PARLIAMENTARY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 81829, 23 August 1906, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

WDENESDAY, AUGUST 22.

TEE PRESS ASSOCIATION. The Council met at 2.30. A communication was read from Airs Seddon, acknowledging the resolution of the Council regretting the death of her husband

Hon. Mr Louis ton moved the Address m Reply. He said while all regretted the lots of Mr Seddon, it was a matter of satisfaction that he was so ably succeeded, and the verdict of the country was favorable to the Ministry formed by Sir J. G. Ward. There were many subjects of the highest importance in the speech which would demand the earnest consideration of the Coum-il. If a reciprocal treaty conld be arranged with the Commonwealth on terms which would properly safeguard interests, it would be a good thing tor the country. He approved the proposal for enconring seicntifb methods of production, while he rejoiced at the satisfactory condition of the tourist traffic. He did not consider that the Government offered sufficient facilities to tourists to trivel through the country. It was useless to advertise the colony as a tourists' resort without making complete provision for locomotion, and the traffic conveniences of tourists. The whole service between Auckland and'the Blnff ought to be in (he hands of the GoTernment. The Exhibition was an undertaking at which he rejoiced. The matter had been taken up keenly, and in Christchurch alone there were eighty to one hundred business men who had for the past six months devoted half their time towards ensuring the success of the undertaking. He was sure the whole thing would result in a gigantic success. With regard to the tariff, he thought it was a question that ought to lie dealt with as speedily as possible. We hive been having a large surplus year after year, and in his opinion when there was a surplus, steps ought to be taken to ascertain how to relieve the pressure of duties upon the necessaries of life. Life might thereby be made a little fleasanter to persons of small incomes. The Hon. Mr Thompson seconded the motion. He considered the speech from the Throne a very comprehensive one, and included referenee to measures of the greatest importance to the colony. He agreed with he expressed intention of the Government to maka no sudden radical alteration in the land system of the colony. It was good news to learn that the construction of main trunk railway lines was to be prosecuted vigorously, especially in regard to the North Island trnnk line.

The debate was adjourned on the motion of (he Hon G. McLean, and the Council rose at 4.5. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House met at 2.30. The following Bills were read a first time: Workers Compensation for Accidents Act, 1900, Amendment Bill," "Coal Mines Act, 1903, Amendment Bill," " Totalisator Abolition," " Waimate- Hospital Disrrirt." " Otago Dock Acts Amendment." " Palmerston North Dairy School," " Wellington City Reclaimation," "Criminal Code Amendment," " Juvenile Offender.'.' " Quackery and other Frauds Prevention," Masterton Trust Lands," " Ballot Card Voting," "Law Practitioners," " Goveminent Valuation Anvidment," " Noxious Weeds Amendment," Wellington Harbor Reclaimation," Elective Executive," "Otago Dock Validation," "Maketu County," "Legislative Council Election," Christchurch District Drainage." Between 40 and 60 papers were laid •n the table, and ordered to be printed.

On the motion of Mr Eirkbride, for Mr Fisher, it was resolved that there be kid before this House, a return showing (a) the area of the grounds attached to each Ministerial residence in Wellington; (b) the capital and unimproved values of each Ministerial residence j (c) the cost of any addition or additions made to each or any of the Ministerial rc«iJences cither by wjj»t!r(l) land, (2) buildings or (3> furnishing, daring the last five years ended Ist August 1906, particulars for each year to be sepvately stated. Six other " unimproved" notices were passed in. It was further moved by MrKirkbride, for Mr Fisher, "That there be laid before this House a return showing (1) the area, capital and unimproved value of the residences of His Excellency the Governor et Wellington and Auckland and (2) the annual amount spent upon each for upkeep and maintenance during the past five years ending Ist August 190 G. each year to be stated separately." The Premier opposed, on the ground that the discussion of the affairs of the Governor on the floor of the House would be a bad precedent. He appealed to Mr Maasey to support him. The mover had given no reasons. Mr Massey dissented, maintaining that the motion in its first part did not affect the affairs of the Governor at all, and that as for the second part, the House has every right to know all about every item of expenditure. The Hon. Hall-Jones urged that as all the information asked for is in the annual Estimate, the publicity now srmght is unnecessary, and therefore ixvors of discourtesy to His Excellency.

