PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 261, 10 December 1909, Page 3

PARLIAMENT.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 9. ; LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL L By Telegraph.—Prm Association. Wellington, Last Nijifnl. The Council this afternoon insisted upon its amendment in the Hospital and Charitable Institutions Bill, and appointed managers to meet those from the other House on the subject. The Shipping and Seamen Bill was partially considered in committee and progress was reported. The Designation of Districts Bill, which provides that the Governor-in-Council may alter the names of boroughs, counties, etc., and that in all such alterations and in future namings preference shall be given to the original Maori names, was read a second time.

The Attorney-General moved the sec md reading of the Land Settlement Finance Bill received from the House. He thought the result would justify what was proposed. He said he considered the Bill a real good workable measure. The Hon. McArdle seconded and spoxe eulogistically of what the Government had done in the matter of land settlement, and looked forward to a greu tdvance in settlement under this Bill.

The Hon. Rigg was quite willing to the Government credit for just intentions in the matter of closer settlement, but he believed the measure capable of producing evils. It helped tho3? who were capable of helping themselves, but did not provide land for the landlees. Even if the landless were provided for, what was the use of the measure, as they could not make use of the land without capital? The first people who should have received the consideration of the Liberal Government were, those who had families, and were in want, and nothing had been proposed for the amelioration of the lot of these. He would have been glad to see an energetic administration of an improvpd homestead system. The Bill proposed io encourage all the evils which former liberal administrations had attempted to suppress. The debate was interrupted by the dinner adjournment. In the Council in the evening, the Hon. Bigg continued his speech on the Land Settlement Finance Bill. He pointed out that while all might be right in prosperous tunes, the sections would be abandoned during a financial crisis. The Bill was badly conceived, and ill-consid-ered. He would vote against it. The Hon. Anstey announced hia intention to heartily support the Bill, but would nevertheless criticise its provisions. While the principle of the Bill met with his approval, he feared that the measure would be inoperative in a few yean. He went on to point out tie many difficulties in the way of combinations of persons taking advantage of the Act.

Alter farther discussion, the Attor-ney-General replied, and, on the motion being put, called lor a division. The second reading was agreed to by 18 to 3.

A fresh Committee of Managers wis appointed, consisting of Dr. Findlay, Dr. Collins and Hon. Beehan, to conier with tbe managers from the other Chamber on tbe amendments made by tbe Council in tbe Hospitals and Charitable Institutions Bill. Tbe Council adjourned at 10.30 p.m. ■ HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES In the House in the afternoon, the Education Committee reported on petitions asking for a continuance of weekend railway passes for teachers, and recommended the same to the favorable Consideration of the Government. . NAVAL DEFENCE BILL. i The Naval Defence Bill was taken in committee.

Mr. Jas. Allen .naked what steps were being taken in regard to the following matters: —Extension of the Calliope Dock at Auckland to enable it to accommodate an Indomitable, the erection of an additional dock at Wellington, tne provision for repair yards, and the manufacture of ammunition in the Dominion.

Messrs Luke and Poole expressed the opinion that the Calliope Dock required to be extended.

, .Jlr. Massey said the matter was an uae. It might be remembered, however, that there was good dock accommodation in Hongkong, which would meet the requirements of tlic Dominion liugship while in China seas. Mr. Baume urged that steps be taken to organise a proper system of naval volunteering. Messrs Malcolm, Philips and Ok»y also took part in the debate. Mr. Duncan (Wairauj/'ufged the claims of the Marlborough Sounds as a naval base. These, he contended, were superior to those of Auckland. Mr. Glover said the Prime Minister bad chosen wisely in'selecting Auckland as the' naval base, equipped as it was with a splendid dock. Sir Joseph Ward, in reply, said he bad been in communication with tie chairmen otftthe Wellington and Auckland harbor ooards in regard to doc-ts, but the responsibility lay with the Admiralty and the Auckland Haraor Board, it having been decided that Auckland shall be the naval base. file naval volunteer system could best be discussed when the Naval Bill cornea Li , ~K! House.

Mr. Taylor hoped the Prime Minister would investigate the conditions surrounding the naval service in the training ships, and discover why lads, after bemg trained for five years, found it so unattractive that they sought employment elsewhere. Mr. Allen said it would have been far better to have expended £250,000, the cost of naval defence, on docks and repair yards in the Dominion. | Mr. Hogg said this meant increased expenditure. On the motion of Mr. Herries, a new sub-clause was added to clause 7, dealing with the sinking fund, as follows: An annual statement of securities in which such sinking fund is invested (ball be laid before Parliament within fourteen days of the commencement of each session." The Bill was then reported with the amendment. On the motion that the Bill be read a third time, Mr. Thompson (Wallace), in a lengthy speech, denounced the attempt to foist a local navy on the Dominion, which was contrary to its best interests. He supported the third reading. The debate was interrupted by the adjournment of the House at 5.30.

In the "■ ' r 'he evening, the debate on t.i i i-ading of the Naval Defence 8.. untinued. The Bill was put through its final Stages. THE HOSPITAL BILL. A message from the Legislative Council was Teeeived stating that the Council could no', accept the reasons of the House ..for disagreeing with the amendments made in the Hospitals and Charitable Insli u'.inns Bill by the Council. Sir. Fowld- nuived that the reasons ftteignei! bj the (ounci) oe disagreed with, and a fresh committee was set up to comer v ith th? Council. lIUE.SDLY SOCIETIES BILL. The Premie-' .:ioved the second rev* !ng of the IV vridly Soci :fcics Bill, and stated. Ik," iiuc'lm to drop clau.-e 15 providii'g in act iarv c. 'ilyrjjt contributions bi- tie registration, oii recount of the n"ng objection raree.i b' prominent friendly societies. Mr. Massev wid the Ijill Com«iii! ee one and all expressed ;m pi oval at dropping clause 15. Messrs Joinings, Wilford. Davey, Henderson and #•'•« s: j-V'T'ed the Mr. gtallworthy said every society should have an adequate wale of confriHtions as provided for in clause 15. M.\ Poole expressed regret that 110 . itisfactorv solution had been arrived : ' in regard to clause 15 in the interests c>; lodges.

THE I.AND QUESTION. Consideration of the report on tl-e nds for Settlement Administration 11 was takes. itr. Maseey referred to the ameudniade in tie Bill, and said that divisions Hereon slowed that in spite of the freehold provisions in the T^nnd Bill, die Government was «TTil sympathetic to the leasehold principle. The debate was co>i''"iied bv Mes.rs Ell, Ross, Witty, Russell, Hanan and Jennings.