PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 160, 10 July 1903, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

Per Press Association, LEGISLATIVE OOUNOIL. Thuksday, Jolt 9. The Council met at 2.30 p.m. Thirty-six members were present at the call of the Council for the elt ction of Speaker which was conducted in cimera. The Hon, W. O. Walker was elected at the first ballot wiih 26 votes. Sir H. J. Miller, the late Speaker, obtained 11, and Hon, L. Walker 3.

After congra ulationa the Oounoil adjourned until to-morrow to enable the Speaker to be presented to the Governor, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Thursday, July 9. The House met at 2.30. FIBST HEADINGS. The following Bills were introduced by Mr Laurenson and read a first time:—Shops and Shop Assistants Amendment, Divoroe and Matrimonial Causes, Better Organisation and Ap* pain t men t of Mem bets of the Publo Service in New Zealand, Contagious Diseases Aot Amendment, and Law Practitioners Act 1882 Amendment. The Ro'okare Domain Aot 1899 Repeal Bill (Duncan) was also read a first time. ADDBSSS ISBBPLY. Mr Tinner resumed the debate ard criticised the administration of Lunatic Asylums and complained nf the Minis ter's laxity in giving effeotual psrsonal supervision. Mr vile denied tbat the Farmers Union had spent any money on elections. He urged the importance of opening up roads i) the baok country apd supported an inoteised contribution to the Navy, He would oppose any increase in the tariff, and he was not in favour of the proposal of the Government to open meit shops in the Oid Country. He did not object to State fite insurance, but the Commissioners should be responsible to Parlia ra«nt so that State patronage might be avoided. He advocated direct communication between Wellington and the Cock Islands,

Mr Fowlds attributed the present reactionist tendency over the land question to the inefficient administration of the land la* s by che Government and Land Boards for the composition of which the Government was responsible. He adversely oriticised Mr Chamberlain's preferential trade proposals and contended that the scheme must result in an increase of the prioe of food in the Old Country, Mr J. 0. Thcmson deprecated spending money to further open up the little islands in the South Sea which would make them a burden to the colony. He considered the colony was losing thousands of pounds by the co-operative system of labour as at present carried out. He advocated light lines of railways, the establishment of Government granaries, establishment of retail moat shops in EagUud, and preferential trade, The House adjourned at 5.30 p.m. EvjtNiso Sitting. The House .resumed at 7.30. Sir Wm. B.usjell said the feature of the Governor's speech was its important omissions. No reference was mad>> to eduoitioa or licensing matters, and in their stead appeared a lot of platitudes and several examples of bad grammar. The paragraph regarding estimated expenditure meant there was to be no remission of taxation, and no prudeot administration, but that the expandiure, whatever oomes, is to be kept up to the revenue. The most potsnt defence the colony could have was an Imperial British fleet, and at any sacrifice it was the duty of the colony to contribute most liberally in money and men in the maintenance of a fquadron in Australian waters, as our Imperial connection might be destroyed unless we made sacrifices. Th'.ra was land still in abundance in the colony crying out for occupation, but the trouble was that the young people now wanted to flock to the towns. Immigrants from lnme were to be invited to come out here and eirve out a home for themselves iu the bu-b, and when they had done that they would have th»land they had brought into cultivation taken from them by people who had not had the courage to follow their example. He condemned the present ballot system, and said he was glad to see the Government had adopted another plank that he had formulated [some years ago, viz, that settlers on bush lands should not be called on to pay rent during the early years of their occupation of the land. He dealt at some length with tha question of ad ministration of railways, and comp'ained that no analysis had bseq made for years past < f the way in which our railway accounts were kept. Then was an annuil loss in the management of our railways; the working expenses were increasing rap : dly, and, whilst out expenses had grown to 68'80 per cent., thosa of our only competitor—the Manawatu Company had decreased to only 53'97 per ceDt. He quoted figures to show that while the pre fits last year from the Government railways amoun'id to £22,961 mora than in 1901, we had to pay £53,257 in interest on the extra capital embarked. Theie was no provision for wear an'l •■ear, and renewals were pud for out of capital. He contrasted with thi* the policy of the M mawatu Railway Company to show that the profit of that Company was larger, whilst it paid for renewals out of current revenue. He suggested the appointment of a committer to investigate the matter fully. Sir Joseph Ward said a variety of opinions had been uttered in this debat?, but Sir VVilliim Russell, who had begun by objecting to the grammar of fche tpsocti, took the " cake " as to land policy. He agreed with Sir William Russell that p ople ought to be encouraged to p,o in'o the country, and he pointed out that large .numbers of people had been settled upon the land by the Govemnnnt. The Opposition attack bad been directed not against tha legislation of the Government, which was supported by many who bad formerly opposed, but against the Premier. These attacks were dictated by jeilcusy, and he strongly condemned them. In reference to tbe demand of the Opposition for the reconstruction of the Ministry, Mininters wouli no f , on this question, c msulc those opposed to them, bus their friends. In was said thic the Government had not djne anything for agriculturists, wboroas railway eonc.t.pi n 8 to farmers amounted to X t 10,000, iuJ, pou j~nt of concessions ou fjros tf .£144,000. He quoted figures to show tv-. gr-wth nf tli* daily Mnafey, «.•«! j attributed this to the grading j Sy tl«» () ..v. v n't>eni,. j

