PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 60, 11 July 1907, Page 3

PARLIAMENT.

WEDNESDAY, -JULY 10.

By Telegraph—Per Press Association.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

The Council met at 2-30.

Replying to tlie Hon. Mr JlaellunaM (he Attornc.v-Geiicral suited tli iU t.ie question of improving the lighting f or the coast lino had been under the consideration of the Government for some tune, and provision would be mule on the Estimates.

The election of Chairman of Com mitices resulted in the appointment vl -Mr \\. C. Smith.

The debut- was retimed bv Hon. Air Ivigg, who proceeded to discuss the iii-i----••cedings ol the Imperial (Jonfer.-lie,. lie was one of those, he said, who did not think the bonds of Kmpiiv eouil I)" strengthened by shop-keeping moth"ds. Sentiment would be more lik-lv t-> bring about that result. The Maritime Conference had done good, and achieved results better than he exFeted. _ Regarding Ihe proposal to alter the designation of the colony to the teijm dominion, he suggested itisiead the word "Autonuniale'' as best expressing' our status. Dealing wila 'recent labor troubles and the Arbitration Act, he said hit was satislied the Act was a good one, but the defect lay in the administration of it. The Council rose at 4.45.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House met at 2.30. The Agricultural Laborers' Accommodation mu (Flatman) was read a first time.

ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS. In reply to questions, Ministers stated that it was the intention of the Government to proceed with (he amendment of the Friendly Societies Act this session, and where practicable to :n----chide amendments suggested bv the committee of the Friendly Societies' Confeilence held at Wellington last year; that it was intended to legishuc with a view to restricting the inmiigvation of Chinese into New Zealand; that the resolution from workers urging that the duty be removed from imported wheat and flour was receiving careful consideration; that it was not contemplated to introduce a Fair Kent iiiil this session; that applications for the extension of telephone communications m sparsely-populated districts would be dealt with on their merits; at present reductions could not be authorised; that the question of altcrui" the Government Railways Superannuation Fund Act so as to allow broken service being computed for the purposes of r c . tiring allowances had received full consideration at the hands of the Government on many occasions, and the request could not be granted; that the suggested abolition or reduction of the Sheep Tax would be considered before the proposed amendment to the Stock Act was printed; that the Government was not prepared during the present session to make any change in the existing scale of teachers' salaries. It was Imped to improve the scale, but the precise way that this could be done was not a question that could be settled immediately; that the question of pay of all grades of railway men would be considered when the classification proposals to be submitted to Parliament are under review; that the progress of motive power for farming operations was being closely watched.

Till-; MAXAWATC RAILWAY. Replying to Mr Field. Uic l'remir stated regarding the Manawatu railway, it must be obvious that the Government's tirst concern must lie conserving the interests of the colony. The Government was willing to treat m fair terms, but the proposal to purchase would not be entertained at any inll.ition of value. Hi- added that "it is not absolutely necessury that the tiovcniinent should acquire the line for the purpose ot carrying on the traffic uiginiting on the Government lines, as it is recognised that a suitable connection could be made for t;,,. diverting of Llio trallic to the Guvcrmn-nt lines. I recognise, however, that the Manawatn railway has been of considerable use, and the owners are deserving of fair consideration should they desire to dispose of it."

FIX.VNCIAI, (.'i,\ i r..\i]vXT AND LA.\D PROPOSAL^. The ['UE.MII-.ii announced th it the Financial Suiti'inent would lie brought down on Tuesday night.and accompanying it would be the most important Hills of the session—those relating t 0 tin- land proposals, the l-and Bill, Endowment, and band and Income Assessment Hills. Till' circulation of these measures before the deb.ite proceeded would give Ihhi. members full information rtativc to the Governments proposals. Later on the Native Land Bill would also be circulated. THE T Alii IT.

.Mr FISIIER asked it the Government had any intention of setting up a special committee in connection with the tarilf. The PREMIER-Xo. We might have set up a Special Committee 12 months ago. -Mr FISHER—Is there to be no facility for manufacturers to give evidence on existing anomalies. The PREMIER replied that it was the wrong time. Representations should have been made long ago, when th.tarilf came down with the recommendations. If any other course were adopted, it would mean no tariff this year.

