PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 187, 29 July 1908, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

'XUJiSDAY, JUlil 28. LKOlyjjA'l'lvli COUNCIL. By Telegraph.—l'rosa Association. ~ . ivelJiiigtoa, Last iNight. Uiu Council met at 2.30. 'lhe Addruss-in-iioply W as conveyed to the Governor,

uutlcc to move to tile uiect tJiat tuo Government sliouitl conHitler tile ijuestion of devising luiiner practical means of lessening tiie coat of living now borne by married workers, so tiiat tiie rearing of children may cause less anxiety t mui at present ana patents should tiiereby be encouraged. ihe Incorporated (societies' Hill was lueiits CO """ iUeu with sJigllt amend-

The Council adjourned till 8 oeloclc Ilie Council resumed at 8.30 p.m. ami cuned the Imprest .Supply JjiJl from the House. The Bill was passed ll'ioug 1 its stages without amendment. I'lie Council rose at 11.35 p.m.

HOL'Sii Oi'' IIJiI'KKSEJs'TAxn i£(J. The House met at 2.30. * Replying to iUr. Witty, the Minister or Agriculture said the strong wish on l )iut uf members had delayed the gazeuing „f the new dairy regulations. iliu lreinicr laid a return on the able asked for by Mr. iz ard, showing tli.it the amount advanced to local bomi '-trustee during ]i)os- - was ,€27,000 and £27, SOU the /olJou ' m o y ear ' '-the (j'ovcrmnent Life Inhurnncc Department advanced respecy -.M t,ie Ba " ,c uo,m a.11,«0U. 'Hie total amount advauced to local bodies to date by the. lublic irnstee was i140,2!/o, aim by

the Insurance Department £180,003. < u l ons . uocl "I )on the report bv the 1 üblic Petitions Committee on the petition for a grant for improvements on a road ill the Otau block, Auckland. Ihe 1-remier eoiideuincd the principle , of getting the committee to report favorably on petitions asking for expenditure on roads, bridges and railways as absolutely reprehensible. The Government gWc every consideration to public works' proposals, but would not give • precedence to any recommendations of the committee. The presentation of a petition, he declared, gave no superior right to consideration. The applications coming in were far in excess of the appropriations. Mr. MaSsey disdained any attempt to obtain an advantage. Settlers had a right to petition Parliament, and it was the business of members to do their best for their constituents. He contended that all, the applications for works should go before a committee. Mr. Fisher moved an amendment to the elicct that all petitions for the ex* pendituro of public money be referred to the Government direct.

After furtlier debate, the Premier saiil lie never wished to deny the right to*, petition tiie House, but he desired to make it dear that it was unfai|r 'to Rive the.impression that by petitioning Parliament petitioners would bo specially favored. Applications for works' expenditure should be made direct through W'e local publip bodies or monitors. Chaos would result ii the Government gave precedence to requests by petition lor expenditure. Mr. MasSey declared that under the present system, which was bad and corrupt', thousands of pounds were Spent, and worked to ensure political support. Ultimately the amendment was lost I and the report ordered to lie on the | table.

The report of the committee on the request from Taumaruuui for a separate school for European Children, stated. that it had no recommendation tjb make.

Mr 'l'owids, replying to criticism, protested against racial distinctions being niadc. Tiie policy of the Department was that as soon as European children, attending the native schools exceeded the number of native children such schools were handed over to tihe Board of Education, put he was strongly opposed to separate schools, holding that tile best interests of the races were consulted by bringing the children together in the same schools. The House adjourned at 5.30.

EVENING SITTING. The House resumed at 7.30. On the motion to go into Ways and Means, Mr. Massey criticised the finance and borrowing of the Government, maintaining t'hat it was improper for the Government to be stockbrokers. As to local borrowing, he asserted that when the Premier said he had only borrowed a million and a-lialf in tlie colony in five years, he overlooked the borrowing from' the Post Office at a rate of lialf a-million yearly. He complained of the Government under-pay-fng the best officers, who were snapped up elsewhere, instancing, among others, Mr. Gilrnth.

Mr. _\k'\ T ;ili said he had received no communication from tlie oiliecrs of the Department, indicating dissatisfaction, and could take no notice of the rumors. As to Mr. Gilrulli, lie had received no ! communication from him as to his intended retirement. No ollicer, however, was indispensable. The Premier replied at some length, explaining Uiow conversions arc carried out, and denying that any loss had teen made on these transactions. The motion was carried.

The Education Amendment (Mr. Fowlds), Workers' Compensation (Mr. Millar), -Declaratory Judgments Corporation Contracts (Mr. McNali) Bills were read a second time pro forma. The Coroners' Amendment Bill passed its final stages. The House rose at 11.45.