PARLIAMENT

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 273, 24 December 1909, Page 5

PARLIAMENT

) TOUE6DAY, DECEMBER 83. " LEGISLATIVE* COUNCIL By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, December 23. The Council met at noon, A committee was set up to conler with the committee of the Mouse on the amendments made by the Council in the Race Meetings BilL The amendments made by the House in the State Guaranteed Advances Hill, the Land lor Settlement, the Land Administration Bill, and the Native Land liiu were agreed to. Several local Buls from the tHouse were put through all stages. Wellington, Last Might. In the Council in the afternoon, the Attorney-General made a vigorous protest against the habit of the House i"i rejecting amendments made by the Council in various money Bills. It was an utterly unconstitutional attitude on the part of the House, and if the spirit manifested in the past obtruded itself is the future, he for one would not consider it his duty to try and improve such measures, which were obviously in need of technical improvement as they came from the House if they ■were to be worked satisfactorily. The Council adjourned pending the receipt of Bills from the House.

in the Council in the evening the Public Service Unification ana Superannuation Bill and Rotoiti Validation Bill were put through all their stages. The ( CouncU rose til. 9.30 a.m. next day. HOUSE 0* REPRESENTATIVES. U MUNICIPAL SINKING FUiNDS. After midnight, in committee, Mr. 6idey moved to exempt the clause under discussion, which had the effect of reinserting in the State Guaranteed Advances Act the provision for the investment of municipal sinking funds With the Public Trustee. The motion was defeated by 37 to 27. Mr. Massey said they were most mean and contemptible tactics. Mr. Taylor (Chris tchurch) said he could see nothing wrong with the Government's action.

Mr. Hogan contended that tie Government had an equal right with both Booses to influence legislation. Sir Joseph Ward, in reply, said he .bad made no secret of keeping the clause. He denounced at lengta the action of members who asked for loans to local bodies and yet denied the right of the Government to control sinking funds.

i GUAfiAKitED ADVA-wviaS. Amendments to the State Guaranteed ■Advances Act were adopted. In the House after ,1 a.m. on Thursday Sir Joseph Ward, concluded his speectt on the amendments to the State Guaranteed Advances Act, which were agreed to.

The House met again at 1.55 ajn. and met again at 10 ajn. IRRIGATION IN OTAGO. A discussion arose on the subject ot irrigation in Central Otago, on a paper presented by the Hon. it. McKenrie, who, in reply to members;, said the Government had no idea of going in for a scheme which might involve an outlay exceeding the £.100,000 authorised, without investigation. The whole matter was under the Minister's control at present, -and various - proposals were under consideration, t NORTH AUCKLAND LINE.

■ The Betitionis Committee, reporting on the Main Trunk extension line, north of Auckland, stated that further inquiry wag desirable in regard to the two alternative routes. Mr. Mander made a long and fervid speech, recounting the advantages ot the eastern route, and calling for a Royal Commission to decide the question of route. 1 The Hon. S. McKenzie said Mr. Man- j der had not put the facts before the 1 House. The western route was the cheaper, most direct, and would serve a larger number of settlere. Those who bad advocated the eastern route had never seen the western. < Mr. Pearce advocated the setting up of a commission to report on the question of routes. . Mr. Stallworthy was satisfied tint the more the matter was inquired into the more would, the advantages of the western route be apparent. • Mr. Massey hoped the Government would appoint the Royal Commission asked for, as there was a possibility of a mistake being made. The report was laid on the table. TRAMWAYS HILL.

