PARLIAMENT.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIX, Issue 59, 1 July 1914, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Wellington, June 30. The Council met at 2.30 p.m. Hon. H. D. Bell moved for leave to introduce the Land Agents Bill. The first reading was agreed to. The Legislative Council Bill was read a first time, and the second reading was fixed for Tuesday. The Master and Apprentices Bill was also read a first time. Hon. Jas. Barr moved the Address-in-Reply. He claimed to represent his own personal opinions, and not the opinions of the Government which elected him.: Hon. Hardy seconded the motion, paying n compliment to the Hon. .Mr Barr upon the way in which he had moved the resolution. Hon. Mr Rigg touched on the oost of living, opposed the Council Bill and the Bible-iu-Schools Referendum, and bade farewell to the Council ere the expiry of his office. Hon. Mr Jenkinsou traced his twen-ty-one years' connection with 'the Council. He was proud of the Liberal policy which had made the country so prosperous. He thanked the Councillors for their kindness during his term.

Hon. ,Mr Jones also spoke, and the Council adjourned.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House of Representatives mot •at 2.30 p.m. Mr 0. M. Thomson asked the Premier, without notice, whether he would give the House the opportunity of discussing the Forestry Commission's repdrt brought down in 1912.—The Premier replied that if satisfactory progress were made with the Government nieksures an opportunity would ini all probability be given. Civil Service Officers Guarantee Repeal, Crimes Amendment and Defamation Restriction Amendment, Local Elections and Polls Amendment, and Local -Elections (Proportional Representation) Bills were introduced by the Hon. Mr Fisher. The Factories Act Amendment was introduced by Mr Wilford, who detailed its provisions, the main features of which are that whereas in all factories hut woollen mills women and hoys work only 45 hours per week, in woollen mills they work 48 hours. The, wages are also unequal, and these the Bill sought to bring into lino.

Mr Wilford also introduced the Hutt Park Bill.

The Fruit Preserving Industry Act Amendment and Magistrate Court Consolidating and Amending Bills were introduced by Governor's Message. The last-mentioned Bill consolidates and amends enactments relating to the jurisdiction of magistrates and justices of the peace. The House rose at 3.25, to enable the Address-in-Reply debate to be takem'at 7.30 p.m. AUDRESS-IX-REPLY. > Mr Lee moved that a respectful address be presented to His Excellency in reply to the Speech from the Throne. He congratulated the Premier upon his selection as Privy Councillor by His Majesty the King, and then proceeded to discuss the commercial prosperity of the Dominion, for which he claimed a large share of credit ifor the Government.

Mr Sykes, in seconding the motion, said that all indications for the future wero hopeful Sir Joseph Ward, in replying, said he proposed to move an amendment "that the House has no-confidence in the Government, because its policy and administration are not in the interests lof the masses of the community." He twitted Mr Lee with knowing nothing about the effect of the Public Service Act, which had not resulted in a saving but in an increase of the expenditure from £741,000 to £741,000. It was equally idle for the member for Masterton to say that his party would approve of the increase of the graduated tax, when the Minister for ;Finance, whom he followed, had publicly declared that there was to be no further increase. The Government was not entitled to the confidence of the people, because of their method of dealing with the naval question. They had withdrawn the subsidy from the British Navy, and committed themselves tp a local navy. They had been weak, vacillating, and uncertain on this question all through. He quoted an interview given by Hon. Allen to show that he had clearly declared ill favor of a local navy. The appointment of a naval adviser was a step towards that end, otherwise what was the to advise upon? He denied that thr Admiralty was in favor of a local fleet, and quoted a speech of the First Lord of the Admiralty in support of his view. The idea of New Zealand looking after the interests of the Pacific with one Bristol cruiser was absurd. The First Lord of the Admiralty had declared that three Dreadnoughts would be useless in defence of the Pacific What, then, would bo the position of a single Bristol cruiser? At present we had only the Philomel under our control. Was (hen the naval adviser being brought to advise upon this vessel, which could not live for live minutes within five miles of a modern battleship? Continuing, after the supper adjournment, Sir Joseph Ward, referring to the Legislative Council, severely criticised the postponement of the reform of the Council in face of the Government declaration that it must be reformed. He deprecated the manner in which settlers, local bodies, and workers were being treated, quoting advances made to show that the Liberal Party had treated these branches of the community more generously, m spite of the fact that the Government had an abundance of nK'iey in the part-tilar department?. 1 '• Blen-

