PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 117, 16 June 1909, Page 3

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. THE MEADSOUGHT OFFER. By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, Tuesday. In the Legislative Council, the Speaker read a message from the House ask in<r the concurrence of the Council 111 a r reiolntioa approving of the Dreadnought oiler. The AUoniey-Ceuei... 6 aid it was not necessary to ask tin Council's concurrence, but il was done as a matter of courtesy. The Hoa. Uigg moved nil amendment opposing the oiler, lie took exception to Dr. Fimilay's statement, and argued at length in support of the reasons eiveft in the motion, contending that the offer was the result of a parly dodge backed Utp <by a Unionist d'ress. He gave the Government credit for jood motives, but said they acted hurriedly for fear that some other country should get ahead. The real feeling of t-he country was against the offer, [lie Opposition was hupelessly involved in the offer and could not repudiate it. The Hon. Scotland briefly seconded the motion. There was no discussion, and oa division only these two voted for the amendment. The motion was carried, and the Council adjourned till to-morrow.

m - ~ir— — HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. me House met at 11.30. Od the motion of the Premier that returns showing the loans to local bodies lie on the ta«>le. a discussion arose on the general question. Sir Joseph Ward said he recognised the importance, and when in Condon wouid try and arrange for loans to local bodies at a low rate of interest, but ue could do nothing now. THE FINANCE BILL. On the motion of the Premier it was agreed that the report of the informal meeting of Parliament be added to Hansairi.

Mr. Massey asked the Speaker for a ruling on the point as to whether the Finance Bill introduced by the Premier last night was an Appropriation Bill. The Speaker ruled "that the Bill was in .order..

Mr. Massej said there were certain proposals ill the Finance Bill to which he strong objected and would oppose ; When the Bill entered the committee ' stage. In addition to the million and » a quarter mentioned in the first part of the Bill, £75,000 was proposed to be raised. This meant increasing the debt by £1,400,000. The House had not bad sufficient information regarding tile financial proposals. He objected io extending the appropriation till October 14. The House was given to un- ' dorstand that it would meet again in September. The proper thing to do "Was to bring down an Imprest Bill. When the House met again it was proposed to extent the unauthorised expenditure to £200,000. Regarding clause 8, ie interpreted it to mean that the Government was empowered to start - roadfe' and bridges without authority Irom Parliament. The Bill would take a week to consider. _ It opened up the whole question of administration. The finances of the colony were not in a satisfactory state. While we had a surplus of' £184,000 we had liabilities' of £287,132. Parliament had a great deal more /responsibility this session than usual. Our prosperity had gone. The Government by not facing the position were shirking their duties. He hoped ho attempt would be made to fatee money by short-dated loans, which Would seriously embarrass the country. Hp referred to the exodus of settlers | 'from the Dominion to Queensland. This .was caused by the land Act of two 'j?ears; ago. When settlers found land thrown open for settlement was set •part for endowment punposes they went away 'in disgust. Mr. Massey laid, the railways had a capital of, 29 millions invested in them, but were only returning £BOO,OOO, consequently there was a very serious loss on the railways. . Mr. Buehanan deprecated the constant railing at capitalists. Within the last day or two people, who had money invested in land, were called criminals. The Government, he said, placed obstacles in the way of settlers acquiring the freehold. Wellington, Last Night. The House resumed at 2.30.

Mr; Buchanan admitted that the season had been a most successful one, but expenditure had .been excessive. Mr. Luke" considered a. large sum gliould be set aside for native lands, which should be opened u» and leased io Europeans. When at Home he hoped the Premier would enquire into financial matters connected with the High Commissioner's Office, which he would probably find more costly than any other State office. He uiged that something be done to .remedy the condition of service in the police force. The present' unsatisfactory position was due to the fact that sufficient enquiry had not been made regarding the antecedents and character of applicants. Mr. Arnold also complained of the nmbtisfactorv state of the police force, and he would fight for a remedy until it. was effected. He considered the portfolio of Justice should be held by a anember of the House.

