HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVII, Issue 27, 2 October 1913, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Tlx?House met-.at 2.30. ( replying to Sir Joseph Ward,, the Prime Minister stated tliat the Government was not in a position to say at what date they would be able to lay before the Home authorities the Government’s proposals regarding tho naval defence of the Dominion and the trade routes. Correspondence was still going on between the Government and the Imperial authorities, and be could not at present give, theHouse any indication as to the Government’s intentions.

The Tualritoto and Kaitangafc; Allen) was read a, first tjpxe. Lakes Act 1911 •Amendment Bill (M

ihe House,went into committee on the Aid to Public Works and Land Settlement Bill. • -

Replying to questions, ( the Minister stated that provision would lie made in the tramway, regulations to ensure that jacks for the raising of cars in case of accidents are carried on each car.

It was not practicable to discriminate between furniture made by Ohipeso in Australia and that made by British labor. As a , rule furniture made by Chinese would not be exported by such Chinese, but through a Chinese merchant. Rates of duty on wicker and rattan ware would be considered by the House when the Tariff Schedules were brought down. Although a return of just over I per cent, on the capital invested was paid by the railways during the last financial year, the cost of operating had an upward tendency, and in view of the increases that had to lie made in the wages of the railway staff it was not considered desirable to diminish the revenue at the present juncture hy reducing fares and freights. The increasing age at which children .were carried free would involve a loss of a very considerable amount of revenue to the Department, and in those circumstances the Minister was unable to give a favorable answer to the question. The House resumed at 7.30. Tu committee on the Aid to Public Works and Land Settlement Bill, the Opposition criticised the paucity of information contained,in the schedule, and twitted Ministers and members of the Government with adversely criticising the borrowing policy of the previous Government and yet acquiescing in an exactly similar procedure hy the present Treasury Bench holders.

During the course of the discussion on railways, Mr F. H, Smith said that there wore fourteen branch lines of railways in the electorate of Awarna. Sir Joseph Ward rose and stated

that ii such a statement were made outside the House it could only 0 characterised in a word oi four letters. The latter suggestion was ultimately withdrawn, and Sir J. Ward proceeded saying that the statement was obviously incorrect. So long as he was in the House, he would not allow any member to make such incorrect -.statements without resenting thom. ' The member for Tat.ea had stated that half-a-million had been spent on the parliamentary grounds whereas ho knew perfectly well that it was contrary to fact. The Hon. J. Allen defended himself against a Charge of inconsistency m connection with the loan of 1909, when he moved to reduce the itelli ‘Tu respect of other public works.” He ed for an abnormal loan of over .two millions, of which £400,000 was for public works. Both amounts; he thought, were excessive. It was not possible to give all the details in which the money was required at tins stage, but he could give them some liabilities —£673,000 lor additions to open lines half-a-million for public buildings, £400,000 for roads and bridges (and he would probably require half-a-million), and post and telegraph extension £150,000. That , was as much as he could tell the House, because until the system of public accounts was reformed information could not be given. These amounts never had been allocated when the Loan Bill,was brought down. He thought the amounts should be .first changes could not be. effected at once, fixe reason of the Joan being brought down thus early was.that he did noc want to help out the finances by issuing Treasury bills. At 11.30 Mr J. A. Hanan moved' to reduce, the item of £150,000 for the ‘‘other public works” by £IOO,OOO, as an indication that it was not fair to submit a" vote to the House without any indication as to what the money was for.

The Hon. Jas. Aleen said that the money was required very largely for post and telegraph extension, and if Mr Btyuan cared to vote against that he could go into the lobby in support of his amendment.

The House divided on the amendment, the voting resulting 58 to 5. ■ The Bill was then reported.

The House in committee then considered tjie Hnuraki Plains Amendment Bill, which was also reported without amendment. ■ ■ THE POLICE' FORCE. The Police Forcb Bill' was further considered in comittee, 1 : 'On the clause providing for the suspension' and dismissal ’of officers. Mr W. Veitcli’spoke agdin’st indiscriminate ■pouter: being given fn th'at direction' to 1 superior officer. 1 1 ;' 1 * 'The'Hofi. A.’L. Herdiridn a.'suggestion ijy 'Mr VeijiCh that af,ter a man has been suspended for 20 days, his pay shall continue.

Sir J. Ward asked if the Minister Avas in favor of establishing ! a Board of Appeal similar to that operating in tho railways and Post and Telegraph Department. r •

Mr Herdman Replied In tlie negative, holding that it was essential that "the police .should be always unflef ' 1 the strictest discipline. jr; 11 ■ Sir J. Ward held that has the principle Avas recognised in.the country it should apply to any branch of thorservice. Later he Avould move an amendment in that direction. .. .

The debate Avas continued, -and the House Avas still sitting at 2 a m. Wellington October 2.

After the Telegraph Office closed, tho Premier, submitetd to the persuasion of the Opposition to report progress on the Bill, having received an assurance from the' Leader of the Op-

position that lie would so far as he, was able confine criticism of the remaining clauses of the Bill to two hours

Progress Avas reported on Sir Joseph | Ward’s motion, and the House adjourn- (' cd at 2.20 a.m.