PARLIAMENT.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVI, Issue 49, 3 July 1913, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 2. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Wellington, July 2. The Council met at 2.30 p.m. The Address-in-Reply was moved by Mr Duthie and seconded by Mr Earnshaw, and the debate was adjourned until 4.45 p.m. to-day. BANKING LEGISLATION. A Bill introduced by Mr Samuel, authorising the Commercial Bank of Australia, Ltd., to issue notes in eNw Zealand, was react a first time. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Mr Wilford gave notice to introduce the Gaming Amendment Bill. Mr Massey gave notice to introduce the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Bill. The following Bills were read a first time:—Saturday Half-holiday for Shops Bill (Mr Buddo), New Zealand Standard Time Bill (Mr Sidey), Gaming Amendment Bill (Mr Hunter), Westport Public Parks Bill (Mr Colvin), Lights on Vehicles Bill (Mr Buddo), Gisborne Harbor Enabling Bill (Mr McDonald), Gisborne Borough and Harbor Boards Lands Exchange and Empowering Bill (Mr McCallum). Wanganui Harbor District and Empowering Bill (Mr V-aitch), Land Transfer Amendment Bill Mr Herdman), Amendments Incorporation Bill (Mr Herdman), New Zealand Institute of Architects Bill (Mr Herdman).

THE STATE LENDING DEPARTMENT.

Mr Allen made the following statement in connection with the State Lending Department The £SOO limit in respect of advances to settlers came into force on March 1, 1912. The present Government came intc office on July 10, 1912. On May 20, 1913, a limit of £SOO was imposed. On March 1 this was raised to £6OO. owing to the bettor position of the finances. The Advances Board Inn now decided to further extend the limit of advance to settlers loans from £6OO to £750. The question as to-whe-ther loans should he granted for the renewal of mortgages coming due bar. been carefully considered, and it is not deemed advisable by the Board to provide for these-at the present moment, ft is hoped, however, that the increase from £6OO to £750 will make it casiei for those who have loans coming dm to renew them from the outside. Tin limit of £SOO ’for ‘loans to local 'au-

thorities was ■ made -on January, ■ls 1912, and of £IOOO. under section i of the Act. ,of. 1912 .on May 17 last The Advances Bo.anjl has now decider tb grant loans not exceeding £i?00( to local bodies in outlying districts The Board is now also prepared t<

consider all applications for loans ii outlying districts which come withii the purposes of the Advances Act 1912, which do not exceed £2OOO ii amount. That is to say, If an ap plication is a. bona fide one from ai

outlying district of a county the £SO( limit will not l apply to that country Tin sum of £50,000 has been set asid< for advances to local authorities fo the purposes mentioned in sub-sectioi 2 of section 9 of the State Gnaran teed Advances Act, 1912, namely, fo: the construction of roads and bridge! in outlying districts, and for metal ling such roads for the first time

and it will he recollected that nndei sub-section 3 of the same section the Government will have- to pay on* o the Consolidated Fund into the Ad vancos Account in each ten years o the term of any loan an amount cqna to 1 per cent of the amount of tin

loan, and in each of the succeeding ton years an amount equal to ],} s pe: cent of the amount, thus relieving local bodies to that extent. In regard to advances to workers, loans were re duced to a maximum of £3OO in November last, but were increased t< £4OO on May 16, 1913. There ha? been some misunderstanding in the country with regard to the State Guaranteed Office. He wished it tr be thoroughly understood that tin office was outside Ministerial control Ho had never been to a meeting of the Board, which was quite free from poli tical influences, and always had been Everyone knew that there had beer stringency in the money market, and it had become necessary to limit tin amount advanced in various quarters. He had that morning signed authority for £29,975 for the opening up ol lands for settlement, and reading and

bridging. ■ Replying to questions, Mr Allen stated that the existing conditions made it absolutely necessary to reduce the amounts advanced to local bodies' and others, but he hoped to bo able to raise the amounts shortly. With regard to the question of advances for the -purpose of paying off mortgages, tho Minister stated that the Act was not intended to apply in that manner. The measure, so far as he understood it, was intended to provide for homes for workers, not to pay off mortgages. He recognised that there wore several deservingcast's of that description, and they would receive attention. The Department received a great number of applications for assistance, which were quite outside tho scope of the Act. The House adjourned at 4.1 b till 7.30.

