PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 190, 1 August 1908, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

FRIDAY, JULY 31. LEUISLA'UMS CUINCIL

By Telegraph.-i'ress Association. Wellington, Last Aight. The Council met at 2.30 p.m. Xliu H»n Burr moved "'Unit in Liio opinion of this Council, the Government should immediately consider devising somv; practical measures .whereby the heavy cost of living of unmarried workers compared with unmarried may be lessened, and that men witili families be especially considered so that the rearing of families may be looked forward to with less anxiety, and parenthood encouraged." The question, lip said, was of supreme moment throughout the world, and the day had arrived when matters other than wages, the employer and employee, and the general public, would have to be taken into consideration, and not merely emplover and employee as hitherto. The present immigration met all requirements, but many immigrants were -assisted who were not entitled to the concession. The Government had done something in the direction indicated by the motion. Homes for workers should be the initial step. He quoted statistics to show the disparity in the cost of living between married and single workers and the disadvantage to the former as compared with the latter, and urged that preference should be granted to married workers by employers. State labci- agencies should be established similar to those existing in Germany. He thought, too, wiere was an unjust tax upon everyday.necessities which could not be manufactured in the Dominion. Doctors should be employed and paid by the Government, and should regularly visit the Schools and houses of the people, without waiting to be sent for when too late to save life. Parenthood carried witili it a claim on the Stale. . (Ap- | plause). The Hon. Louglman seconded the motion, and said Mr. Burr's motion represented the true wishes of the country. The debate was atljourncd. The Consolidated Statute Bill was put through all its stages. Tile New Zealand Society of Accountants' Bill was read a third time and passed, and the Council at 5.30 adjourned till August 19.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House met at 2.30. Tlie Amendments made in tiro Incorporated Societies Bill by the Council, with the exception of a couple of clauses which, in—the Premier's opinion, would tend to form a close guild. A conference was arranged to considter these. The Consolidated Statutes Enactment Bill was put through all its stages, after the Premier and other.had eulogised Mr. Joiliffc, secretary of the Commission. THE ESTIMATES. The House went into Committee ef supply for the consideration ot the Estimate*.

Class 1., Legislative Department, £3o*o74.—Replying (to members, the Minister for Finance said the Government would do what was possible to give clerical assistance to members in dealing with their correspondence. The vote passed unaltered. Class 11., Department of the Minister for Finance, £57,588,—The Minister explained, in reply to Mr. Hemes, that the increase from £3500 for discount and stamp duty on remittances to London, was due to the stringency of the London money market.—The vote passed. Class 111., Post and Telegraphs, £790,038 Replying to Mr Hemes,the Prime Minister stated the Government had done a great deal for improvements in the mail services. Tire sum of £20,000 had been OUcrcd for a service between Vancouver and New Zealand, but as steamers could not come here, the Government had been thrown back on tire Suez service, and had paid the Union Company and Huddart Parker lines a subsidy for an improved service connecting with the Suez service but this was unsatisfactory owing to tire extra time involved. The Government was anxious to bring about a fast mail service in conjunction with the British Government, but could do no more than assist in its creation. If such a service could be brought about, it would be cheap at the price. The House adjourned at 5.30.

EVENING SITTING. The House resumed at 7.30. Air. Eraser (Wakatipu) indicated that one of the difficulties of the AllKed service was that New Zealand insisted upon a 21-knot service. Tlie Premier said that was the first suggestion, and the Government would bo prepared to give £IOO,OOO subsidy for the Pacific service but when other Governments felt a 21-knot service too expensive the Government had expressed its willingness to give £75,000 for an 18-kiiot service, with new boats and good passenger and refrigerating accommodation. TELEPHONES FOR THE BACKBLOCKS.

. lii answer to several members who wished for more telephone construction in the backbloeks, tllio Premier asked whether the expenditure of £155,000 anil the erection of 2377 miles of wires last year was not doing what was asked for? How much did members expect the Government to Spend? The Government had, lie declared, done more for the backbloeks telephone service in the past five years than any country in the world and were constructing and extending them as quickly as possible. He protested at the incessant demands for greater facilities at ever increasing cost. If

every demand coming along were conceded, it would not lie long before the rates would have to he put up again. The vote was unaltered. INDUSTRIES AKD COMMERCE.

. On the Industries and Commerce and Tourist and Health Resorts Departments, £71.28(1, several members complained that the Government and the Dominion were not getting anything like value from the Trade Commissioner at a salary of £450. The whole Department Wis antiquated and useless. The money spent on it was wasted.

The Prime Minister justified the appointment, and argued that the trade representative had done valuable work. Mr. Masscy said the Department, not Mr. Gow, the Commissioner, was at fault. It was absurd to send a trade commissioner to the East when we had no direct communication. (Left Sitting).