PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 76, 8 July 1910, Page 8

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright Wellington, Last Night. The Council met at 2.30 p.m. The debate on the Address-in-Reply was resumed by the Hon. W. C. F. Camcross, who expressed the opinion that it was the duty of the Government to use every possible effort to encourage industry and settlement. He did not think the proposal for local self-government was likely to do much good, and thought it unnecessary for the Government to incur the expense of appointing canvassers to place people's names on the electoral rolls. He held that last year's gaming legislation had been beneficial, though perhaps it did not go far enough. The optional system for the acquisition of the freehold with restriction of area would, he thought, be the last word on the question of tenure. The Hon. H. Scotland, referring to local government, contended it was the 4 function of road boards to keep up roads and bridges, and die county councils I ought to go. He bc.ieved it would not be possible to go ( Uwk to the provincial I system, but theiv be a modified | form of it with limned powers of borrowing.

The Hon. H. V. Wigram thought, in these modern days, uie form of Speech from the Throne and also the Address-in-Jieply might m modified. Much might be leit out of the Speech and much valuable information given that at present was lacking. He would like the Government, to take up the question of aerial navigation. On the land question, he said the question of giving the freehold to lease-in-perpetuity tenants could.be dismissed from present-day politics. The Government could safely give them the freehold: without granting holders more than they already had. A great many people were attracted to the land merely ■by the goodwill they might secure in the way of payment for improvements, and this was a good thing for the Dominion. It was not right that money derived from the taxpayers at large should be devoted to encouraging a system by which one man in the course of a few years might go off the land with a thousand pounds or so. The State had a right to set its face against any such transaction's in goodwill. The debate was adjourned, and the Council rose.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House met at 2.30 p.m. The debate on the Address-in-Reply was resumed by Mr. J. Bollard (Eden), who urged that more should be done in the way of agricultural education, which was one of the most important questions demanding attention at the present time; Mr. G. V. Pearce (iPatea) urged the necessity for improved means of communication in the backblocks.

Mr. W. Jennings (Taumarunui) spoke of the necessity for better roads in his district. He was glad that the prospects of land settlement in the north were favorable.

Mr. T. Buxton (Gefaldine), referring to the Land Settlement Finance Act, Was glad to know the Act would be amended. He considered it a very valuable aid to land settlement. . *■

Mr. J. T. Hogan (Wanganui) hoped ' the Advances to Workers Act would be amended so as to permit of applicants receiving •'oans on houses already built. The present methods of promotion in the rail way "service were unfair, and he hoped the Minister would amend these, and also abolish his right of vetoing the Appeal Board decisions. He urged that money\voted for works in the backblocks 'districts should be expended without further loss of time.

Mr. F. W. Lang (Manukau) expressed dissatisfaction at the condition of those native lands which were unproductive. The Government's policy on this matter was riot progressive. On the land question the Government lacked a policy, except that of siding with the majority in the House.

The House adjourned at 5,30 o'clock. In the House in the evening, Mr. Wright concluded his speech on the Ad-dress-in-Reply, after which Mr. McDonald replied briefly. Considerable discussion arose on the personnel of committees, Mr. Massey moving that there be laid before the House the correspondence between members of the Government and persons in or out of the Dominion in reference to the Bickerton fund. He said he had received a communication from a gentleman in Queensland named Aplin, stating that he was desirous of contributing £IOOO to the fund. ■Mr. Fowlds stated' that he had correspondence from the gentleman meh"ined, who had some fictitious claim ngainst the Government for £SOOO, out of which he proposed to grant £IOOO to the Bickerton fund'.

Sir Joseph x Ward said the Government was prepared to place the correspondence on the table. Mr. Massey said he knew nothing of the matter mentioned by Mr. Fowlds. The motion was agreed to on the voices. Mr. Massey moved that a return be laid on the table, as on Ist July current, i of the names of all persons employed in the High Commissioner's Office, and the duties of same, also their salaries. Sir Joseph Ward, while offering no objection to the return asked for, said it was not possible to give the information for some time. Referring to the "TC. A. iSmith" case, he said it had been used by the Opposition Press in attacking the Government. Mr, Taylor (Ohristchurch) raised a noint of order, and asked whether the Premier could discuss "E. A. Smith," who was not mentioned in the motion. The Speaker ruled that the Premier must confine himself to those now engaged in the High Commissioner's Office. The motion was then put and carried. 'Sir Joseph Ward stated 'he would deal with "E. A. Smith" to-morrow. A more bogus attempt to raise a scandal, he said, had never been made in the country. The House rose at 10.30 o'clock.