HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 241, 7 November 1903, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Thubsday, Novkmbbr 5, Af f er the Telegraph Offica closed the Rating on Unimproved Value 81l passed through Committee without iitnendmenfc, and was read a third time and passed. The Timber Export Duty Bill went through Comcantae unamended, and passed its final Htagee. The House rose at 1.35 a.m.

Fkiday, November S. The House met at 2.30 p.m. The Standing Orders Otmmittee brought up a report on the petition of the chairman and secretary of the Wellington branch of the New Z 'alaad Institute of Journalists, who protested against the recommendation of the Privileges Oommitfees, in the recent A',Z. Times case, that in future in any similar case a witness refusing to disclose tho source of his inform itioo be disqualified trom a seat in the Prtss Gallory of the House. The petit oners also askud that the Standing Order No. 229 be repealed or amanded, so that Select Committees shall have discretionary power to thro* open thair meetings to the press. The report of the Committee was. to the effect that as tho floes imposed on the publisher and reporter of the N.Z. 1 Times had not been paid, the petition should not be considered.

Mr Seddon gave notice to introduce the Wine Adulteration Bill (No. 2).

The Fertilisers' Bill was read a first tima.

The Workers' Compensation for Accidents Act Amendment Bill passed its final stages. On the motion for the third reading of the Labour Department Bill, Mr Symea asked whether tha Bill was meant to apply to every t mployer of labour in the colony, and protested that tha Bill did not specially state who were to ba appointed Inspectors under the Act/ He moved as an .amendment that the Bill he read a third time six months hence. | Hon. Hall Jones said the amendment was an unjustifiable refl.3otion on every Inspector in the empLy of the Deputment, and he ventured to siy they not find a more tactful, considerate, ajid courteous class of men than the labour Depigment Inspectors,

Mr Symei' amendment was lost on the voices, and the Bill passed its final stages. Hon, Hall-Jones moved the second reading of tLe Piteroa-Waibi Bill, to provide for the sp>edy construction of a railway from Paena to Waihi. Ha explained that the Bill empowered the Waihi Gold Mining Company to fiod tha money, for the construction of th,e railway, which would be carried out by the Government. Si" W. Rus ell (-aid the railway w»3 to be built f<ir the gold speculators in the Waihi mine and neighbourhood, and if. the mines were exhausted the railway would be absolutely useles?. If this system was carried out in other pirts of the colony, there wss always a possibility of the colony being saddled hereafter with railways which would not piy working expenses.

Mr McGowan 6aid the demand for the railway bad been so great that the people interested were prepared to lend the money for the purpos•, and thare was also every probability of the line being made payable from other sources ; also that it was an utter impjssibility for mining to be fi n'shed in that diitrio 1 : for 1000 years.

After considerable debate the second raiding was agreed to.

Mr Seddon moved that tbe amendments made by the Council in tha Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act Amendment Bill be agreed to. Some objection was raised to a new clause inserted by the Council making awirds apply to kindred trade's in adjoining distriots. ' The House rose at 5.30 p.m. Evening Sitting. The House rjsuaied at 7,30. The debate on the Council's amend ments in tho Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Bill was adjourned. MJSTIULiSIAN EQUADJIOX. Mr Seddon moved the s< cond reading of the Australian and New Zealand N. j .val Defence Bill to povide for payment by New Zialand of a proportional part of the coat of an additiou-sl naval force in Australian and New Zealand waters. He said be took it that iho ordering of three new cruisers mentioned in that evening's p»po*s had something to do with the subject of tho Bill' The payment under she agreement commenced six months after the passing of the Bill, and he understood the enquiries made by the Admiral as to when the Bill would be passed was an indication that tha new ships for the station would he ready in due course. In passing this measure the colony was only doing its duty, and it would further strong! hen the link with the Mother Country, Under the old agreement this colony was paying £21,000 a year for cruisers which were out of date, and the c ;looies had not adequate security. Tha f ict of the Royal Arthur and similar vessels being sent out, although thay were not provided for in thp agree- ! uwnii, ■ showed that the Admiralty saw the necessity for strengthening tho Pacific squadron. The matter o? a training ship for boys would be forsubs queat inangement, and he had a despatch stating that as soon as the time of the Sparrow and another gunboat, on M° : station W as up one or teem would be ! placed at the disposal of New Z/aland for a training s>iip fros of cost. ITnder the agreement Australia would contribute .£200,000 a year and New 2*a-! laud £40,000 to the maintenance of the> Australian squadron, which would conssiai of (devnn ships, f >ur of which would be manned by Australians and New Z mlanders paid at speciai rat?s, The first cost of tho f quadron woald | bo two and a-half millions, and the vocals would be manned by 2293 men

