PARLIAMENT

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 268, 20 December 1909, Page 3

PARLIAMENT

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 18. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES By Telegraph.—tress Association. Wellington, Saturday. After midnight the consideration 01 the Estimates me resumed. The Public Health Department's estimates gave rise to a discussion, the item questioned being: "£750, Consulting Medical Officer in London.'' . Mr. Malcolm moved to reuuee the vote by £l, ae indicating dissatisfaction with the appointment oi Dr. ilason, but this was defeated by 29 to 17. SEDDON MEMORIAL. In a discussion on the Department ior Internal Affairs, Mr. Kusseu suggested that as £IOOO had been saved on the amount votea lor the' seddon jlunument, it should 'be expended on scholarships, but the Premier said there would be a difficulty in the way. NEW LIGHTHOUSES. During the discussion on the Customs Department estimate of £l2s,7uu, Mr. Millar, in am>we r to Air. Hemes, saw it Was not the intention ol the Government to erect a lignthouse at lerawniii at (resent, but one would be provided on the East Coast between Castlepoint and Flat Rock;, and one at Whaugaiei Heads. The light at JacKaons xieau jrould be installed as soon as possible. LOWS OF THE JJUCO. Messrs rume ana jiudren referred to the loss 01 the Duco, and aatted what was to be done, ine loriuer strongly condemned tnoae responsible lor tne departure 01 the vessci. Mr. Miliar said the Department would take action as toon as the pending appeal was settled. CONCILIATION COMMISSIONERS. On the vote for the Department of Labor (£25,928), Mr. Poole protested against the appointment ol tne Conciliation Comnuisioiier for Auckland and Mr. Millar detenaed him as naving been most successful In settling dis- ] pates. He also eulogised Messrs Halley ■ and Trigg. Mr. Maasey admitted tnai ! Mr. Gile had done good work, but contended be was appointed in return tor services to the party in power. This ' the Premier denied. Tile vote was passed and the House rose at S.lO a.m. '■ opening up Native land.

The House resumed at 10 a.m. On'reaching the Lands and Survey Department estimates (£231,966), Air. Hemes complained at the ueiay in opening up native land tor settlement, and urged that moneys voted lor me purpose should -be expended. iOe Premier said delays m opening up native land would under the new lilil be done away with. Land lor landless natives in the Soutb Island would be laid otf during the next two months.

THE WANGANUI ELVER SERVICE. "A DASTARDLY LIE."

A long discussion ensued upon miscellaneous items of expenditure and ihete was a heated discussion with regard to the Wanganui river service subsidy. Mr. Massey and others criticised the tervice for its High charges. Mr. Hogan said, it had often been linted that a Minister of the Crown had an interest ,in the service, but the Premier )ud denied it. The Premier said the statement was • dastardly lie. Neither he nor any member of his family ever had an interest in these steamers. "Vet these contemptible, wretched creatures out- { ■ide will allow these statements to go •bout" (referring to certain persons iwho published statements). He added: "They are too contemptible to live, ffhen tfiey published that Mr.' Seddon'fi wife was a shareholder—an absolutely contemptible lie." , Mr. Herries protested against the use of the word "lie" in Parliament.' Mr. Wilford (chairman) ruled that a member had a right to say that a statement made about him outside was a lie or untruth. , 1 The episode ended at that. Mr. Taylor moved thit the "subsidy to Hatrick's for the Wanganui river (£700) be reduced by £5, "in order to bring the Hatrick combination to their knees."

This was lost by 42 votes to 26, and the total vote wa« passed. The House rose at 1 p.m. for Unci).

LAND FOR SETTLEMENT. Wellington, Saturday Night.

The House resumed at 2,30.

The land for 1 Settlement ( £7945) and State Forests ( £22,916) votes pass-

SCENERY PRESERVATION. , On the sceperv preservation account ( £10,4®), Mr. Russell moved to redir.e the item, " £2580 cobipensation lor lands acquired along the Wanganui river," by £2499, as a protest against the waste of time in discussing the vote. Mr. Taylor declared that all the flow of eloquence about the Wanganui river indulged in by Mr. Hogan was intended to block the Defence BUI. Mr. Hogan, is reply to Mr. Taylor, denied the charges, and the amend- ( ment was lost on the voices and the .vote passed. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. Department of Agriculture, £184,531 —The Minister, replying to Mr. Pearoe, said the poultry export depots were to cease to exist, and that in future they would be carried on to assist in local trade in a way tflat would enable them to pay their way. The Government poultry farms were now working on -the credit aide. Mr Maiaey entered a protest against tlje experimental farms coming into competition with private individuals, citing Raukura (Hamilton) as an example of sucli interference. Aa a protest against the laxity of the methods of the Department in connection with preserved meat, Mr. Rhodes moved to (•dace the item £3755 for meat inspectors' salary by £l. He said a repent instance which came under his notice indicated that meat unfit for human consumption had been allowed to leave the country for Australia. The Minister said the matter had alnady received attention. All the inspectors had to do was to see that meat ma free from disease. The quality of preserving or otherwise did not come jrithin the scope of their duties. Tfie House rose for the dinner adlonrnment. In the B va i'Ue evening, f>n the note for .nn.tttal farms, Mr. Glover moved that it be reduced by £1 as an Indication that the system is unUtisfactory. • Hie amendment wag lost by 46 to 22. ; v EDUCATION.

Education, £87,353. —Mr. Malcolm dioved a reduction in the vote as a proteat against centralisation. 'Mr. Buchiiuiin, in supporting the ■ amendment, said ilie Government step Ky step were encroaching on education boards functions. The discussion was feeing continued when the House roae for the supper adjournment. Wellington, Last Night. Mr ; Allen moved to reduce the item, "£230 special grants to school committees," 'by £l, as an indication that the capitation giants should be renewed. This was rejected by 42 votes to Mr. Wright asked for information soncerning the item of £'2ooo for the Scluol Journal. Mr. Guthrie moved to reduce the item, *£2oo conference of educational authirities!" as a protest against the withIrawal of- capitation from school com■SSTh— O. Fowlds, in reply to Mr. "ri"'it/ said a sufficient number .of ■ .100 l Journals was issued to supply . 000 pupils in the primary schools would look into the m.nflj-r oi cost u viewing of seeing .if the Journal # . Id fie .produced at less expense. ? • (r Allen moved to reduce the salary j • he public school cadet officer but i<: mofion was negatived by 41 to -3. STATE COAL MIXES. ' At the State Coal Mince vote, Mr. yield moved that the general manager s Salary be reduced by £1 on the ground that the Crown' Suits Act should be wived bo as to allow % Hanmer CoMerative Distributing (-f to prooes. lor damages in respect »ofan a!llcg»< nuisance' in connection with coal dust at the Department's yards jn Wellington, and that the dispute be referred to arbitration. , The amendment was carried by 38 to replv to Mr. Mas«ev, Sir Joseyh (Ward sail the House would meet on Monday at 10 a.m., but' Ilw Public Works Statement would trot be down. The House rose at miuniglit.