PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 60, 3 August 1907, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. FRIDAY, AUGUST 2. By Telegraph.—Per Press Association. The House met alt 2.30. Arising out of the petition by J. O't'allaghan and two others praying for redress in the matter of Granger street, : the block in Wellington which was acquired by the Harbor Board .for t'le purposes of a dock and approaches thereto,on the grounds that the amount awarded them by the Compensation Court was inadequate, the A. to L. Committee recommended that the Government introduce 4 a short measure enabling petitioners to secure a rehearing by tlie Compensation Court. A long discussion followed,the recommendation being strongly opposed by Messrs Aitken, Fisher and Barber. The Premier said if the petition were referred to the Government, the Government would look thoroughly into the matter. The point to be considered was whether the Harbor Board was devoting the land to purposes for which it was obtained, and if not, whether the laml should not revert to the owner*.' This point ought to bo cleared up, as a general principle. He had no hesitation in saying that no public bodyought to be allowed to use its powrs of acquiring land if the laind acquired was not used for the purpose for wliioh it was taken. Whether or not that was done in this case he did not knov. The Minister of Labor, in the cour?e of the debate, said in Cabinet and the House he injd always opposed the principle that owners of land taken by public bodies had the right to obtain a rcheiVring if they were not satisfied with the award of the Compensation Court. On a division, the Committee's recommendation was negatived by 52 to 7, and the petition referred back to ihe Committee.

The Aid to Public Works Land Settlement Bill was taFen in committee. At clause 4, providing that money be raised at a rate not exceeding 4'/ 2 per cent., Mr Massey drew attention to a cable in tlie previous day's press, intimating that New South Wales was raising a loan at 3'/ 3 . He considered New Zealand should be able to raise loans at as low a rate as any of the Commonwealth States. The Premier said a 3'/» per cent, loan could not be raised except under a very heavy discount. The Government, had to pay £25,000 beyond par for a_4 per cent. loan. Could the Opposition, in the face of these facts, expect the Government to float a 'i/z per cent. loan. It would not be obtained in the colony at that price. Mr Jas. Allen said the Government obtained it from the Post Office at that rate.

Mr Wilford declared it was absurd to suppose that the Colonial Treasurer would give 4 per cent on a gilt-edged security if he could obtain the loan at 3Vo. If lie could float a loan at 3%, he would certainly do so, and create a record for himself. Mr Herries agreed that 4 per cent, was the best terms New Zealand could get, and he did not think a 3y 2 per cent, loan would be profitable. He did not agree with the Premier with regard to the Post Office, as he thought it right to give depositors the same as was given to other individuals. The House adjourned at 5.30. On resuming at 7.30 the Bill was put through all its stages. The House went into committee oT supply on the first ten E9imates. Mr James Allen, speaking on defence matters, said he hoped the Premier would have given information of the New Council. He complained that our harbors were not sufficiently protected, and advocated a system of port defence, particularly at coaling ports. Tlie Premier, in reply to the Opposition, said it was intended to charge the cost of exhibiting in connection with Departmental displays at the Exhibition to the various Departments, just as If •&ch was a business firm. Speaking of defence mutters, he said the report of the Conference of Premiers did not cover all his remarks regarding defence matters. The safeguarding of these shores was very important. The speech he had made could not, for obvious reasons, be made public. He indicated that the Defence Department was carrying out a definite policy of defence. The Council would bring down its report at the end of next week, or close thereto. The colony did not require torpedoers, and 'would certainly not go in for submarines. Further, it did not intend to go in for a policy for having our own navy, as it was apparent that any trouble on which the Empire might be involved would not be settled near our shores. Referring to the defence forces, he said it was not intended to do anything in regard to a standing army, but a wellequipped, fully-organised volunteer sys-„ tern. He was convinced that good markmanship was an essential factor in the

successful defence of our shores, and adults in every walk of life would be afforded opportunities of becoming good shots. The Premier said the Defence Council of Great Britain had communicated with New Zealand regarding its views, and Admiral Fawkes was closely. in touch with the Home authorities, and the policy of Great Britain regarding coast de-

fence was in a word with what New [Zealand proposed. It was not intended to bring school cadets under the Defence Department, as it was infinitely better that they should receive instruction from their teachers. It was not desirable to give young children the idea that they were part of the defence forces.

Mr Fisher urged that every boy between 14 and 21 should be compelled to fire a thousand rounds on a range. Every man, unless physically unfit, should be compelled to learn to shoot. Mr Malcolm urged that the Government should keep its books so that liabilities should show as in private companies. Mr Barber complained .of the inadequacy of the pay of the permanent force. A number of men were only in receipt of 5s 6d per day, and out of this they had to pay £l2 for kit and Outfit. Mr Massey dealing with the telephone and telegraph systems, advocated extension on a large scale. The Premier said, compared with [other countries, the telephone system of New Zealand was aheadi of the systems of England, Canada, and Australia, and, in his opinion, was ahead of the United States.

Mr Massey quoted from the Commonwealth regulations, and claimed that the telephone system there was cheaper than in New Zealand, the Commonwealth charges being £4 10s for aifflum, a fee ot a halfpenny per call to 1000, and the second thousand falls at the rate of two calls fop a penny. The Premier pointed out that under the Australian system, 3000. oalls cost £lO 13s 4d, or thereabouts, whereas under the New Zealand system tV o»>' fee charged was £7, fox \yM<& „ thousand calls could be ten Mr Mander urged r trlcts _ special arfange^(»-' jountry disniade in regard to fto ..its should be tors w-itli telajA#*- , connection of ■doeMr ,Tasv ..e exchanges. Nul'i v-' asked if the Premifer PN"" "•mend the law to allow the rcI- .entation o£the South Island to relihnd a tho f PreSe "V nd g!TO the North TsUnd the four or five additional membera population required. Mr Witty ,]i,i uot „ it) t ffestion of Mr Allen, as he [members sufficient, but he tho>* re-arrangement of electoral ' Jght the could be curried out more boundaries (Left sit'' satisfactorily.