PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 243, 19 November 1909, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF KEPKESENTATIVES. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 17. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Wednesday. FINANCIAL DEBATE. Mr. llerries criticised the Government's) loan transactions. The loans had not been satisfactory. The debenture stock vrw getting ahead of the inRcribed slock. There was no trace of j the retrenchment scheme promised by the Ciovcrniuent to be found in the estimates.

THE PKEMIEK'S DEFENCE. At 11 o'clock Sir Joseph rose to reply. | He said Air. Massey, iu referring to the increase of the public debt, owTlookcd the assets. He condemned Air. Alassey for one-sidedness in criticising the Uovcrninent's proposals and attempting to

misrepresent the true state of allairs. | It did not sound well for Mr. llerdman, untried and inexperienced in administration, Hint he should convey the impresaion that he could improve on the work of the present Ministry. The I'remiur characterised Mr. Allen's criticism of the (iovernincnt's finance us contemptible imd calculated to mislead the public. 'J'hat lion, member had deliberately misrepresented the fuels in connection with the superannuation scheme, and betrayed wilful prejudice regarding the public buildings vote on the estimates. In the matter of retrenchment

tin; (iovevnmi'iit liml not yet completed that, but were carrying it out with decency and regard to the interest of those concerned. The Opposition cry that "the country was going to the dogs" wasi unjustiliod and did inlinitc injury to the country abroad. He twitted Mr. Allen with charging the (lovernment with extravagance while he asked it to spend large suras on various works, including the Roxburgh and other unnecessary railways, amounting to over two and a-half millions, in the Inst fifteen months. He characterised Mr. Allen's actions as political hypocrisy. Mr. Allen, while talking about an increase in the estimates this year, had ignored the million spent in acquiring the Manawatu railway and the fact that many economising*! were being effected in connection with the Public Service.

Referring to the debate on the land (question, tho Premier said those who had spoken on the subject were not acquainted with; the facts, and had been beating the air. The 909 years' lease was brought in to block tho freehold men who were now praising the late Sir John McKenzic's policy. They had hittcrly opposed him when he was in the House. He denied that the Government were surrendering tho leasehold principle. No such suggestion was made in the Budget. Ho advised members to wait for further details of the Government land proposals. He was amazed at the statement that the Government had shown a change of front. The great majority of members since Mr. Balance's time had been in favor of the optional system. During the time the Government had been in office 33,783 people nod been settled on the land, aggregating 8,418,000 acres, with an average of 249 acres per head, yet they were told that the Government was' not doing anything to put people on the land. This could never have been done had the Government not provided cnpi- : tal at a low rate of interest. Hie prim- ; age duties were designed to provide funds for defence, yet this had been ' made political capital of. As a result ' of the financial proposals he believed 1 there would tie a surplus of half a mil--1 lion. This would give work to the ' laboring classes and reduce the necessity ' for borrowing. 5 The Honsfc went into Committee of ' Supply. Mr. Massey moved to report fc progress, and the House rose at 0.5 a.m.

THI'HSD.VY, XOVKMBKR 18. Wellington, Ijiit Nijihi. In the House this afternoon, after formal business, the remainder of the afternoon was occupied discussing answers to questions, and the House rose at 5.30. Tn the evening the Hospital Bill wis discussed in eommittee. Mr. Penree moved an amendment that the Taranaki district should he a Herd to comprise parts of Egmont county north of Arawata road instead of Clifton, Taranaki, and Egmont. Ob a division the amendment was defeated.