Tho tot'J afuiun.! m .iutonaiica tent on ri I

five per cout bu-is would be Lol 9,000 W hat was now proposed wiis et-sentitil j to our weil being, and he fultsuro the pfoposil.'. would bu generally accep> fjbie. Theie would bj 92i'i Australians iinl New Ze.tlaudfrs employed on the ships ar> 1. cil rates, and a Roynl Navy 11-.suivj of 725 olli,::<ts and muii. Dui- present coatiibut:oii |w.;s 6] p-T ei:ufc pr head of tho popuI la'ion, and by this ngiv(-ti)tmt ic wa« iacrea-eil to Is, as cumpaied with jab mi 15s as Hom». flu sh iwod now [America was extending her nuv.l pow-r, and how tho ambitions of Russia, in ih-i Esst had to be watched. It of vital nesesssty that tho limi.'K should u,cres sei, thus enabling tho Australian aud China to j\v vk be'tnr together in a comrmn defence, lu rxplaining the diitnils of |iho new agteetuKit ho primed out thai 't.vo ;mval would bo i_;ivet) avmuilly io New Z.:'.laud, and that as far fib possible suppliei for Vim ship.-, would bo «'a ained iu '< h* colonies, Th" ajseement would remain in fores For ten years. In of peace, one drill bhip and one other c.uiser would bi stationed in New Zealand waters, but notwithstanding the terms of thagreement he understood it to be implied that if necessity arose the colony would have the assistance of the full strength of the British navy. The details of terms of enrolment of Australians and New' Zeahndeiß were not yet complete, but he expected that under the new system the colony would, in a few years, havo 2000 highly trained men ready for service at a moment's notice. Thank goodness there was no desire in New Zealand to have a navy of our own, which would cost over two millions to establish and large sums annually to maintain. He concluded by asking the House to pass the 8.1 l unanimously. Mr Seddcn spoke for an hour and a half, the House having suspended the Standing Orders. ' Mr Massey said this was not a party question, and where the defence of thu Empire wis concerned the Premier could always depend on the hearty assisar.ca and 10y,.l support of members on that side of the House. There could be no two opinions as to the necessity for this~Bill, for, with the exception of the Royal Arthur, there was hardly a fust-class ship in the present squadron, Not the least important part of the agreement was that in regard to training ships, which would supply a long felt want. The amount of £40,000 wis very small, even looKed at from, the lowest point of view, that last year our trade amounted to twenty-five million?, or ;£3l 63 per head. He believed New Z:aknd was getting batter value from its contribution to the Australian squadron than in any other form of defence—a better return was being obtained than Australia and New Zealand could procure for themselves for 10 or even 20 times the amount they now paid by way of contribution. The libsrality of tho Imperial Government in letting us off so lightly showed the statesmanship of thelnipwial Government, and should pt? the contribution heartily and cheerfully. He togarded tho agreement as another coniditiou of the partnership that had been I entered into between John Ball and I his s.ms,

Sir Jaseph Ward expressed infinite sitisfaction that tha two leaders of the Homo wera in absolute unanimity in their support of the preputials put forward by the Government. Sir W. Russell spoko of tho futility of a Colonial fleet as a separate entity, and of the value of a united flea% especially in view of the probable struggle for mastety of the Pacific. S.veral msmbars supported tbe Bill. Mr Se !don expressed gratifio dion at tbe cordial with which the B.U had been rec.ivej.

The second reading was then agresd to unanimously and the Bill put. through Commit tee and all final stages without discussion, a result that was received with appluuse. In reply to Sir Ma?say, the Premier stated there was every probability of the Public Works Statement being brought down at an early date.

The House rose at 11.15 until 2.30 on Tuesday.

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