PARLIAMENT.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIX, Issue 60, 2 July 1914, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Wellington, July 1. The Council met at 2.30 p.m. The Address-in-Reply was agreed to. The Hon. Mr Bell proposed to continue the business on Thursday, possibly on Friday, when they could decide if a lengthy adjournment was necessary. The Council adjourned at 4.20. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House met at 2.30 p.m. Mr Hannan asked the Hon. Jas. Allen if ho would refer the Religious Instruction in Schools Bill to the Education Committee in order that evidence might bo taken on the petitions presented against the Bill.-—Mr Allen replied that he would-be prepared to send the Bill to any particular committee to which the petitions were referred.

The Gaming Act Amendment Bill (Mr Hunter), the Victoria College Amendment Bill (Hon. J. Allen), and the Licensing Amendment Bill (Hon. W. F. Massey) were introduced and read a first time.

THE ADDRESS-IN-REPLY. The debate on- the Address-in-Reply was continued by Messrs Wilford, Harris and Myers. REPLIES TO QUESTIONS. Replying to questions, Ministers said that strong representations on the subject of coloring margarine had been made to the Home Government, but up to the present no notification of its intention to stop the practice had been received. The matter was being watched by the High Commissioner, but owing to the great influence of the margarine interests on the butter market, the subject requires careful handling. The danger of introduction of foot and mouth disease per medium of the clothing and effects of immigrants from European countries was extremely remote. hut the High Commissioner’s attention would be directed to it with a view to taking any steps that are practicable to obviate it. The question '.of having Senior Cadet parades in the country in the day-time •--in form of concentrations, instead of evening drills was now engaging the attention of the Departmet.

The report of the new General Manager of Railways would he laid on the table as early t#s practicable. According ■ to the decisions of the Supreme Court civil servants had a dear and unquestioned right of appeal under *the Public Service Act.

THE EVENING SESSION. , The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. Mr Statham continued the debate on the Address-in-Reply, contending that Sir Joseph Ward was in error when lie said that the people had not contributed a penny towards the cost of the Dreadnought, claiming that they had done so through the railways and Customs House.

Mr M’Callum described the visits made by Ministers to his district during the past few months, declaring that twenty millions would not bo sufficient to redeem all the promises made by the Premier, while Mr Allen had insulted the intelligence of his constituents by the inaccuracies he made in his speech at Blenheim. Ho characterised his (Mr Allen’s) reference to surpluses quoted in the London prospectus as one of the most shocking cases of public immorality ever known in the Dominion. His half truths, so freely spread through his speech, had done him no good in the eyes of his audience, while his deliberate statement in Marlborough, the home of small settlement, had shocked even his own friends. His principal reason lor not reposing confidence in the Government was the bungling manner iA which they handled the strike of last year, and the incompetence of the Minister for Justice in dealing with the lawlessness which arose out oi the strike. The real object of the Government was to smash labor organisations, which they had no sympathy and did itot understand. They had repeatedly declared that one of the Lest reasons for a change in the Government was that the Ward Ministry pampered the workers. The opposition regretted the strike because it injured the workers more than capital, and that was just the difference between the two parties. The Government was worrying about the purse strings, while the Opposition was anxious for the happiness of the people. I Mr Hunter (Waipawa) said the people on the land had confidence in the Administration, as the export figures showed. Mr Forbes urged that the time had arrived when the large landholder must move up to make room for closer settlement. This could only be done by the application of the graduated tax. Mr Veitcb said the speech contained no proposal whatever for the henej fit of the workers. A combination of j Liberal and Labor parties was hinted at, hut, be asked, was not such a com--1 lunation justified to insure the return of a Government which would make the constitution of a Labor party possible? He was favorable to such a combination, but he bad not turned bis i coat. it was his duty to assist a combination which would firing about good government. The debate was adjourned on the motion of Mr Young, and the House rose at 11.55 p.m.