Mr T. McKenzie said everybody w»s not no familiar with the Estimates ai the Minister of Public Works.

Mr Kiribride defended his position.

The Premier, interposing, said he had understood Mr Kirkbride to say ttut he had Mr Fisher's written authority to move his motion. Now he found he had not.

After some discussion it appeared that Mr Kirkbride had misunderstood the question put to him by tinPremier.

Of the question of the necessity for written authority in such cases, Mr Speaker ruled that the usual practice la for an Hon. Member's assertion that he has authority to be accepted. The motion was lost. Ayes 12. no -a 38. Tne House adjourned at i p.m. EVENING SITTING. THE ADDRESS-IX-REPLY.

Mr SEDDON (Westland), who was received with applau-e, r<<"»« - t«> inoiv the Address in-Keply. lie began by complimenting tin- Premier t>n the excellent Government he had formed. The Governor's Speech he charattt-rised in lavinirablt- H-rms as businesslike and <-<>mprchrn--iv,-. and went on to refer to the reciprocity treaty with the Commonwealth. He gave a short review if the various attempts made in thi- direttion. and as the contents of the treaty would not be known until Tuesday next, he contented himself with a hope that tho arrangements wculd prove to the benefit of our country, lie congratulated Sir Joseph Ward on the excellent work done by him at the Postal Conference in Rome. He had had the n 1 " d fortune to see the Exhibition at Christchurch the other day .and he warmly endorsed the paragraph in the Governor's Speech referring thereto. Reviewing the refernres to the Agricultural Department and its prospects, he advocated the establishment of experimental stations in the Sou'h l-land. adding it was ridiculous to M ipp slhat experiments in the North Island would give any useful information to the Southern farmer-. Crming to the Tousist Department, heapproved warmly of the refi-n nc- n> the Speerh, but t ok 'he opportunity to siv that the West Coast had not had iu-tice in the IV-p.irtmtr.Ml (lis tribution. He had him=>-'f mad- ■• tour throueh the country body, .-.rr. l

•-.is stni'-V liv tlir -T.l;n-l'l -=<-i-iipta-T!p read ?n rxtr.T-t from il»> report of one of I'm srn'.ynr; if i'i- T.an<?<= Department in n .and runr'lmVl ~.it!i He lii.i". ihi» the Tour- )«» v.'iH take = tep~ »<• |!>r»t rovntiv b""r>r f'lr '!"■ attraction of tnuri'l In respect df Education, he ' out tha f ,

