PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 81, 14 July 1910, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. By Telegraph. —Press Association. Welling..in, Last Night. THE LAND I. JEST lON.

In the Legislative Council, the At-torney-lien-.ai resumed the debate on the Address-in-Reply. Dealing spetiiically with the land question, especially the phases relating to leasehold and freehold, he contendeil that the cry for the freehold came mainly from politicians, and was raised for political purposes. More than half the lease-in-perpetuity tenants had the option of conversion and declined it. They had practically got the freehold, and the only reason urged for the freehold was one of sentiment. He dioV not object to sentiment so long as it was not at the expense of the State. Lease-in-perpetuity was unfair to the country, and tenants had less than no right to come to the State for further concessions. It was a political cry, and grossly exaggerated the importance of land tenures. He did not believe that if the freehold were given to the lessees it would make any difference in the result of their industry. The hunger in this country was the hunger for land, not for freehold, and they who concentrated on the demand for the freehold were standing in the way of united action to getting land for the people, and were therefore inimical to settlement. The problem to-day was not tenure, but territory. In less than six years, at the present rate of settlement, there would be no Crown lands left, and there were not more than two million acres of Maori lands available. That would only last a few years. They -.vould have to set their face strenuously towards the subdivision of estates, and must limit the area of holdings. It was a question also to l>* considered how best to use the land. He cited the example of Denmark, and indicated that by following that country's example o'l small holdings and co-operative systems better results from the land of the Dominion would be achieved.

The Hon. J. Iligg referred to the necessity for settlement of the land .on reasonable conditions.

The debate was adjourned, and the Council rose.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. QUESTIONS. The House met at 2.30 p.m. Replying to questions, the Ministers stated that the time was not opportune •to amend the Old Age Pensions Act so as to grant pensions to invalids and per<sons unable through chronic disease to earn a living at their calling; that it is not intended to appoint a Royal Commission to investigate and report on making appointments to the Civil Service, the system regulating promotion, I and if political influence is used to gain I appointments; that a Commission will be set up to enquire into the ventilation of mines and the health and safety of miners working underground; that the question of amendments to the Licensing Act is now engaging the attention ot the Government; that the question ot establishing a silver mint in New Zealand is under consideration; that the question of New Zealand paper currency to be interchangeable with Australian paper currency requires consideration before an answer can be made; that it is not intended to introduce legislation giving statutory preference to unionists. Mr. James Allen initiated a discussion on the Land Valuation Act, asking the Minister if any alteration was to be made in the valuation system. The Hon. D. Buddo said there was no necessity for an alteration of the Valua- . tion Act, which was elastic enough to do goo:l work. Valuations were made so as to be equitable and consistent with each other. He admitted that there might be some delay in a few cases, but on the whole the Department had been able to cope with the work.

The remainder of the afternoon sitting was devoted to discussing the answers to the questions. LOCAL BODIES' LOANS. ■ln the House this evening Mr. Sidey moved the second reading of £he Local Bodies' Loans Amendment Bill, which is intended to repeal section 25 of the Local Bodies' Loans Amendment Act, 1008, providing that the Public Trustee shall be the sole commissioner of sinking ■funds in case of loans granted to local bodies. Mr. Sidey explained the object of the Bill, which is intended to apply only to the City of Dunedin, this corporation desiring to have the control" of its own sinking fund for local investment.

Sir Joseph Ward said that the Local Bodies' loans Act of last year applied to new loans only. The high rates of interest on sinking funds mentioned by the supporters of the Bill were obtained at a time When the rate was much higher than now. Local bodies would reap tremendous advantages from the new scheme of loans, and this ought to be kept in mind. When the Bill was in committee it could be made general in its application, and thus apply to all local bodies. If local bodies wished to exclude themselves from the advantages of the Act, let them do so, but it was not right for them to utilise' the benefits conferred by the Act in the direction of obtaining cheap money and then refuse to allow the Public Trustee to invest the sinking funds .It was not correct to say that local bodies were in favor of the Bill. The tendency of the Bill would be to raise the rate of interest locally. It would be better for all classes that a lower rate of interest should prevail. Was special legislation to be passed for the benefit of a few* cities such as Auckland and Dunedin? In Australia the investment of sinking funds was undertaken by the iStates. Under the new system investments of sinking funds were safer, and gave greater public confidence, having, as they, did, the security of the country behind them.

After discussion, the Bill was rejected !by 35 to 28. BOOKMAKERS ABOLITION BILL. Mr. Newman moved the second reading of the Gaming Amendment and Bookmakers Abolition Bill. He said he was not opposed to horse-racing, but would like to see clean sport. He referred to the opinions of Judge Chapman on the legalised bookmaker.' He said bookmaking was flouurishing now more than ever, and the postal service was being utilised for the dissemination of betting cards throughout the country. The proposal to give magistrates power to license bookmakers would not cure the evil.

Sir Joseph Ward, in a lengthy speech, said the proposals in connection with the book-making evil should come from the Government, and the Government had promised a Bill to amend the Gaming Act. Therefore Mr. Newman should know there was no cb'niee of his Bill going through both Houses, and the people of the country should have a chance of dealing with the question. As to the use of the post office for the transmission of betting, there was no law permitting postal officials to open letters from bookmakers to clients. Personally, he would vote both against the totalisator and bookmaker.. If the bookmaker were abolished and the totalisator

remained, tlio result would lie a further spread of gambling. He suggested tnat the debate be adjourned, and that the House should wait for the Government's Bill.

Mr. Massey said the Bill oucrht to he agreed to unanimously. He did not see why the Government should claim a monopoly of legi.-lation. Private members ought to be encouraged to bring in Bills. The clause in last year's ]i;u giving legal status to bookmaker* was a disgrace to Parliament. He would vote against the bookmaker every time, whether bracketed with the totalisator or not.