PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 164, 15 July 1903, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. , Tuesday, July 14. The Council met at 2.30 p.m. The At'orney-General, ia reply to the Hon, L- e-Smith, said a Bill was being prepared to provide for th<> more crtain protection of life assurance policies ag-inst creditors. Hod. 0. Jones continued his speoch on the Addreas-in-Rsply. On the licet's-ng question he said the colony joust never rev .rt to magisterial committees. Hon J. D. Ormnnd strongly upheld the demand for the freehold tenure, and condemned the ballot gamble for land ; aho the system of Und valuation. The Attorney-General defended the land policy cf the Governum*, and contended that those objecting to it Ehould show some more satisfactory method of dealing with the question. The debate was adjourned till tomorrow, and the Council rose. HOUSE OP REPRESENTATIVES. Tuesday, July 14. The Houße met at 2.30 p.m. The second reading of the Presby■erian College Bite Bill was agreed to on the voices. ADDRES3-IN-EEPLY. Mr Arnold resumed the debate. He favoured a subsidy to the Vancouver mail service, and objected to any subsidy to tho 'Frisco servics. The labour party urged that, in future, leases should be made for shorter terms and subject to revaluation If the present agitation of the Farmers' Union did noi cessi they would find the labour party invading country electorates, ind he predicted that in six yeari hence the fight would not be between Opposition and Government, bu l i between the labour party and capitalists. Mr Lang urged a more expeditious roading of back country lands. He declared in his own distriot (Waikato) the state of things was disgraceful. The Government had broken faith with the settlers, who, when taking up sections were shown roads in course of construction, but since they got on the land the work had been stogpedand they had no means of access. He thought it would be best for both Houses to elect members of the Upper House by ballot, which would ensure the selection of men who had done good service to the oolony. Mr Flatman said that although millions of money would be required to complete the roading of back blooks they should be opened up. He was opposed to freehold. The debate was interrupted by the 5.30 adjournment, Evening Sitting. The House resumed at 7.30. Mr Bollard siid the Opposition wu not opposed to borrowing if the money was properly spent. It was the extravagant expanditure of borrowed money they objected to. He saw no hope of farmers being induced to come to New Zealand if they could not get a freehold. He opposed the State fire insurance scheme, and the Premier's proposals as to the Bank of New Zealand. Hon. C. H. Mills twitted the Opposition with failure, and on altering their opinions on the question of settlers in the back-blocks having their holdings rent free for a time. He contended the leaseholder was better off than the freeholder with a heavy mortgage on his property. Leaseholders had made covenants with the Government, and it would be unfair now to allow them to convert their holdings into freehold. The Assets Realisation Board, by nursing the properties instead of forcing a sale, hid secured substantial values for the properties, and the result was most satisfactory. As to the adminis--1 tration of justice in the Cook group, he found during his recent visit that Colonel Gudgeon was held in high respect by the native?, and he hoped nothing would be said in the House to weaken the position of that cfficial. Mr Alison oomplained that the North Island was not fairly represented in Cabinet. He cond< mned the proposal to give preference to Unionists and advised the Labour Party to leave well alone. Mr Willis condemned the system of provincial awards under the Arbitration Act as extremely unfair, and urged that an award should have force throughout the oolony. He strongly opposed giving the freehold to leaseholders. Hon. J. McGowan moved the adjournment of the debate and the douse rose at 11.50 p.m.