V, r . .ivUdmili had. fetid tuferd Wol\i to Lit*

no remissions of taxation, bat be bid ignored the fact that the Government bad already given remissions of no leal than £1,500,000. The revenue lsst year had increased by over £BOO,OOO as comprred with the pievions year and constituted a reoord. He contended it was unfair and imp.ope- torn ike a comparison between the Manauatu Railway and the Government lints. The accounts of the Department were kept entirely by the accountant, and he hid never bsen instr uctrd ae to how he should charge anything. Responsible officers of the Department had certified that ordinary renewals were paid out of revenue and cot out of capital. Sir W. Russell had fo.'gotten to tell t'ro House that the proportion of working expanses in English companies was 68 per oent, the same as in New Zealand. Jf users of the railways had to provide out of revenue for the cost of all new worku, every railway rate would have to be raised by 59 per oent,, and then the life blood wculd be crushed out of the users of the railways. This waa probably what; the Opposition wanted to do. The G >veroment was prepared, ae the revenue continued buoyant, to uake still further concessions in railway freight*. It waa not proposed to interfere wi'h the freehold as it now exist* d, tut if the Government adopted the suggestions put forward by some members on thin question they would find arising in this country some of the evile of landlordism in the Old Country. He regretted the attaok nude on the Legislative Oounoil. I'he system of nrminee appointment! had been authorised by the Bfeate, and ha believed all membrfs of the Upper House were anxiously - drsirous of the welfare of the colony. \ In regard to an Elective Executive ho held it would oreate chaos. The Conservative Party who clamoured for the reform of the Upper House had never said a word in that direction whilst that Chamber blocked popular legislation. The logical outcome of argument* for reform of the Upper House would be to abolish the Council altogether, and he would far sooner see it abolished than adopt the suggestions of some of its critics. It was proposed to put the Registrars of Electors under the control of a Government Department. Regarding preferential trade the Minister pointed out that soma of thoee who cow advocated this scheme had opposed proposals for reciprocal relations between N«w Zealand and Canada, and New Zealand and South Australia. As to the 'Frisco service he held that this country wanted communication with America as well aa Vancouver, and it was of the greatest importance that that trade should be encouraged. Mr Remington would like to see only one system of acquiring land, via, taking it up on leasehold with the ultimate right of purchasing a limited freehold,

The debate was adjourned on the motion of Mr Byrnes, and the Hoom rose at 11.38.