PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 250, 19 November 1903, Page 3

PARLIAMENT.

| THE COUNCIL. The Council met at 2.30. The Coal Mines Act Amendment Bill was read a second time pro forma, and referred to the Mines Committee. The Orchard and Garden Pests Bill and Workmen's Compensation for Accidents Bill were read a third time a<nd passed. The Council went into committee on batch 34 of local Bills passed by the House on Monday last, and after 16 passed unamended the Coun-1 cil adjourned until eight.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 18. The House met at 2.30. ASHBURTON REFRESHMENT ROOMS. The Railways Committee referred to the Government for favourable consideration the petition of the lessee of the refreshment rooms at Ashburton railway station, praying for compensation on account of "no license" having been carried. Sir JOSEPH WARD said the same rent would not be charged the lessees as provided by the lease. ARBITRATION. It was announced that the conference on the amendment in dispute •between the two Houses in the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Bill had arrived at an agreement. SALE OF CROWN LANDS. -

Mr ELL asked the Premier if the Government will submit to a referendum vote of electors a proposal that no more of tine Crown lands of the colony be sold. Mr SEDDON'S reply was as follows : It appears to the Government umiecessary at present to decide that a referendum or vote of electors is necessary as to whether any more of the Crown lands of the colony should be sold. Should, however, an attempt be made to prevent the poor man obtaining lands under the leasehold system the question will be changed, and the views of the people would be essential, as to whether equal opportunities should be given to persons with or without money to exercise the to occupy the heritage of all. BIBLE READING IN SCHOOLS. Mr TAYLOR asked the Premier what steps he proposes to take to enable the electors to express theii opinion on the question of Bible reading in schools, seeing that the Referendum Bill has been thrown out in another place. Mr SEDDON'S reply was as follows : The rejection of the Referendum Bill is inexplicable, it halting been carried twice by representatives of the people in the House Greater deference should have been paid to their wishes by the Legislative Council. Presuming, from the question submitted that the Hon. Member is in favour of the proposal, he will, no doubt, during the recess, •nlighten the electors upon the subject, thus enabling them to have an opportunity of expressing their opinion upon the question. It is impossible without authority of Parliament and necessary appropriation to take the referendum. Late as it is in the session if there is a consensus of opinion in favour of the same the Government would favour the Referendum Bill being passed through all its stages and again submitted to the Legislative Council. Its rejection' on the third occasion by another place would be a powerful argument in favour of a change being essential to the good government of the colony.

THE TOTALISATOR. Mr ELL asked the Premier If the Government will, if twenty.five thousand electors petition for a referendum on the proposal to abolish the totalisator, bring in a Bill next session providing for taking of such referendum.

Mr SEDDON replied as follows : The Government are of opinion that it Is not a question as to the number of electors who may sign a petition for a referendum on any given question, but rather that the guiding principle should be whether or not the subject proposed to be submitted is of sufficient importance to demand the direct voice of the people thereon. Personally, the Premier favours the abolition of the totalisator, and trusts that next session opportunity may offer for the House to deal effectively with the question.

GENERAL QUESTIONS. In reply to other questions, Ministers stated that the Premier intends during the recess to visit the Chatham Islands and make himself acquainted with the Islands and their possibilities ; that a Bill will be introduced next session enabling the lands within and without boroughs to be taken compulsorily for workmen's homes ; that reports are being obtained with a view to bringing with as little delay as possible all bush and swamp Crown land under the provisions of the Bush and Swamp Crown Lands Settlement Act just passed.

Replies given to questions were discussed f«r a couple of hours, and the House rose at 5.30. PREFERENTIAL TRADE. The House resumed at 7.30. Mr Seddon moved the second reading of the Preferential and Reciprocal Trade Bill. He said that he felt that in dealing with this question he had a great responsibility cast upon him. He'did not know when there had been 'a time wlim there was a greater demand for those who wished to do what they conceived to be their duty to give preferential trade to the Empire. In this Bill they made no distinction against any part of the Empire, and in that respect their proposals were wider than those given effect to by Canada. He might bo told that they were not doing much, but they were affirming a great principle. They asked nothing from the Mother Country in return, ft had boon suggested that they ought to have reduced the tariff in favour of British imports, but that would injure the commerce of the country. The question was whether they would assist the Mother Country or go on feeding alien nations by discontinuing) to give them their trade, lie admitted that the proposals might not be economically sound, hut it was political and a necessity forced upon us by other countries—a necessity increased by the apathy shown by those in the Mother Country. Mr Seddon dwelt at some length on the decadence of the trade with the Old Country of late years owing! 'io tho encroachment of foreign traders. The increase of duties proposed on toots and shoes would not. affect the people of the colony at all except in regard to fancy articles and the colony would be fully able to supply our requirements. Last year outproposals were sulrtnjtted to the Imperial Conference, and the principle of preferential duties in favour of the Mother' Country was unanimously agreed to. Having pledged himself to that as their representative, and that principle having been endorsed by the people, it was his duty to submit the proposals to Parliament. There might be Little Englanders in New Zealand as at Home, but their views must not be allowed to piedominatc at such a crisis. Matters were growing worse with Home trade and it was time for us to stem the tide. He looked to see this Bill passed with that unanimaty and cordiality which had always characterised the attitude of the colony towards the Mother Country.