PARLIAMENT.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVI, Issue 54, 9 July 1913, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

TUESDAY, JULY 8

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

Wellington,'July 8

The Council met at 2.30. On the motion of the Hon. 0. Samuel leave was granted to Mr Eamshaw to withdraw his motion to set up a commission to enquire into the working of miners and the health of miners, the same being provided for in the Mines Commission Report. Dr. Collins gave notice to move. in view of the spread of smallpox in Sydney the provisions of the Public Health Act should be enforced.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

The House met at 2.30

The Prime Minister denied any intention to introduce alien labour to work the mines on the West Coast.

Mr Herdman, in answer to Mr Lee, declared that Smythe's dismissal of the police force had nothing to do with the Minister's visit to Auckland. The agitation about him was ridiculous. Baker's transfer to Gisborne was because of his connection with the Police Association.

THE ADDRESS-IN-REPLY

IN THE COUNCIL

The debate on the Addresfi-in-Reply was continued by Mr Beeban, who urged that the Government should verify the statements made in the public press concerning land aggregation.

Mr Samuel followed. He spoke strongly against Legislative Council reform, end urged the Government to submit the question to the people at the general election before forcing the measure through Parliament.

DEBATE TX THE HOUSE

Mr Sykes resumed the debate on the Address-in-Beply, urging the ju-

dicious spending of loan monies am opening np trade relations with variou parts of the world. Mr Myers, following, defended th appointments made by the Mackenzi Government. Dealing with finance lie said that when he floated the 4 million loan, it was not possible t float a stock loan on good terms, th political situation at that time affect ing the position. When money wa cheap he was not in favor of short dated debentures. He complained c the slowness of the Government i affording the House details of the al location of the loan. If Mr Allen cout obtain money as cheap as lie anticipat ed, he would be able to redeem hi (Mr Myers’) 4i million loan, and eav half a million. It was generally agree; that when the European situatio: cleared up, money would lie cheaper Mr Hcrdraan defended the Publi Service Act. The Commissioners ha done a great amount of work in th members’ service, and felt that the could look forward to the future wit equanimity. The Act has been ref ponsible for the complete eliminatio of political influence. Why are not the police and the rai ways under the Act? asked M Glover.

Nowhere in the world, replied Mr Herdman, did the police come under the Public Service Commissioner. They may as ; well say that the army and the navy should be under the Board. He agreed that the railways ihould bo under the Commissioners. but with a separate commission as was done in Victoria and New South. Wales. Such a colossal affair as our railways could not possibly be controlled by three Commissioners. He favored a railway commission, but his colleagues differed. However, they were to have the services of an excel* lent manager, of such ability as would jnable him to adapt himself to local conditions, and in two or three years diey would find a different state of affairs to what exists at present.' The House resumed at 7.30. Mr Herdman said, on the authority of the Minister of Finance, that there had been a remarkable recovery in the finance of the Dominion since ;he present Government had taken )ffice, every account showing an improvement. He then proceeded to deal with recent statements regarding the Waihi strike. He characterised the member for Otaki as being the champion of law-breakers. Mr Robertson : I deny that absolute-

ly.< ■ ' • Mr Payne: Face an ; inquiry! Mr Herdman saJ4l that the Govorn■nent had done ,nq'more than, to pre-. ;erve order and to see that tliosp. -Vylio •. lesirotßo'Tvork should have tunity of following their ordinary avo:Wion. Ntf a'ttempt'hdd been ibade by the police to collect firearms until after Constable Wade had been shot, and in that they were perfectly justified. He hoped similar events would never occur again in the Dominion. Speaking on the subject of the Public Trust Office, he said that it had been stated that the recent inquiry had been made at the instigation of lawyers to'bolster up the legal profession at the expense of I 'the 'tfMmtiy.' Tfcis xtA quite untrue. The" inquiry 'wis instituted at the suggestion of twfo members' of the House:" ' - \ Mr Atmore criticised Mr Herdman'a administration of- the Police Department, which he characterised as intolerant: He defended the formation of the Police Association,"which he -laimed was not subversive of discipline except to redress'grievances, and the justice of their cause was bound to triumph. The basis of all industrial inrost was the desire to progress. The miners of Waihi were just' as■.human as anyone else, and their strike was it this basis a desire to better their position. The bulk of the public servants of the Dominion were not under the Public Service Act, but if the principle was sound it was capable of indefinite extension. He characterised the graduated land tax as a farce. The land purchase scheme was played out. Sir Joseph Ward was right when he said it ought to have been •2-j per cent higher than it was. The Minister for Marine wanted to settle people on the West Coast swamp lands, and one other Mimstor wanted to settle them on the northern gum lands, but none of them said anything about settling them on the rich Hawke's Bay lands. Mr Payne criticised the Government for doing things they condemned in

their predecessors. He accused the Government of getting into power by intrigue, misrepresenting the Opposition as being in favor of short-dated loans. He favored one Imperial fleet. He defended the formation of the Police Association. No improvement was made in the running of the railways. The public works starved Liberal districts, while new works were started in Government districts. M Harris moved the adjournment, •ind the House rose at 11 p.m.