PARLIAMENT

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 176, 16 July 1908, Page 2

PARLIAMENT

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The Legisaltive Council met at 2.30. .file Attorney-General, replying to Hon. lUcOardle, said lie would bring under the notice ol the Finance Minis" tor the question tliat no provision for advances under the Advances to .Settlers Act was made, tor those taking up? lands under private contracts with natives and other land-owners. Hon. AlcArdle mentioned that in the King Country alone 200,000 acres were so affected.

The incorporated Societies Bill, New Zealand Accountants' Bill, and the Mcikle Acquittal Bill were read a second time.

In referring to the Bill, Mr. Jenkinson mentioned the invercargill ease in which a man was recently sentenced in the Supreme Court to three months for altering a certificate to enable hint to obtain work, and he thought the Government, in considering the petition, might have allowed the man to go free. The Attorney-General, in reply, Said most careful consideration had been given the case by the Government,, and if Mr. Jenkinson was aware of all the circumstancees lie would not ask this or any other Government to release a man. In the interests of the man concerned, lie did not think it prudent to produce the papers in the case, but ho would do so if required. The Council adjourned at 3.15 p.m.

HOUSE 01' REPRESENTATIVES. The House met at 2.30. An offer of a portrait of the late Sir John Hall, was, ou the motion of the Premier, accepted with pleasure. Some dissatisfaction was expressed at the explanation of the Official Assignee in Wellington who refused to allow a Hebrew to take the oatn with his hat ou, and members insisted that public officials should display courtesy towards the public. T!he Premier read a cable showing the demand for wool was keen and that prices were rising at the London saws. General satisfaction was expressed by the members.

In reply to questions the Minister stated that the Government were not aware of rumors to the effect that it| was intended to increase the Government fire insurance rates. These were unfounded. Tile Government, however, had been advised that the present rates were probably too low to meet the risks run, but the matter had not yet been considered; That the Government intended to amend the Alunicipal Corporation Act, 1000, to enable borough councils owning and working gasworks to sell coal to their burgesses and others, but this | would not be done this season; ! That the Government were unaware, that the Chief Justice proposes to visit American and Great Britain next year. Even so, advantage could not be taken of such a visit for him to represent the Dominion at the Canadian celebrations, as these celebrations take place this month 1 ; ! That so far as Government lending departments were concerned, they have not refused to grant loans upon lands which owners lhavc granted petroleum rights over; . That the scale of duties payable under the Deceased Persons' Estate Duties

Act is fixed by Statute, and there was no present .intention on the part of the Government to introduce legislation to alter the existing law; That the Government did not propose to" make provision in tlie Old Age Pensions Act for payment of pensions to persons who are incapacitated from work by accident or permanent illness without requiring to wait until they attain the ago of 65; the Act in force, in the Dominion was the most liberal of tlie various measures in Austraia. sia: I That the Government could not agree | to tlie free carriage on railways -for agricultural Salt; That everything possible was being done in constructing rolling stock to meet the demands anticipated upon the completion of the North Island Atnin Trunk railway; That the Government could not grant return tickets at single rates to farmers and others travelling to market on market, days,' In past years a special concession similar to that suggested had been introduced, and so grossly abused that it'had to be discontinued; That with it view to reducing the risks incurred by railway oflicials in changing tablets automatic tablet exchangers were being installed; That special, cars, reserved for the use of ladies on railways, was not appreciated. The modern carriages are amply provided with lavatory accommodation; That the potentialities of the field of anthracite coal lying between Charleston and Fox's river were recognised. It was intended to have a detailed gcoolgical survey made of the iircd had beeu reserved from sale or lease;

That there was no probability oi the patents' laws being revised tihis session; ; That a Bill to make it compulsory for mine-owners to provide proper accommodation for employees would involve drastic alteration of the l.aw and could not be brought down this session; That the Government was not aware that Australian flour was arriving in sacks bearing the name and brand of New Zealand flour-millers, but the Customs officers had' been instructed to look out for such cases;

; That municipal fish markets would better meet the requirements of fishermen than clearing markets established by the Government; That a Bill was now under consideration for the purpose of dealing with slioddy goods and would deal with branding; That the Government could not introduce legislation to provide for payment of local bodies of half file royaltics collected from the sale of timber from the State forests, as tile revenue therefrom was the only source from which the operations of the re-forcsta-tion department Avere maintained; That the matter of amending the Noxious Weeds Act was under consideration ; That inquiries were being made regarding the advisability of importing owls and other birds of prey I|p tpujti, down the small bird pest; That it was considered almost impossible to organise four thousand contin'genters who served in Sfauth Africfci into a separate battalion, as they were scattered all over the Dominion; That the general issue of topographical war maps to volunteers was not. considered advisable; That the Prisons Bill, dealing, amongst other tilings, with the sale ci ehlorodyne would shortly be introduced. The remainder of the afternoon was occupied iu criticising replies. 1 ' EVENING SITTING. At 7.30 Mr. Gray resumed tile Financial Statement debate, reviewing the progress of the public works policy since the days of Sir Julius Vogel and the development of the Dominion for the past 30 years. He advocated the utilisation of the water-power resources of the colony, and thought it beginning should be made with the electrification of the ChristcJiurch-Lyttelton railway. Ho did not favor water-power being disposed of to private persons, but could peee no reason to object to municipal and local bodies being permitted to use it. iin concluding, be congratulated the (government on the highly prosperous state of the Dominion. Mr. Malcolm thought the (government deserved some of the credit lor flic prosperous condition of the colony, but they were too anxious to take upon themselves the whole credit. He favored an increased naval subsidy, more encouragement to volunteers, and greater facilities for land settlement than are at present being offered. I In thought the Government should outline the siiheme on which a quarter of a mil- < lion is to be expended on roads. ' thought the invitation of the American ! fleet "mil its visit to our waters was in- ' ilisttfcot. The cost, which ho put down it £IO,OOO, conld have been more pro[itably expended. The issue of Pominon medals to school children and t'he 1 Exhibition organ to Christchurch were | ■vaste of money. He declared flint, the ;axation per head of the.people had in•tensed by :E1 2s fid in the past ten ' 'ears. The population was not incrons- « nrr at tile rate it should, and that mator required the earnest consideration } f Parliament. Possibly he fault might " i.y at t,!hc door of the women who were r' ow more and more drawn away from omostic. duties. ' Wr. Witty contributed to fhe debate, rging srr'eat cantioji under the new itid settlements proposals by which a ?ttler could borrow all the money ro- 9I

ijuired for tlie purchase of laud. lk< thought settlers nhuuld put down 11) per cent in cash.

After supper, Mr. Witty, continuing, said the professional agitator was not required in the labor world and ought to be turned out.

Mr. Mauder (Marsden) approved tile 'roading policy of the Government and appealed for the development of North Auckland. Air. Malider eomplaiiied of the policy of forcing up hind valuations, and said the Cloveriiinent were not as

much friends of the fariner as tlioy pretended. To populate the North freehold must he granted, lie supported, national annuities and advocated a third increase on the necessaries and two-thirds increase on the luxuries of life to provide a pension of 7s to 10s a week. The best class of immigrants should lie encouraged, but the freehold must be given to them. He opposed the co-operative system as unsatisfactory. Mr. Izard (Wellington North) said Minister.* must visit all parts of the Dominion in the recess. The result of the Premier's visits was the roading of the Budget. The progress of the country since the Liberals came in was undoubted. Mr. Izard defended the land policy of the Government and expressed approval of the proposed increase of the naval subsidy. On the motion of Mr. Hnid (Tiuer'O. the debate was adjourned. The House rose at 11.40 p.m.