■ The committee set up to report on We (Tramways Bill brought in a report. ( Mr. Taylor expressed his intention to fight the Bill at every stage. There ■was no reason why all the tramway , companies in the dominion should be embarrassed because the Auckland Com- : pally, a concern started by " profession- j al boodlera," would not instal proper , pneumatic brakes. He advised holding that company up as it held up the people ; of Auckland, and in a week the brakes would be installed. The Minister ought , to postpone the Bill till next session. The Hon. R. JlcKenzie said Christ- , church had not a perfect tram 1 system, i In all the towns tram* were committing murder every day, and the Bill was intended to ensure the safety of the people, and would have to go on th> statute book. The Bill was not a sew one, and it would have been introduced sooner had opportunity offered. Mr..Poole, while supporting the Bill, thought it should be postponed. The Hon. B. JlcKenzie, replying, said the Auckland company was experimenting with brakes, but in the meantime fatal accidents were frequent. - Mr. MaSsey quoted from a document issued by the Auckland company, in which it was stated that it was willing to instal any brake approved by the fublic Works Department. A motion to lay the report and minutes of the evidence oa the table, and that the same be printed, was agreed • to. i The House adjourned at 1 o'clock. VARIOUS BILLS. Jn the House of Representatives in the afternoon the Public Service Classification and Superannuation Amendment Sill was taken in Committee. Clause 6, providii r:> maximum retiring allowance o. r ' >; year, was retained, but a new C ..»c was added, on the motion of Sir Joseph Ward, limiting its operation to future contributors. Otinr minor amendments were made and the Bill was passed. On the motion for the third readiujf, Messrs. Herdman, Herries and Ali o touched on various aspects of the Bill, the last-named stating that the Bill was a good one r.nd had his support. • Sir Josepn v.'urtl, replying, eaid Mr. JHerdman's proposal that contributors | under the superannuation scheme should toe consulted before changes were maid iwas impossible. Next session he would submit a scale to provide that no injustice should be done to contributors who were paying on a salary larger than the £3OO maximum pension. * The Bill passed. The Rotditi Validation (No. 2) Bill, iwhich provides for the paying of £3OOO 4iy Public Works Fund by way of compensation for land taken from Natives ioi the purposes of the Rotorua -waterpower 1 scheme, went through committee a«d was pawed. The Mining Amendment Bill was com- • milted.- >. >.. V At tlfc afternoon sitting progress was ! wprtrted in .respect to the Mining Bill, iv' 'cii iwis-dropped. ■PL"'",LIC WORKS DEBATE. MR CRmCISM. In the cvcniu.l. on the motion to ;' fl ill) supply, Mr. Massey protests linst the'lrt" period at which the ' \ Mie - K&tenjeiu .was brought '' Tliis Wis the. result, of the post\emept of from the winier'tiM the-summer,-the 'I'vil effects of whW 1 ! -were, now being felt. Dealing «rith\the Public Works Statement, Mr. \ MaM*V BS"i the Minister of Public V ' Work* M W 'Himself ojien to severe tf on railways Mr. wud the f amount -far tie North island fas £287 - I 600 and Pe Sou® Wand £399,500, noti* withstanding the fact that the Nortu \ Island wax more in need of railways ;->!» • than the Sooth. Mr. Mm** in the L course of life remarks, attacked the co & operative system of railway works [ppv Though the principle was right th« f " administration seemed to be at tat He suggested fcbafc two experienced m £-r- should be commissioned to mvestigatf is-' , itlie co-operative system. There wa« t ialllng-off in the vote* for the lm« L .blocks and other vote? compare* L- -'-With last year. He hope "I the Loo:' f- , ,Government B'lll. promised br the Pre J , ''infer, would be introduced :-ie*t sessiM fe-_ " and would contain provisions for nail! ing over votes to hrjrer Iwal bodies expend them in a netter man ■fe/. Mfi-ibni th- Onrewirent, Jleferrini done to conserve the,;.

duction in regard T.o the allocation of railway vote® as between, the North and South Islands was incorrect. In regard to roads, the expenditure on these last year was the heaviest on record, being nearly half a million. Details of roads constructed were given by the Prime Minister, who asked if this were not *n enormous work for a country such as New Zealand to execute within twelve months. MR. ALLEN'S CHARGES. Mr. James Allen charged the Premier with being the "talker-in-chief" of the Hou. and causing more debate than any other member. Retelling to the expenditure on public buildings, Mr. Allen said this was in many cases wasteful. He regrette3 that so little information was given in regard to railway construction and the policy of the Government in regard thereto. He said deliberately that for political purpose concessions had been made .which made the railways non-payable. The policy adopted in regard to the Lawrence-Rox-burgh line of refusing to go on with it because it would not pay 3 per cent, on the cost of construction was indefensible, seeing that a solemn promise had been given to go on with the construction of the line. He hoped that before the end of the session, the Premier would make a more satisfactory statement on the subject of railway construction.

[ Mr. Hogg commented favorably the Public \Vorks Statement, and alvocated a liberal policy in regard to public works which made fo r civilisation and progress. Mr. Buchanan and Mr. Ell continued the debate. The latter moved, That in the opinion of the House the State should gradually extend its activities go as to secure in time the command and control of the coastal steamer services of the Dominion. Nothing could be more important to a developing country'than the acquisition of this sort. Sir Joseph Ward could not accept the motion, which was lost on division by 44 to 11.

Mr. Pearce quoted figures with th» object of showing that the North Island had not received its fair share of expenditure on railways. (Left Sitting).