PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 186, 20 August 1903, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

j PER PRESS ASSOCIATION. HOUSE OP REPRESENTATIVES. ' Wednesday, Augus", 19. | The House met at 2.30 p.m. The Mokau River Trust B-sard Bill (Jennings), and School Commit; eos' Fund Bill (Buddo) were introduced! and read afi st tirup. ' FINANCS. Mr E. M. Smith resumed the debate on the Financial statement. He congratulated tho Government upon having brought out the Hon. M ihuta from his isolation, It was a very great achievement, and showed to the cutside world that the last barrier separating Europeans and Maoris in New Zealand had been broken down. H-? defended the railway administration of the Government and urged th it instead of wrangling on party liaes, the House should devote its bsf-t energies to building up a great natioa by thoroughly developing the resources of the co'ony. The construed ;n of 40 miles of railway line from Waitara t> Mokau would tap immense mineral deposits, and if the G jvomment would not undertake the work themselves, ha aked that the company he was assoc ated with be allowel to make the line on the understanding that the Government could eventually tako it over on paying the company 10 psr cent, on its outlay. He advi-el the Government to adhere to its present land policy, and in reply to complaints that returned troopers could not gnt land, he painted out that ovor mil ions of acres of crown lands wore advertised for selection. At this stage Mr Wilford took the oath and bis sei\ Mr Yile referring to whit Mr E. M. Smith had said about a Waitara-Mok m railway, expressed a hops that the Government would take care that the private Company mentioned was not allowed to have anything whatever to do with the construction -of that lino. He thought that the G >vernment should go ou'side and pay four par cent for money, and only give depositors in Savings Bank 2| and 3 per c ; n\ The debate suddenly collapse! at 4.35, and Mr Ssddon (who wa< receiving a licensing Newtown deputation) was deprived cf his right of reply. ESTIMATES. Tha House than went into Committee of Supply for consideration of the estimates. On the first item Mr Harries thought the House should be informed of the ex[>ense3 incurred by tho Premier during his Coronation tour, Tho expmdituce on telegrams beyond tin colony, £6525, was mu ih too large and £IOOO would have sufficed. He comp ained of the great waste of money at ttotorua, Mr >T is, Allen considered that raising money op short dated debentures was extremely unsatisfactory. Sir Joseph Ward admitted that it was desirable when possible to avoid issuing shir-dated but th»y were issvd at a time when there was a just fij n:'on for the belief th\fc the colony's phdge for a 3 or 3f par cent loan would soon be taken. In reply to Mr Herries, he s\id it was intended to properly carry out drainage improvements at Rotoru and a Bill would be introiuc.d this sea- ! sion to make ov.r Ritorua in is. en irety, and make it a Goveri ment township. The disaus iou was interrupted by tho 5 30 adjournment, EVINI!'Q SIITING. The Housi resumed &t 7.30 p.m. Mr Massay a>ked for i'jfo;m.lion as, to what the last loin realised, and aa to the cost of the Mapourika trip. Mr Hogg asked if local bodies were to be assisted by a Government subsidy towards the cost of employing sanitary inspectors. Sir Joseph Ward stid no return of cost of loan had baen received from tho Agent General, and therefore could not be supplied. Mr Remington urge! that provision should be made at Rotorua for indigent p3ople suffering from rheumatism, also for the treatment of consumptive patients at the various sanatoria in the colony. Sir Joseph Ward said the Government were doing their besj to provide accommodation at Ritorux for peop'e who could not afford to pay the cost i f treatment. Mr Duthie urged that paper B should be brought down at once. Mr 1 annor alluded to the large inc ease in pmsions and compassio late allowances, and urged tha" the Housa should have more control over amounts paid to locil bodies, especially to Hospital Boaads, Mr Jam is Allen deprecated the transfer of the charges to the Public Works Fund instead of their b ing taken out of the Consolidated Fu id. Mr Seddon s»id the Public Works Statement and detailed returns a?k d for by Mr Duthie would be furnished as soon as possible. He agresd wi'h 1 Mr Tanner that the Housi should have , 1 the opportunity of reviewing the large' 1 sums voted for hospital and charitable , aid purposes Before the Public Works Estimates were considered the Bill to 1 empower the raising of tha mi lion loan j 1 must be passed, as it was necessiry to 1 have the money authorised before the votes were considered. He emphati-: f cally denied that any renewal of bu Id- j - ings bad been charged to loans. j 1 Mr Ell spoke. ! f Mr J. C. Thomson urged tho neces-;' aity for the reduction of department il i ' expenditure, and suggested the appoint-j' mmt of a Royal Commission on the i 1 subject. i 1 Mr Falser spoke. j The Premier siid that if members 1'

could piint out whei'o reduclions could be mido in depirtmentil eitimttes he would bo mo-ft happy to make them, j Mr L ing urged more eil -cbive mev for copiDg with anthrax. | Mr Seddoa said the Government I fully recognised the seunisasas of the ; outbreak, and would do their best to stamp it out. J Mr Ma] ir said the e3 ! imtte3 proved J thai; the G ;veriinnnt were earues'; in ! thoir desires to retreneh. Re;a diog tho F.ib-uiry ban, he hid w.)rk d i>-,. out ilia's th > co'ony o i'y received £9O, 2i SJI, and he hi< figures were.! itiuch nearer the mvk timn tn>j amo'int' suited by tho Colonial Treasurer (£9l! 155.) la reply to Mr Missey, Mr S ddon fliid the whle >f the liquid securities ot rha Pjs l ; Olfii;e Sivingi Bank cmid i i e revised at a mam in.'s notice. In the coui'3-: cf a further lengthy. 'i-cuaaioQ, Mr. Har.Hng advocated ro- i ducing tho Governor's sahry, iiiombjw honorariums, and tho number cf he ds of dep!»i'i.tfien ■•«, au-- ran.!;; ijaatiiij; cor- ! tain <!..(»: tm -fits, ho mini-/ t. uv.i a ived to ba dovoiod to roada auU ttridgiw,

Mr. Al'en q'irstio! el v hot her it "'as site or rig'nt to invest the Post Olficj Saving 3 Batk fus.ds in Harbour debentures. (L ft SWm,?.)