heini the Hon. Mr Allen had stated that, lie could Lave proved that the figures used in the prospectus issued in connection with the Government loan wore erroneous, but had he done that. That statement had to he explained. Either the figures wore correct, and, if so, they were a tribute to the Liberal Government, or ii' the figures were erroneous, then was he honest with the London investors? The Government had, when in• opposition, denounced everything done by the Liberal Government when they' were laying down foundations of that policy which had undoubtedly contributed to the prosperity they had heard so much of that night. Ministers had been touring the country during the last few mouths, promising all sorts of concessions to the people. When in opposition they had called this "bribing the people with their own money."

Concluding, Sir, .Joseph Ward accused the Government/ 1 of want of courage, inasmuch as it had not brought iii Bills on large questions as party measures. Private members were put up to bring in legislation which the Government ought to have faced. They had failed to carry out the greater part of their pledges, and were therefore not worthy of the confidence of |i the people. Hon. Jas. Allen congratulated Sir Joseph Ward on the vigor of his , speed], if not on the material. The Government was prepared to accept the no-confidence motion. Ko Govern- ' meat, lie said, could be expected to deal with all the planks of its platform in two years. The hon. gentlemen opposite had been in office, for''twenty years. What had they done about insurance against sickness and unemployment? When he came into office he found tho Legislative Council almost entirely composed of nominees' "of the Liberal Government, and new appointments were needed to gel legislation through. He denied that'aggregation was going on, due to the legislation passed by this Government. Mr Wrilford's figures, he said, did not deal with areas, but values. "-The"finances of the country were sounder now than ever before in the history of the country. Before he too office the finances were rotten. The Advances to Settlers Department was so administered that when he (Mr Allen) took office, no Minister could make the accounts out. Why did not the leader of the Opposition raise a loan and strengthen his Departments? If he had been desirous of serving his country instead of hi? party lie would have come to his probable successor and said, "What about raising'this loan? It will be absolutely necessary." Mr Allen further contended that there was no money to meet the commitments and liabilities when Sir Joseph Ward's successor took office. After the plunge came the aftermath. Mr Myers had to take his share'and he (Mr Allen) had taken Ins, but ho was proud to say the position of the Department was never sounder than to-day. Money was being advanced in large amounts. The Advances to Settlers Department had £1,634,000 to iis.credit. The Loans to * Local Bodies Department was also iii" a sound position, and money was being advanced to the full limit of the law. Sir Joseph Ward would try to make the country believe that tho Government was not in favor of one Imperial Navy'. The present Government was more in favor of a One-Imperial Navy than Sir Joseph Ward. He quoted from the London Times to show that the local navy was approved by the Admiralty. The Opposition ridiculed the proposed acquisition of one Bristol cruiser. The Government had not committed the country to one penny expenditure on ships. Those opposed to tho Government were "littje New Zealanders." The best way to save the Empire was to establish local independence and show their patriotism, The Admiralty broke the agreement entered into at the Imperial Conference, attended by Sir Joseph Ward. Had Sir Joseph taken Parliament tithe people into his confidence with regard to the declaration of London ? Sir Joseph Ward's proposal for the naval defence meant £500,000 a year. What tho present Government proposed would cost only £IOO,OOO per annum. Sir Joseph Ward had accused the Government of not cutting down expenditure, and stopping borrowing. What they had promised to do was to control the expenditure, and it could not be expected that they could cease borrowing in such a young country. The debate was adjourned on the motion of Mr Wilford, and the House rose at 11.45 p.m.