•ifr. Headman considered the state of til inn disclosed respecting the police highly discreditable to the Government, and he blamed the Commissioner of Police for the present condition of af' fairs. Sealing with the Advances to Settlers, he condemned the extension pf loans to people other than settlers. Mr. Okey was disappointed that a «um had not been appropriated for advances to settlers. A good deal of the depression last year was due to the Department not having sufficient funds to meet the. requirements of settlers'. Regirding public works, complaints were made that .value was not received for Bioney expended. • Mr. Fraser said the House -was losing control of the public purse, which had jpme' to the Treasury benches. He hopted next session Parliament would determine that tire control of the public purse should be in its' hands. Members should time given them to indicate which TVofks should be proceeded with. The government had been unintentionally a lactof in depleting the country of "the capital necessary to carry on industries.

Mr. Newman condemned the Government's borrowing policy. ' Mr. Allen said the Government's hand, to-mouth borrowing policy wis dangerous. He hoped the House would paEs a resoliftion in favor of military training which would have its' effect .it the Defence Conference. The Swiss system was incomparably the best for' New Zealand, as- it did not interfere with employment. Tie House adjourned at .3.30 and regained at 7.30. Mr. Iliac criticised the administration of public works and gave instances of men in bis electorate thrown out of employment.. Three, hundred men had been discharged last month in the Tarajiaki district. ' JUr. Clark opposed compulsory training, if the volunteer system could be Tendered effective. He proposed a scheme trhereby volunteers be . insured for £10(T, payable at 50 years of age. Xlie amount ef premium would be Hi 7s

per year per head. This on 20,(1(10 men would ibc £45,000, «nd would increase the force by 10.000 next year and the ijfrird year would raise the force to .fWWI At the end of the tenth year tjjey wouM have 110.000 fit to take the field.

Mr. Taylor (Christchurch) wondered there would lip a party in the f l ui '.o Tiring before it the state of

i • >o did not earn £IOO a year. Tills was the class that should Ik- considered. He said the Customs and taxa. tion pressed heavily on the working men. and pointed out that the British '"•meellor-Of the Kxchequer had relieved flip men with families in the war of taxation. .Mr. Taylor, continuing, said lie hoped c- J'te return of tile Premier the Ad- • ' •"i to Settlers Office would lie reorganised so that people could procure capital required to carry on their enterprises. Local government reform was urgently needed. Parliament would he voting two millions without, knowing low the money could he spent. * .Mr. Anderson advocated the reform of Jocaf government with a view to reti'cvintf the Government of much work. He advocated the freehold to settlers'. Jfe gpoke of the necessity of military tracingMr. Fisher liop«d a commission would Tie set up to enqture into the police force. Mr. Fisher, continufc.g, went on to deal with the question d* retrenchment, arfd urged that such a coalition of affairs as existed previous to the reforms should not he allowed to exisi in future. Mr. Hemes, referring to the loan, said the House should ibe given more inform otion on the subject. He proceeded to deal with tli'o financial proposals. Regarding native lands, lie said there warno more burning*question in the North Island. Hardly anything had been doie /..■ as a result of the legislation of 1900. .'..': Sir Joseph Ward, in reply, referring 'n ' UraSß who criticised the loans, said I,' those who indulged in such criticism ©.were constantly asking for money foi their districts. "As to tin ieear<Qng the police force, mem before making them, havi rn

»•'/ candidate coining up last year 250 I were rejected for various reason- 1 . Ih* : ii'bulied furtlit'i* charges against nictiihers of the force. He knew no reason why the Minister for Justice should not ue in the culm arena of tile Upper House >o long as lie carried out hie duties ellicirntiy. He charged those who objected the limit at,tJUO (y). The talk of eapiwith haiing killed the proposal to ii.\ the limit at £SOO (500). The talk of capital being driven out of the country was

nonsense. Companies were, leaving the country and other companies were coming in and investinir inonev in the country. During the'last tweive months over four millions had been borrowed by the Government 'without a hitch, proving that our credit „tood hi"h. notwithstanding the attempts to damage it. Ihe policy of the Government regarding railways -had not changed. l!e----iernng to the etinvd assembled at PaiI liament gates, the IVcuuer denounced the attempts' to gel up a demonstration :, iWe" St blmsl ' lf uml d " neil U " w I< ''P"nThe second reading was carried In committee. .Mr. Alasscv moved an amendment to clause 2, that "30th Septeniiber he substituted for "October 14 " lhe Government were asking fc- sun- I piles till the middle of October, thus deterring tlie meeting of Parliament till that date.

Mr. Buchanan supported the amendment.

The Premier said he could not return before the 3ftth September, and it would be necessary to have a week in which to prepare, the Imprest Supply ]}iU.