PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 75, 7 July 1910, Page 8

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATE"]: COUXCIL By Telegraph. —Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The Council met at 2.30. 'i he My-Luws Act, 1910, and the Indecent Publications Act, 1910 (Dr. J. v.. i'iinhuv) were read a lirst time. The lion.' W. F. C. Carncross was declared elected Chairman oi Committees, he being the only candidate. He was congratulated by the Attorney-General, and the Hons. T. Kelly and C. H. Hills.

Hon. Carncross briefly acknowledged the compliment paid to liim. The Hon. T. Anstey resumed the debate on the Address-in-Repiy, and congratulated the Government on the financial condition of the country. He referred to the shortage of railway trucks, suggested the erection of gram stores by private individuals to facilitate the disposal of grain. Referring to the question of local government, lie mentioned that in the Cook County were ten road boards, none of which collected 1 one penny in rates. Such microscopic bodies could not possibly do any good. On the land quest, on h£ advocated secure tenure, and suggested that in every Government lease there should he a perpetual right of renewal, the new, rental to be fixed b • arbitration, the State to have t-!t j right to resume only where the land was required for nubdivision, the occupier to have the right to retain any section of the 'subdivision and be entitled to full compensation for the improvements. He referred at length to the large runs, which should be cut up into small holdings, his remarks being especially applicable to mid-Canterbury. The debate was adjourned, and the Council rose at 4.15.

HOUSE'OF REPRESENTATIVES. Wellington, Last Night. The House met this afternoon. Replying to Mr. E. N. Clark Chalmers), the Minister of Marine stated that his attention had been drawn to lihe men at present on the Macquarrie Islands.' A vessel belonging to the employer of the men would leave on Wedjyssday or Thursday to bring the men back. There was no possibility of the men starving.

Replying to general questions, the Minister stated that the question of introducing an amendment to the State Guaranteed Advances Act, providing for tihe granting of loans to workers on the building already erected, is- being considered; that the proposed amendment to the Old Age Pensions Act, with a view to removing disabilities on pensioners possessing money, is now receiving attention; that the Government is now considering suggested legislation on the subject of betting, and a full opportunity will be given to pass judgment on the totalisator and the bookmaker; that the question of insurance against unemployment is under consideration; that the refusal of the Registrar to register industrial unions which proposed to apply their funds to political affairs is based on the advice of the Solicitor-General; and that the vote* for subsidies to country libraries be placed on the Estimates this year. In the discussion arising out of the answer regarding old age pensions, Sir J. G. Ward (Prime Minister) pointed out the reasons for the amendments in the Act, and said it had never been proposed that pensioners should be ex-j empt, not only from a house valued at £340, tint from savings in cash. The amendment of 1909 had already added amount of pensions £5252. Thei amount paid in pensions was increasing! very rapidly every year. I

The Premier dealt with some cases mentioned by members, from which erroneous arguments had been drawn. A discussion was raised on the question as to whether pensioners were entitled to receive a cash exemption as well as a, property one. If the theory of universal pensions Were to be accepted, the House must provide for it to the extent] of £400,000 or £500,000. The Premier! denied that the officers administrating the Act were unsympathetic towards the old age pensioners. The House adjourned at 5.30 p.m. In the House in the evening the debate on the Address-in-Reply was resumed by Mr. Lawry, who urged the vigorous prosecution of railway construction in the North Island, 'and defended the policy of the Auckland members in associating to impress upon the Government the needs of that province. He J upheld the leasehold' tenure. WhiJ>; cen-j demning the 999 years' lease, he would give leaseholders full value for improvements. Let them surrender their leases and compel in open mar "cut for vhel freelilold. He was opposed to the suggestion that the national endowments should be sold, and ho tiee trade in native land's. O.i tut' question of local government, •' e favors.! a vide extension of the powers of lowtl bodies. Mr. Thomson (Wnllane) fo>'eca r teo the possibility of another financial crisis, owing to the unstable c-cnnilions in America, and advised to a Dominion tobe prepared for it. -He considered that Crown lands should not be valued st too high a rate, nor should lands be weig'it■ed with birsh in localities where tnere were no sawmills. He advocated improvements in dairy herds, and the appnintment of travelling instructors : n dairying, also the establishment of ihe sugar beet industry. In regard to the railways, increased rolling stock was necessary to meet farmers' requirements. .

Mr. Stallworthy regretted that no mention had been made of the kauri gum industry in the Governor's Speech, but hoped that a Bill dealing with this would be introduced this as' promised by the Prime Minister. Hej condemned the action of Mr. Mussey in demanding a return of retrenched civil servants, which was an insinuation that there was something wrong. The House adjourned at 11 p.m.