PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIII, Issue 251, 24 October 1901, Page 3

PARLIAMENT.

PKft PRESS ASSOCIATION, LBGISfrATIYE COUNCIL. " Wkdnssday, 23rd Octobkb, The Council met at 2.30 p.m. Hon. W. T. Jennings gave notice to ask the Minister for Education wbethei the Government's attention had been drawn to a report published in Auckland that sly-liquor selling had reached an acute stage in the King Country, and that the Public Works Department, being public carriers,' had found itself compelled to carry liquor on the nilay; and if so whether tbe Government would take immediate steps to ascertain whether the allegations are correct, Bon. H. Feldwick moved the second Teading of the Chemists Rota of Attendance Bill. The Bill was read a second time on the voices. The Minister for Education, in moving the second reading of the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Bill x as reported by the Labour Bills Committee, generally approved of tbe amendments. Hon J. D. Ormond asked that the second reading be deferred, and the Minister agreeing, the debate was adjourned till to-morrow. The Inspection of Machinery Bill was read a second time. Hon. H. Scotland asked tbe Minister if he did not think the Shops and Offices Bill ought to be disposed of and not left till late in the session. The Minister was understood to reply, " I don't think I shall distress the Couecii over the Bill this year," The Council rcse at 3.25 p.m. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Wednesday, 23bd Ociobsb. The House met at 2.30 p.m. The Public Works Estimates were brought down by Governor's message. On tbe motion for tbe third reading of the Cook and other Islands Government Bill Mr. Fisher said last year in haste and without sufficient consideration the House authorised the annexation of theee islands. He urged thi>t the civil organisation now possessed by the inlands was sufficient for their purpose and that this Bill was a mistake. He would divide the House on the motion. Mr. Herries also opposed the Bill. Mr. Tanner supported the third reading. Captain Ruisell pointed out that he had counselled the postponement of th» question until the House had full information before it, but the Premier had replied that it was time for action. He believed the islands would eventually be governed on the lines of a Crown colony. Much as he deplored the great power to be given under this Bill to the Governor-in-Council he believed it better to do that than to hand over this power to Parliament which took so little interest in this national question. Mr. Napier supported the Bill. Messrs. J. W. Thomson and Atkinson al*o spoke. In the course of his reply Mr Seddon Ba : d tbe House knew what it was doing last session, and had followed the lines of a policy tbat the people had urged for the last thirty yesrs. It had been stated that tbe Imperial Government was glad to got: rid of these islands, but he (Mr Seddon) pointed out that for some time the Imperial Government had refraired from acceding to tbe request of the New Zea'snd Government to be allowed to take over the isl»nds. Mr S»drton'B speech wss interrupted by the 5.30 p.m. adjournment. Etching Sitting. The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. Mr Seddon, continuing his speech, said no eoid could result from opposing the Bill at tbe prrsrnt juncture, The islands contaired greit wealth, which only rrquired development; the natives were hird-workiog, and under the direction cf white men thov would be able to produce what New Zealand required. The third reading was carried by 36 to 13, and tbe Bill pagwd. Mr Seddon moved the second reading of the Old Age Pensions Act Amendment Bill. He stated that the Bill did not interfere with the policy of the existing law, but simplv remedied certain defects thit existed in the Act. He quoted ins'arc sof evasions. Mag igtrates did not think this evasion was widespread, but public ard members of Parliament differed from the magistrates on that point. He briefly sketched the provisions of the Bill, and expressed a hope that a debate would not arise on the whole principle of old age pensions. After a brief debate, in which the Bill was generally approved, the secoDd reading was agretd to on the voices. Mr Sell ton moved th« second read' ing of the Local Bodies Goldfieldi Public Works and Loans Bill, to facilitate cons'ruction by local bodies ol public works in gold mining districts and the raising of money therefor.— Agreed to on the voices. Mr Seddon moved the second reading of the State Coal Mines Bill, to en able the State to acquire and work coa mines in New Zealand, He said then was very great consumption of coal b; the Government, and a State coal mini would mean a saving of from 5s to 7 fid a ton, but it was when they came t< the case of priva f e consumers that th necessity would be seen for strikioi home. Consumers had to pay ex orbitant prices. There was i demand for coal for export am jione to send away, and if coa

======================= f • were sent away there was none left : for home consumption. Enormous j quantities of Newcastle coal had been # imported, and it is only by this means 3 that the price to consumers had not been raised quite beyond the reach of r the poorer consumers, and this when j there were magnificent tracts of coalt bearing land in New Zealand. It was [ to our discredit that this state of things ■ should be allowed to continue. He f could not see why the cost of running j a State mine should be more than that (of a private owner, for the Government would pay the railways the same freight as private owners, and it would be in a position to obtain reasonable terms from steamship owners. . After the Government had supplied | State requireuents, they would estabi lish State coal depots in the principil centres, where private consumers could make their purchasep. He believed that the obsolete type of colliers in use in New Zealand had a great deal to do with the heivy freights charged. It • was not the present intention of the Government to have its own steamers to carry coal; that would only be resorted to as an extreme step. He said the £150,000 asked for to start the State mine would be raised as an ordinary liability of the colony. If there were any profits over five per sent, it would be given away in r< J duction in price. At the present time a p r ofit of 7s 6d per ton was being made out of the Government, and he considered it morally impossible for the Government to make a less on a State mine. Mr Jas. Allen said the Premier had not shown that the State could produce coal at a cheaper rate than private owners.