward had. No doubt Sir Joseph j Ward’s idea was sincere, but he had gone the wrong way about it. He would not detain the House any further. He only rose to tell Mr Payne what he thought of him in sinking his principles in the way he had.

A Personal Explanation. Mr Payne, in a personal explanation, said his election pledges contained no pledge that he should vote against the Ward administration. They were typed out, and were in the hands of his committee. Labour In Charge. Mr Hindmarsh thanked Mr Massey for being the medium for the return of so many Opposition members, as that circumstance placed the Labour Party in the happy position of controlling the House. His sympathies wero in the main with the Liberals, but he would never support any party which had Mr Millar in its Cabinet. Mr Millar’s attitude in opposing rating on unimproved value had alienated from him the sympathy of all true democrats. He criticised the policy of the Government, and declared he was in favour of the extension of the functions of the State. Ht criticised the methods of the Land Department, and contended that departmental files should be available to every member of Parliament, in order to enable him to see the; character of the transactions. Members, he said, must have absolute straightforwardness on the part of the administration and the fullest information on every transaction. Ths Opposition Criticised. Mr Brown (Napier i entered into a general criticism of the Opposition. The Opposition had declared the Government had done nothing, but if nothing else was done than the passing of the Widows’ Pensions Act last session good work had been done. The Opposition was productive of nothing but talk. He proceeded to indicate Literal measures which the Opposition had opposed, and defended the Government’s finance. The Opposition were finding fault with everything. He cited from the Governor’s Speech various proposals, and asked at each clause, “Is there anything wrong with that?” Mr Dickie moved an amendment, and the House rose at 11.50 p.m.