PARLIAMENT

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 184, 25 July 1908, Page 2

PARLIAMENT

FRIDAY, JULY 24. HOUSE OF KEPIIESENTATIVES. .By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The House met at 2.3(1. | The following Hills were introduced ; and read a lirst time:—Mining Act' , Amendment Hill (Hon. McGowan), , Wellington City Town Belt lieserves Leasing Bill (Mr. fisher), Wellington City Empowering Dill (Jlr. Fisher). The financial debate vas resumed by the Hon. Mr. Hall-Jones, who said if the road appropriations were to lid completely spent, the end of the tinancial year would have to be altered. lie justified the System of co-operative works. Railways should not la; criticised. On part, of the lines there were many disconnected sections which increased the cost of working. It was a good plan to run some trains at a loss to develop the country and help the settlers. Though the'cost of material

I and labor had gone up, the charges had gone down. It was the policy of the (iovernini'iil, when the interest earned exceeded :i per cent., to make further concessions in fares and freight, Charges were much lover here, than in any of the Australasian colonies. The railways must be considered as a whole system, not in detached sections. Vary low freight rates were necessary to meet sea competition. Sir Joseph Ward replied at 4 p.m. He thanked members tor the way the Budget bad been debated. The Opposition asked for caution. He would s'liow that the Government's policy had been one of caution. Uorrowing within Hie Dominion had been insiguilieant, Thi'. (.ioveriuent had only borrowed Mil,(Wo of the A.M.I 1 . Society's New Zealand moneys in 12 years, Wlmt was the use of borrowing on the London market in view of the failure of the New South Wales loan in March Inst?

Consols were interest bearing, despite w'liat the Opposition said. Regarding borrowing from friendly societies, lie said nobody ill New Zealand had been asked to take up Joans. lie showed that Mr. Allen's criticism to the effect I that a balance of ,£152,503 had riot been carried forward was unfounded. The Liberal Administration had spent more money in roads than was ever spent before. He pointed out that members of the Opposition asked for eau'tion, and at the same time wanted., heavy expenditure. The member for Bruce wanted five railways in his constituency. He quoted a passage from

the. J''iiiii]H'iiil Journal in London, based on a letter in a Wellington newspaper, staing that our borrowing was .C 4,000,000 a Tear. This journnl said sane public opinion was required in Now Zea.land and in England to prevent tlie colony living on borrowed money. Iff, could not use confidential information, lint lie would toll them that tlioro were people hero, and bail been for years, \Ylio were always ready to invest in. New Zealand Slock in London when the price fell low enough. Jle justified liisj contention tliat the financial position was unassailable, and complained bitterly of those who did all tbey could to decry the financial position of the; cniintrv. lie quoted a, letter from '.Mr. Booth,'of Booth, Mao Donald and uo„ Christohnroh, and an article in the Christehuroh Press to show that the Budget was satisfactory, and certain critics were doing harm to the Doniin-f ion. (bond Applause). Tlie ilonSc went into Committee of Supply on the Estimates, and adjourned at 5.30 p.m.

EVENING SITTING. The House resumed in Committee of Supply at 7.30 p.m. In the first item of the Estimates, Mr. Merries complained of the administration of prison camps, alleging that dangerous criminals were seat there, causing alarm and unrest amongst settlers.

The Hon. Mr. McGowan said the prison camps had not been a failure. Dangerous criminals were not seat there; only men of good behaviour were sent to these camps. __ Mr. M.issey said the men at the. camps were not properly supervised at nights. They went olT'on burglary ex J peditions without being detected. Mr. Mctlowan replied that no real" unrest existed, lie did not believe members staled fads, but repeated wild stories. Mr. OJioy complained of the lack of information regarding the dairy indus-

lion. Air. JlcMab said the report would be submitted shortly. Mr. MeKcnzie complained that the Govern-, ment's officers did not supply enough information regarding the slate of the London nia'rkcts. Farmers were exploited through information being withheld. Mr. Berries hoped the salaries of veterinarians would be increased. Good men were leaving Ihc service. lion. iMcNab said tin- matter would be dealt willi iu the Supplementary Es-i ti males. Mr. Willord asked for better wages in the printing office and railway service. Mr. liaume urged the necessity for giving free railway travelling to VhiUl-i ri'ii and voung persons going to work, lie also 'said hotelkeepers should be compiled to take children with their parents at reduced rates. Mr. Jlassey said there was a good; deal of unemployed in the cities, and it was desirable to control immigration so as not to swell the ranks of the unemployed. lion. McNali Said it was not the duly of (he .Minister for Agriculture to go hand in hand and offer an increase in salaries to officers of the Department. N"o dissatisfaction Mas expressed by the officers. Naturally, if they wished to be relieved of their positions, he had to accede lo the mpti'sts. Dr. Chappie urged-the necessity for encouraging (he ri'«h(. class of immigrants lo come lieie, It was very necessary to increase the population. Hon. Ilall-.lone* (pointed out that there were comparatively few immigrants in proportion to the total who came here with the knowledge of the High Commissioner. Mr. Lewis referral to the dearth of labor in the country districts. He said farmers could not get men. Farming immigrants should be encouraged. Dr. Chappie complained of the injustice resulting from allowing consumptives to land in New Zealand. Air. Donald Reiil advocated the encouragement of farm laborers, Mr.'Hall said I lie condition of native lands infested with rabbits was unsatisfactory. The Government seemed to "l« nothing. They should get these lauds settled as soon as possible. .Mr. Ml complained of the bad condition surrounding the Cook. Islands' fruit trade, and urged the necessity for improvement. The Prime .Minister said he was prepared to give the penny-iu-tlie-slot system a trial in connection with the telephone system at raihvav stations .'.nd elsewhere.

Mr. Cray urged the necessity for a belter steamer service to the Cook Islands, also more favorable freight churls „„ (he railwnvs for C«ok Island frnil.

.Mr. Massey asked f„ r tI H . privilege for meniliers to frank telegrams on imblic service only, as the cost at present was a serious iiem. 11,. also said it, would be dangerous to travel over parts of the North Maud Main Trunk line at night. Til" Premier said he was opposed to the franking system. It would be a retrograde step lo return to it. As for I lie train service referred to, the best commercial interests had been considered in framing I he timetable, wliich was the only one meeting all requirements. The first Item (Legislative C.nineii. .L-iO'lo) was passed. Progress was reported, and (tic House ,-ose at 11-18 p.in. I

SENSATIONAL INCIDENT. BANDITS ENTEIt A TOWN. A DESPERATE ENCOUNTER. Received 24, 10.12 p.m. New York, July 24. Three armed sti'iingers, reported to be Italians, entered a drinking saloonat Jamaica J'lain, ne;ir Boston, and shot a man dead and wounded two others. They also rilled a easli register. One was arrested and the two other* decamped. Next evening the two bandits re-entered tlii> town, intending to rescue their comrade. The crowd tried to capture (lie bandits, who shot indiscriminately, killing one man and wounding several, including three police and a woman with a baby in her arms. The bandits hid in the cemetery. Five hundred police surrounded the cemetery, being instructed to shoot at sight. The bandits fought desperately. One was killed and the other dangerously

wounded and captured.