THE A DDR ESS- TX-lIE PLY. Mr C. A. Wilkinson, in moving the Addmss-in-Reply, after passing a tribute to the memory of Sir A. (Ininness, proceeded to congratulate the Government on the prosperity of tho country. Tho keynote of tho speech centred in a reference to land settlement. Small holdings and the freehold tenure were the foundation of prosperity in that paid of Taranaki that he represented. The same principles should apply to all parts of the Dominion. He strongly advocated a

more energetic emigration policy, care being taken to select the right class of men. A concession for dredging for gold and the irrigation of arid lands in Central Otago were pressing necessities. The native land problem was calling pressingly for settlement. He claimed that the natives should hare a right to .sell as they desired, receiving half cash and the balance being invested for them by the Public Trustee. Light railways in country districts were absolutely necessary. Local bodies should have power to construct tramways and 'bring in metal for roads. He favored an elective Legislative Council, but protested against the electorates being too large. A reduction in the cosv of Jiving had his sympathy, but he did not wish to sec free trade adopted, so as to kill our industries. He advocated the remission of duties on articles in daily consumption, and the imposition of taxation on motorcars, and an increase in the income tax. He suggested that a Board of Commerce should bo sot up to enquire into the proceedings of trusts. He endorsed the military training scheme and favored the establishment of our own navy. The workers’ homes scheme was worthy of extension, and was greatly deserving of hotter attention. Mr Statham, in seconding the motion, congratulated the Government on the business-like statement put into the Governor’s hands. He claimed consistency between the pledges and performances of the Reform Party. They, had set about putting the finances of the Dominion in order, and the success of the loan in the London market proved that English investors have implicit confidence in the , Government. ; The Government

were not friends of the large landowners. Large estates must be broken up. With that, view the graduated tax had. been increased. Large areas of land had also been purchased. This month 29,660 acres were available for ■settlement. The Government intended to deal fairly with the natives. The limit of advances to workers would be raised to £4OO as soon as the Government have the money available, showing that they were alive to the interests of the workers. More money had also been spent on railways than during the previous year. The selection of an English manager for the railways was a wise provision. The extension of the Pensions Act would be a great public benefit, but the Government had been careful not to exceed the financial resources of the Dominion. Other legislation. passed was reviewed to show that the, party’s efforts had been in the direction of progress. He daihied that the Civil Service was now free from political influence. The -amendments to, the Public Trust Act were calculated to increase the efficiency. of the office. He repudiated thd , ideja that, jtjie' legal profession was hostile to the ipstitutiop pf military training. It, was only- part of the education of the youth of the Dominion. He cordially supported the scheme. The Arbitration Act should 'not lie abolished, hut amended, and given another trial. If the Speech was not full of promises, what was promised would ]>o fulfilled,.... Mr MacDonald, speaking for the Opposition, congratulated thje mover ■and seconder on .the temperate tone adopted. If the mover desired to dieck monopoly he was on the wrong side of the House, his party, having fought for monopoly for the past twenty years. Questioned whether an elective council would settle the legislative problem, he doubted if the Pakean Wsees in Taranaki were the chief sufferers from .Native land tenure. Ho knew lessees who bad sub-let their

lands who wore living in retirement on the increased value. He was strongly of opinion that the native owners were the greater sufferers. Mr MacDonald dealt exhaustively with the land settlement proposals of the Government. He had no confidence in the Prime Minister as Minister for Lands. Ho had no knowledge of hack-blocks conditions whatever. All knowledge lie had gained had been either from a motor ear or a railway train. He adversely criticised the purchase of the Beetham estate, and declared that if the Government remained in office for all eternity, it would not he able to settle as much land a« the Liberal party, who had opened up two million acres and placed 30,000 settlers on the land. He ridiculed the talk of one law for the Europeans and one for the Maori. The proposition was beset with difficulties, but the administration of Sir James Carroll bad prevented thousands of natives being paupers. Dealing'with finance, he wondered whether Mr Allen’s success in London was due to bis own ability or to the excellent work done by Sir Joseph Ward. The time limit interrupted the speaker and the debate was adjourned until 2.30 to-morrow, on the.motion of Mr Fraser. Tl ic House rose at 10.55.