ELECTIVE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL BILL. On the House resuming at 7-'!0, Sir W. J. STEWARD moved, as he has for many years, the'second reading of the Legislative Council Election Bill. He stated that whilst convinced the majority of the members of the House were against any proposal for abolition of the Lpper House, he was convinced that the majority of members were strongly of opinion there was a belter means of appointing members than at present. Mr BARCLAY expressed the opinion that the second Chamber was not a necessity for good government. He intended to vole against the Bill, as it did not go far enoughMr WILF(MI) said it was idle to give a second reading, because if the Bill passed all readings it would meet I'm; fate of other Bills sent to the Upper Clumber. Mr T. .MACKENZIE would support the Bill for the purpose of indicating that the pre-i-nt system of making :\i-

pointnu-n'.s was unsatisfactory. Mr KISIIIJ!. welcomed thc'liill, ami hoped it would receive the support of mcinb.-r-, ill tin- CiiiimiitliT stages. Mr KUi was opposed tu till; existence n[ a. second Chamber, and would support Hie second reading of the JiiU. I lip I'ItKMIKI! expressed hi, admir.ili'in of the persistency of Sir W-' ll'. Steward in luiii.u'intr forward tin- Bill. Hi' stated objections to the Upper Chamber sliniild come from members win) weie of o|iilii(iii tile Chamber stojd in the way of reform, but (since 1st!) t

the l'|i|ii'i- (lumber had been morn liberal than the llon-c of Ucprcsentaiiv.-s. an.! had a--i-td in piaeiue. -oeiil .■- 1..1111- nil lII,' Slallll • Uook. 11.. si it'll thai .Mr I'islier has expressed hi, approval of ilm iipiNiin.tim.-nl of Mr I.like, to lie. I'pper Hon~i: because he knew iiini. and yet hccati.-c lie did not h ive personal knowledge of otli.-r Councillors appointed he criticised the (lovenimciii for appointine them, lie (Sir Joseph Ward) stat-d that the Councillors i-'p-pninted were respected pei-onaj.es in tlieir mvn loculitii-. and he stronelv def"llde,l !ac v. hole of 111- recent UppointinetiK Personally he hail never made a promise to place anyone in the I'pper linns!', and had always maintained that they should come before

the Ministry for proper consideration. Mr MASSHY said Sir W. J. Steward had every reason to lie satisfied with I lie reception the incisure had rcceiwd from members. Kefcrrin;; to the up. poinlmeiils recently made to the l'pp;-r House, he said they were not men who ' would have been selected by thcyi'Oole. 1 He considered that men who had been members of the House of l!vp;e.--cii';t.ii,- [ ives. and there were plenty snir^l,

should 1..- nominated to the Upp"r Chamber. Alludini. to the appointment t |i.f the Attorney-Cent nl to the I'pp -r I Chamber and lie Incentive, he referred .. I to Dr. Find.il>'- d f.-at as a cindiiln:c . i i-.r Wellington electoral., for a s cat in .! (he TTouse. yet lie now lirlil a. place oil - posiljim was iutol .-rabi-.

Mr GRAY' expressed the opinion that the Council was no better than the House iu the matter of hasty legislation. He intended to vote against the motion.

Mr LAUUENSON defended recent Council appointments. Mr SYMES advocated the Council being elected on a universal franchise, and expressed his intention of supporting the Rill.

Mr FIELD supported the prcsjnt svstem.

-Mr LAXCi criticised the Government regarding Upper House appointments. Mr J. ALLAN expressed the opinbii that the election of Councillors by representatives would be ten times worse than the present system. Messrs McLaehlan, Major, Barber, St.illworthy, and llanan also spoke. At 11.1.")', Sir W. .1. Steward rose 'o reply. The motion was carried by 40 to 21). | Mr R. McKEXZIF, moved' the second reading of the Noxious Weeds Amendment Hill- A division was taken without debate, and carried ,by 41 to 28. > The House adjourned at 11.45 pin..