the opportunities of the country children Here not euual to those of the Un'.ns. At the same tune, it did not permit idem to qualify for the tree places of the .secondary system. tor Uie arrangements made oy (lie (jovernment Lr technical education, he nad nothing but high praise, ami he went on 10 make eulogistic references to \ iciuria Cv-.-ege, t..c future centre of the Law studies of this country. Oi the proposals for hclp--ing the country districts with telephones for medical and other purposes, he spoke highly, emphasising the need for even more assistance as legards the first ,and he was earnest in approving of the promised further assistance to the mining industry, Which he declared would be good news to the West Coast miners. He dwelt long on the qualities and achievements of the miners, and gave a short sketch of the rushes that had filled Westland fijom the east, and noted the fact that the Canterbury Government had done a great d -al to facilitate their travelling with a system of public works. In this connection he referred to the services and death of one of the past surveyors, Mr Whitcorabe. Of the resources still in those regions, he spoke warmly, as likely to be quickly developed by Government aid. He went en to speak of the water-power of the colony, and hoped for their utilisation. Before concluding:, he would refer to the excellent services of the Governors that have ruled over this colony, and on behalf of the West Coast he would extend an invitation to the Governor to visit that part of the colony ,and he assured him of a hearty welcome. He thanked the House for the kind hearing it had given him. (Loud applause.) Mr C. H. POOLE (Auckland West), seconding the motion ,appreciated the high honour done him by his selection for the work, which he characterised as most generous, seeing that he had been elected as an Independent Liberal. He was that in the sense of being ready to support ali strong Liberal measures. A great wave of satisfaction had gone around the country when the personnel of the Government was announced. The Speech was comprehensive and good. He thought that perhaps the remarkable amount ot caution that was shown in it was due to the large Scottish proporiton ol the Cabinet. That was a sign ol stability. The great master mind of Xew Zealand had passed away, but every great crisis in the world's history produced great men fit to cope with them. Uefore taking the Speech in detail, he described how he and the member for Westland had divided it between them, and he complimented that member on the admirable minner in which he had presented his part. (Applause.) The first thing that struck him about the Speech was its optimism. It was the best feature of it. It showed the hopeful mind of the great man who was gone. He had stepped into the wilderness of want, heard the cries there, and devised measures. These his successors would carry on. He dwelt on the Navy and our connection with it ,and passed to the mercantile marine. He made much of the fact that in our best local shipping company over qo per cent .of the men are of our race- He advocated the training of young men for the sea, as many of our young men have the salt in their blood. He was pleased to sec the Sparrow which ,though not a modern ironclad, was the beginning of that great policy. He advocated more scientific assistance to agriculture. He opedh the Exhibition would be utilised in this connection with lectures and demonstrations of various sorts, after the manner which had proved so successful at the Exhibtion at Toronto, which he had been privileged a short time ago to attend. The same thing he would say of the mining industry, which required help to bring wealth from the countryside to the sea. He hoped that Auckland would not be forgotten when this assistance was given. Coming to the Land question, he eulogised the hard working settler ,and would not be party to placing any restrictions on him. Being interrupted by some remark of Mr MacLauchlan's, he said that the member for Ashburton was talking in his sleep, adding that he hoped this House was not going to become a refuge for inebriates. He went on to welcome the progressive proposals, with reference to Native Lands, and hoped that the (new Department might prove a tonic to the Nativ&3linister. Passing to the tourist Traffic, he said he liked the tourist, but he preferred the settler. For instance, h»_would like to know if the Wangar River belongs to the settler to his produce to the market from his roadless lands, or to some monopoly based on the business of carrying tourists. He wijnt through the rest of the Speech with approval, particularly emphasising the Labour proposals, and, in conclusion, hoped the result of the progressive programme would be all that might be wished. (Applause.) | The Leader of the Opposition, Mr | MASSEV, congratulated the junior members who had spoken on their moderation and good sense. He specially congratulated the member for Westland qn the position he occupied, and would say to him that he and others would watch his career with great interest ,and would be glad if he in time rose to a high position in the colonv. Of the member fur Auckland West, lie said that surely he was aware that in seconding the motion he made himself .. member of the Party. He complained that the Speech was vague. It referred to many startling things elsewhere, but to nothing in New Zealand. The undertaking most wanted in this country—roading the out districts—was ignored. As to the Land policy, where was it? Were they freeholders or leaseholders '■ Th Cabinet, to judge of the Speech, was apparency as indefinite as the' mind of the -Minister for Lands, who had never been heard in the House on this subject. He read from Mr McNab's Gore speech, and challenged him to stand by his opinions. The Minister for Education, what had he done with his opinions"' lie was a single-taxcr, and the leopard may change his spots, but the singletaxer never changes his opinions. The Minister of Education had extreme opinion* on the Land question, lie was sorry, then-tore, to see him ■in the Government la-nche-. I iis pro-ence helped to remind him that the Premier had, like hi- namesake of old in Egypt, a coat of many colours. There were many colours. but no policy—one colour for ficchold, one for leasehold, one for preference to unionists, one against it, one for the '1 risco service, another again-t it. How was it possible for mi. h a Mini-try to have a polity!' Alter in-is:ing, regarding the afternoon's incident, on the right of every member of the- House to any information he likes lo ask for, hewent on to touch the Tariff. This vear it was onlv a question of time, "lie offerd P. help the Government by staying here for any time necessary to pass Tariff reform. Before leaving the subject he declared that he would assist the Government to reduce taxation, but not to increase it. Coming to the Workers' Homes, he rompla'ned of the delay, and declared that the homes were rosting more than the sums authorised by Parliament. He was satisfied thai the r'nis would he as high as 15 a -,eek. About the I.egi-lative Coun- ■ il, v.hi'h i- not mentioned in the Speech, he renumbered reading a -porch by the Minister of Public Woifc- indicating tin- in'enli m of on 1 Government to deal with 111" subiec bv a I!iM. The Minister denied it. Krienme- 1.. the |.x-Miiiisiers of 1..1H.-I. and ("u-;cnrs. he sympathised ■t ;i*lv wi.h ilvi-i- gentlemen in

