PARLIAMENT

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 267, 18 December 1909, Page 2

PARLIAMENT

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 17. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL By Telegraph.—Presa Association. Wellington, Last Night. In the Council in the afternoon, The lion. Trask asked the AttorneyGeneral whether lie will, owing to the recess, have a return prepared showing the value of all railways, telegraphs, cables, -telephones, coal mines, roads, ami any other State-owned property, so that the, value of the same may be compared with the national debt of the dominion. The Attorney-General said the capital cost of the opened and unopened railway lines March 319t la-st was approximately 01)0,01)0. To ascertain Lhe value would require probably .ft board to determine, but he might safely say the value of the railways to-day was very much in excess of the cost ot construction. He might be able to give returns next session relating to post ana telegraphs', telephones and cables. He could not do so with respect to the mines, roads and other State-owned property. He appreciated the motive prompting the question, which was to

secure what all were desirous of securing. namely, proof for their critics that iliuy had m the shape -of State assets] in New Zealand enough, and more than enough, to cover the national debt. The State Guaranteed Advances Bill passed the final stages with verbal amendments'. The Public Works Amendment Bill was read a second time and committed and passed. In the evening the Upunake Harbor Amendment Bill and the Wairoa Harbor Board Empowering Bill passed the »oc ond reading. The Coal Minos Bill was moved by the Attorney-General and the debate was I adjourned. HOUSE OP REPRESENTATIVES NATIVE LAND HILL. Wellington, December 17. After midnight, the Native Land Amendment Bill was reported and re-' committed to consider amendments brought down by a message from the Governor to provide for sotting side half a million a year for the purchase of Native lands, out of the million a year provided for land for settlement purchases under the existing Act. The amendment was agreed to and the Bill was passed. The House rose at 12.35.

THE ESTIMATES. Wellington, Last t. In the House of Represent^ i, r this evening, the item Mine, Department £24,507 brought forth Jijcussion on multifarious points connected with, mining. The Minister said he did not attach much importance to prospecting the goldfields of Ohinemuri. The Mining Journal had heen costing €IOOO a year and returning £2O, and the Minister came to the conclusion that the results achieved by the Journal could -be obtained at much less cost ; The vote was passed. At the Department of Internal Affaire .-£206,271, considerable discussion took place relative to the Auditor-General's tags to local bodies' accounts. Mr. Buddo, replying to remarks on the subject, said local oodles had adopted the attitude that expenses in connection with conferences' should be paid out of public money, but in certain casc3 expenses were charged which were not proper. Therefore, the Audit Department had to call attention to them by means of tags. On the vote £55,744 Electoral Department, Mr. Massey moved to reduce the vote by |£l as an indication that in the Electoral Bill mentioned by the Premier provision should be made, for the repeal of the Second Ballot Act, which was the worst system the dominion could have.

Sir Joseph Ward refused to discuss the Second Ballot Act on the Estimates, and asked the (House to reject the amendment. The amendment was lost and the House adjourned. In the House in the evening, the item, "High Commissioner's Office, £7904," was discussed. Mr. Hogg moved to reduce the vole for trade and immigration representiitivc, £583, by £1 as an indication that the increased expenditure in this Department was not in accordance with the retrenchment policy of the Government Mr. Wright supported the amendment and criticised the work oT the High Conmiss'oner. Sir Joseph Ward said the High Commissioner's oflice was iixed by statute. Tile two officers sent out to the London oflice were appointed in connection with the arrangements which resulted in the saving of £'2ooo a year. It was a mistake to think there was very little work done in the iTigh Commissioner's oflice. The Commissioner required clerical assistance in carrying out his varied duties in_ connection with the work of the Dominion. There was no increase in (he number ef officials. Sir Walter Kenuaway had gone out and another had taken his place. Mr. Hanan JrewUttention to the fact that good nosition« had 'been found for the high salaried men who had been disgruntled under the retrenchment scheme, such as Mr. Donne, late held of the Tourist Department.' Was the country gelling value for the salaries they received?

_ Mr. Taylor, referring to the expenditure on the Tourist Department offices in Christchnrch and Sydney, saM these wero far more palatial 'than useful Those in Christchnrch ought to prodii'*; l £350 a year in rent, and were not vvotth £35 as an office lo r the Tourist Department. He also asked for inform ation regarding the precise duties oei' formed by Mr. Donne. Considerable further dfebate cnsuc.l. The amendment was defeated by :•'<} votes to 3D.

Advertising Office, £lsß4.—Mr. Herd man asked what was the total cost of the Government advertising last year Mr. Mas«ey said the Government probably spent £20,000 in advertising vcr-v « °f the nilministratirm t n department was nut of all proportion to the expenditure. "Ye alleged that the Department was created for political purposes and produced a copy of blank slips supplied to the Department for use in rut,tin? out prove; comments on ■ political speeches, wlreh woro pasted in two book, known in Hie House as the "black book." Tn the OM Country such fjutics would b«> carried ni 't "»v a 'political party, but hero it irns done at th)o expense of the ratepayers. ' '

Sir Joseph Ward said the Deparfmeni was not created or used for political purposes. The amount spent ; n ndvi-r----ti,|?»nn'a3t' a3t -' o<ir Was "PPfoximateiv tlfuflft. The Department was ereatrd to prevent the multiplication of advertisements, which had been growing n i an excessive rate, and to regulate* the advertising of various State Departments. which formerly inserted advertisements without check.

Allen moved to reduce the vole bv ,fSB4 on the ground that, the Prime Minister's .reply was nnsatisfaetorv.