PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 215, 16 October 1909, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 15. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The Council met at 2.30. Hon. Trask resumed the del>atc on th.2 Address-in-Reply. Hon. W. Carnoross thought compu - gory training would be a good thing but did not believe the people of the Dominion would take kindly to it. lie thought, however, more vital interest might be taken in the volunteer moiement by giving such encouragement <is would increase public interest in it. lie suggested small pay might be given to young non-commissioned officers to give drill instructions at schools. The Government had been congratulated upon bringing about a certain measure of retrenchment and he hoped the 6chem» would be kept up. He approved the Premier's arrangements regarding the contributions to naval defence.

The Hon. Scotland disapproved of the naval agreement. The position was entirely due to letting the delegate go Home unfettered. He deplored the fact that the Dominion had drifted into a dreadful state of'being under a one-man Government.

Hon. McArdle considered compulsory training the very last thing that shoald be resorted to. He did not attach such great, importance to military training, instancing what had been done in the American war and by the New Zealanders in South Africa. Speaking on the land question, he contended that holde:s of 999 years' leases should be relieved i f restrictions and interference of land boards, after complying with the necessary conditions.

The" 3ebate was adjourned and tlie Council rose.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ADDRESS-LY-REPLY. The House met at 2.30 when the debate on the Address-in-Keply was continued by Mr. Lang, who referred in deprecatory terms to labor legislation and urged the necessity for improved telephone and mail services.

THE TIMBER INDUSTRY. Mr; Ell, dealing with the Timber Commission, denied that high wages had been chiefly responsible, for the increas:d cost of production in connection with the timher industry. This was due to the fact that as timber areas were utilised millers had to go further back into the bush, which entailed greater expense in working. CUTTING DOWN EXPENSES.

Mr. Thomson (Wallace) advocated cutting down the expenses of the Higi Commissioner's Office. He hoped, however, no retrenchment would be made it. connection with the Geological Survey Department 'which was doing valuable work for the mining industry. He complained that the Timber Commission had not fully reported on the birch timber industry of the South Island. The House, adjourned. THE GOVERNMENT!" CONDEMNED.

On resuming, .Mr. Wright (Wellington) continued the debate on the Ad-dress-in-Rep|y. He condemned the action of the Government in purchasing the property known as the Nainai swamp in the Lower Hutt at £l5O an acre, which the owner paid £7O per acre Ut and practically useless. He also referred to the anomalous procedure in civil service appointments an I irregularities in connection with the licensing polls.

INFANTILE MORTALITY. He deplored the loss of infant life in the. Dominion. A total of 1761 children under a year old died last year; 75 out of every 1000 male children died under one year old; aad 60 out of every 1000 females. Many Maori children died as a result of ignorance and superstition. SOLVING UNEMPLOYMENT. Land Settlement would solve the problem of unemployment. He announced himself in favor of the freehold tenure and urged the settlement of native lanas .in the direction of placing Maoris on an equality, with the nakehas. (Left Sitting).