■ !„.;,■ .. r ,.:,. n t rind r. ulcl see -(. T-:.~r n f<,r tiM'ir exf in-i'tn from t'io f;-.v.Tnmpnt. Ifr passed to thi< ! !r.mi , jr.-' ,; "n po'iov. and doubted -Tenth- wlv'tlirr 'here was anv ne-

-<>- -i» v f<r assjstinjr to britiH" cut n'l 'hosp people mentioned in the n'urn laic' on the taMe. Miat day, A 1!

the money to spare should be devoted to the interests of the outlying settlers and the producers of the cul" ony. Coming to the Imperial Conference, he advocated the election of representatives to such conferences, and expressed a hope that the business ot Parliament would not be interfered with. Continuing, he «as grievously disappointed that the Government had not announced the Harbour Board Bill. He hoped that even yet a Bill might be brought Jown, extending the franchise for lfiose bodies. lie warned the Government t:.at their Local Government proposals would not please the country —that is, if a recent speech o: the Minister of Mines may be taken as a criterion. The Endowment policy of the Speech he supported, bin he, would insist on opening the lands under the ording provisions of the Land Act.

The PREMIER said it was due to Mr Massey that he should follow him on this, the first occasion of his appearance in his present capacity. He cordially complimented the Member for Westland and hoped he might follow" in his father's footsteps to the highest position. He defended the Member for Auckland West against the charge of inconsistency, by pointing out that since his declaration of independence a liew Government had come into office. lie defended the Speech against Mr Massey, who had spent a whole hour in criticising it, but Mr Massey himself did not seem to have much of a policy. He had only ventured on one plank—roading. Now, during the last year's Government ,of which he had been a member, they had spent £2,101,400 On roads. As to the sneer about the single-tax, there was one member of the Government a single taxer, but that did not make the whole Government single taxets. Moreover, if the Opposition would w;(it a little with patience, they would find the Government policy foreshadowed in the Governor's Speech. The proper thing for them was to wait till then ,and judge the Government in its concrete policy, not on the criticisms of separate and irresponsible opinions of its members. He had been challenged for a reason why there was no place in the Speech for the mending or ending of the Legislative Council. First, he would say that Mr Mnssey's ideal of a Council elected on the Hare system was retrograde and impossible. Abolition of the system would be more democratic. For himself, he did not believe in the abolition of Council. The Government did not intend to meddle with the Council, as the country had not asked for anything of the kind, and he challenged any member of the House to show that the Council, during the last ten years, had ever opposed the popular will. fl'lie Land question ,hc assured the House, would not be shirked at the proper time. They would have it clear and definite. For the retirement of his ex-colleagues, he was sorry the Leader of th Opposition had referred lo them as he had done. It was an insult io himself and to those gentlemen to talk of them having been illtreated. They had gone out with every sympathy and friendship on both sides, guided by circumstances over which all were equally powerless, and which they and he had talked over and under stood. He asked the House to be patient until the material proposals of the Government came down. (Applause.) Mr Alltin (Bruce) followed on the lines of his chief. He found fault with the absence of policy. He denounced the conduct of the Government in introducing assisted immigrants on their initiative without the consent of Parliament, a nd he deplored the absence of business principles in the Government Departments. The House adjourned at u p.m.