PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 105, 11 August 1910, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. STATE PAPER CURRENCY. •Tn the Legislative Council this afternoon .the debate on the Hon. J. Ring's motion for setting up a committee to consider the advantage of a State bank issue and a State paper currency, was resumed. The Attorney-General said he thoiHit the personnel of the committee proposed was a guarantee that the enquiry would be intelligently conducted. He would support the motion, mid defer anything he had to say until the report was received. The motion was carried on the voices, the name of the Hon. Mr. Stevens being substituted for that of Dr Fmdlay. DESTITUTE PERSONS.

The debate was resumed on the Destitute Persons Bill (second reading) The Hon. Mr. Samuel said the importance of the measure could not be exaggerated. It affected the well-being of the whole community. What had to be done was to consider the welfare of the greatest number, which represented the poorer classes. This community was prepared to admit that amongst the poor there existed the most extraordinary self-sacrifice. Mr. Samuel proceeded to compare some of the proposals in the existing Bill with the present law, particularly in regard to the legal responsibilities of relatives, one to the other. He did not think it right to pass such drastic provisions as that those who had relatives of whom thev knew little or nothing should be placed in a position of responsibility in which the Bill placed them. He took strong objection to the clauses which provided that residence of near relatives, whether in or out of New Zealand, should be immaterial for the purposes of the Act. The debate was adjourned, and the Council rose.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House met at 2.20 p.m. ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS. ; Replying to questions, Ministers stated that the House will have an opportunity of expressing an opinion in regard to the request for official recognition of the 'Engine-drivers, Firemen and Cleaners' Union, and that the Government will continue to grant pound-for-pound subsidies on loans raised by settlers for the metalling of roads. TIMBER INDUSTRY. On the motion of the Hon. G. Fowlds to lay a return of the Oregon timber imported into the Dominion on the table, Mr. Smith raised the question of the Timber Commission's report, and urged that something be clone to give effect thereto. He dealt at length with the conditions of the timber milling industry, which was the second largest in the Dominion. Millers were anxiously await- | ing legislation affecting the industry. • Nothing had been done to give effect to i the report of the Timber Commission, j nor had Parliament had an opportunity , to express an opinion thereon. Sir J. G. Ward (Premier), replying to i Mr. Mnssey, said the Government recogj nised that the milling industry was an important one, and required protection, 1-ut, after the report of the Commission was made, it was found that sawmillers did not agree with its recommendations. Sawmillers had asked the Government to do nothing, rather than to give effect Ito the report. The problem was a diflii cult one, and opinion was divided as to what should be done. The importation of Oregon timber had largely decreased. He was quite willing to give the House an opportunity to discuss the report of 1 the Commission. He believed the House would decide to igive effect to its recommendations, in which case the sawmillers would 1 he worse off than ever. He denied that Railway Department concessions showed favoritism in the matter. If the House desired to have a straightout issue on the timber question, he was quite willing to grant it. Mr. Taylor (Christchurch) said the present trouble in the sawmilling indusI try was due to over-investment. Millers • were anxious to recoup themselves by | adding to the cost of timber. I Mr. Hogan contended that no restrici tion should be placed on Oregon pine unI til it was shown that this was doing harm. He had found, as a result of I the investigation, that on every opportunity there had been a rise in the price I of timber, which was quite unwarranted. Where was this going to stop? Reafforestation was badly needed. Why prevent outside timber coming in when it would help to preserve the present supply in the Dominion? 1 The House rose at 5.30 p.m. } A SENTIMENTAL QUESTION. I In the House in the evening the de- ! bate on the Budget was resumed by i Mr. Buxton, who contended that the j question of land tenure was largely a j sentimental one. What concerned the j people was how to get on the land. He favoured the leasehold tenure with the option of freehold as the best onn eali culated to make for the prosperity of ■ the country. He was not in favour of ; selling the endowment He urged | the acquisition of estates in Canterbury j suitable for closer settlement. While I approving of labour legislation generally, he considered there was a aanger of going too far, seeing that the Dominion • had to compete with other countries not ! so far advanced. j A WASTE OF TIME. ! Mr. Newman, referring to the waste of ' time in connection with the financial dei bate, suggested the appointment of a i committee to reform the rules of the procedure so as to prevent this. His land policy was every man his own landlord. He believed that at no distant date this would become the law or the laml. The setting aside of land for I endowments was merely a «übterfuge I whereby nine million acres were withdrawn from sale, but he believed there was a growing feeling in the House that this amount should be reduced. Mr. Taylor (Christchurch) denounced the proposal to place the cost of the maintenance of schools on local rates. This was a'retrograde step, which he would obstruct as far as possible. It would mean an extra half million a year in taxation. On the land question, he said that if the Government would take the platform on the subject from now till the general election, he believed that not twelve freeholders would be returned to the House. National endow; ments was a standing illustration of the benefit of the single tax. 'Mr. Graham dealt at some length with the native land question, basing his remarks on the Native Minister's speech, which, he said, proved that the Government was doing a great deal towards the opening up of native lands. He opposed giving the freehold to tenants on settlement lands. He defended the Government's finance and public works policy and taxatjon, giving statistics showing the flourishing condition of the various departments. -