PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 213, 14 October 1909, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 13. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The Council met this afternoon and adjourned on account of Labor Day cebbrations.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ADDRESS-IN-REPTA* DEBATE. I The Howe met in the evening. Mr. Guthrie resumed the debate 'n the Address-in-Reply. He denied that the Government had done anything to relieve the recent depression. He refer* red to the immense cost of the Lan*ls Commission, which reported a widespread desire for the freehold, yet iii 15)07 the Government had brought in a Land Bill providing for leasehold. The Government legislation had tlic effect of injuring the securities for loans, thus frightening away capital. While approving of the retrenchment scheme, »c , held the Opposition had a right to criticise the state of things which obtain*! in former years, when £'250,000 annually was wasted in connection with the Civil Service. The Liberal Party had made capital out of the fact that Premier Atkinson had started relief woriia ill 8s Oil a day, but to use this again it the Opposition was grossly unjusi. He accused the Government spending money in electorates previous to elections. He defended Mr. Massey's action in visiting Taihape, and speaking during the election at Rangitikei, seeing that Min- ; isters had been appealed to on behall of the Government candidate. The ative lands question was blocking pr»gresa and prosperity of the Dominion. Native lands ought to be thrown open with the least possible delay. He won d suggest doing away with the Native Department and placing native lands un. dor the control of land boards. He regretted the absence of any mention of legislation dealing with the freehold tenure in the Governor's Speech, although a majority of members was in favor of freehold and the Land Com•mission had reported that the people asked for this form of tenure.

Mr. Taylor (Thames) followed. He defended the Government's administration, and quoted figures showing the increase in the value of property, public and private wealth. A very large proportion of the outcry for freehold jras simply indulged in for purposes of agitation. Would Mr. Massey advise tba people of Auckland to sell the Cornwall Park in freehold allotments? Would lie grant the freehold on our gold, fields ?■ If so it would be one of the most prolific sources of litigation ever known. He believed great improvements were required in the taking up of lands on goldfields. A universal freehold would be one of the most disastrous things the country could have. People tvero taking up freeholds and letting them, thus creating a class of tenant farmers similar to those at Home. Mr. J. Buick (Palmerston North) regretted no mention was made in the Governor's Speech of military training for the youths of the country. The system of loans for local bodies referred to in the Speech was a desirable onj, and ought to have been initiated befo o the clamor for expenditure would cease. The Government should give local bodies power to make roads and bridges and provide loans at a moderate rate of interest. He supported the freehold tenure as the best for the individual aul for the State. Mr. Newman condemned the native

land laws, which were perplexing and abstruse. The Native Minister was chiefly responsible for retarding settlement of the native land question. Long native leases under which much native lands were held were inimicablc to progress and would result in creating a Maori aristocracy. Nothing would save the Maori race but the necessity to work for a living. Making a landlord class of them was a sure way to ruin them. Control of Maori affairs should be taken out of Maori hands and entrusted to business men.

The. debate was continued by Mr.' Dive (Egmont). who said the Tiipber Commission was simply a waste of money. The scarcity of white pine seriously affected the dairying industry, which utilised this timber for boxes. He would like to see a commission appointed to enquire into the administration and expenditure of public money. Mr. Okey (Taranaki.) followed, lie urged the granting of ilic freehold, and reform of the native land laws, lie advocated the Government lending monev to all local bodies so as to obviate the'r going to the London market.

Mr. Allen einplained that the charts in»'lf by thi 1 Opposition members of election bribery bail not been answered. They must therefore take them to true. He attacked Mr. l'owlds' singletax principle* and challenged him to fay if lie were agreeable to introduce legislation that would take awav the goodwill of his own business, as he proposed to take away the unearned increment from a settler 011 land. The stringency of the money market was to a great extent due to the Government's borrowing operat ions, which had diverted local moneys that would otherwise have r oeen available for ordinary purposes. During the past year £824,000 of Post Office ■Savings Bank funds had been taken up by the Government, rendering it difficult for business men to get money to carry out their enterprises.