PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 60, 16 August 1907, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 15. By Telegraph—Per Press Association. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House met at 2.30. The Premier gave notice of his intention to move that in future Government business take precedence 011 Wednesday. The Otago Harbor Board Empowering Bill (Millar) was read a first time, and referred to the Local Bills Committee.

The whole afternoon was taken up in diseususing formal business. The House adjourned at 5.5 to allow members to attend the reception to Webb, the sculler. EVENING SITTING. The House resumed at 7.30. The Waitara Harbor District and Empowering Bill was read a second timo. During the afternoon petitions, containing 30,000 signatures, were presented praying, for the abolition of the totalisator. Several petitions were also presented, praying for the continuance of the totalisator.

The Gore Street Bill and Wellington City Empowering Bill were rc.ad a second time. AN ADVANCED PROPOSAL. On the motion to go into committee of supply, Mr Barclay moved an amendment, that in the opinion of this House, the time has come when tho 'Government should take the control of the food and elctkjng supply of the people. Ho said that evils which had existed for so many years past had reached such dimensions that something was necessary to be done in the interests of the people, as the rich wel'o becoming richer and tho poor becoming poorer. A state of things existed in which the producers of wealth received the least and lived in imminent danger of distress aid starvation, whilst the rich became more woalihy. There was not a member in the House who was not conversant with tho wretchedness, poverty and despair of poor people in all countries. The Arbitration Act had done a certain amount of good, but had stopped too soon. It provided a certain wage for a man in work, but did not provide for I the >nau who had 110 woiit. If American trusts could produce for person?] j gain at cheap rates, how much bettor and cheaper could not tiie Government undertake the control and supply of necessaries for the benefit of the people. Mr Arnold seconded the amendment pro forma. He urged that Mr. Barclay suould include timber in his amendment, as tiie existence of a timber ring in this colony had increased the cost of this necessary building material. On a division the amendment was negatived by 55 to 10.

Mr Jas. Allen asked if the Government intended to take any steps in repaid to mining cn ricli agricultural Unas. He suggested that something required to be done to compel the soil to be replaced where land was broken by Xs S ° peratio,!a ' even on private

Mi Reid urged that before a miner's license was granted regulations should enforce that the soil be replaced. ' Mr Bennet said that when soil was first disturbed, it should be placed m position ready, to bo replaced when mining operations ceased. Mr R. Mackenzie said if the suggestion of the member for Bruce was brought into force it would ruin the It-edging industry of the colony. The Hon. Mr McGowen said the GovNment had not been neglecting the matter,-, which had been looked into, and he was going to obtain another report. Some lands liad actually been improved by dredging. Hon. T. Duncan said the report !?f the Commission that enquired into the subject was to the effect that agricultural land should be protected, and Ministers were agreeable. to this course. Mr Platmau endorsed Mr Duncan's remarks. He said it was a standing disgrace that the Island Block Boil was being washed away. The land of Island Block was Bome of the finest agricultural land in the colony.

THE ESTIMATES. The House went into Committee. Cn the vote, Colonial Secretary's Department.. total £75,554, Mr Lang, referring to the Electoral Department, £8,767, livgod that returning officers in country scattered districts should be better "e----munorated than in compact districts. The Premier, in reply, said that the main electoral rolls would be printed l>v the Government Department, and the supplementary rolls could be printed locally. In reply to Mr Lang, he was perfectly satisfied that the remuneration granted to returning officers (iO guineas) was adequate for the respsnsibilitios and duties, and he would not agree to a variation of the rates.