PARLIAMENT

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 164, 20 October 1910, Page 5

PARLIAMENT

♦ LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. In the Legislative Council this afternoon, in committee, the Judicature Amendment Bill had a new clause inserted, ou the motion of the Attorney-Gen-eral, giving a Court or a Judge discretionary power in refusing a writ of attachment in case of default of a trustee or a person acting in a fiduciary capacity and ordered to pay by the Court any sum in his possession or control, and default by a solicitor in payment of costs, or in payment of a sum of money when ordered to pay in his character of officer of the Court, making an order. The Attorney-General said the amendment was to obviate possible injustice to an innocent man, and to bring the law into keeping with the English law. A new clause was also inserted, making it clear that the operation of that section of the Bill which deals with the execution of instruments by order of the Supreme Court, was not retroactive. The Bill was reported as amended. The River Boards Amendment Bill, from the House, was read a second time and the Council rose.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Wellington, Wednesday. After midnight Sir Joseph Ward said that the figures placed before the House on the second reading in regard to the water-power schemes were absolutely reliable. He cited Mr. Hay's report of 1906, which stated that power could be supplied at a cost of £5 10s per horse-powe* as against £3O for steam. It was perfectly clear that power could be supplied from the switchboards of the various systems at as low a cost as was charged in any other country. When the Public Works Statement was introduced it would furnish details of the schemes. Mr. Herries moved to strike out "not exceeding the sum of £500,000," with a view to inserting a reduced amount. The amendment was lost by 32 to 17. The Bill was reported and the House rose. Wellington, Last Night. The House met at 2.30 p.m. ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS. In reply to questions the Minister stat« ed that the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Amendment Bill now before the House made provision for giving the Arbitration Court power to make awards applicable to the whole Dominion; that if it is the wish of the labor organisations generally throughout the Dominion to alter the date of Labor Day to some other month in the year and a request is made to the Minister to that effect, he will give the matter consideration; that an amending Workers' Dwelling Bill is ready for presentation to Parliament, on the passing of which, the workers in any district will be enabled to make applications for dwellings to ibe erected.

'PjSSTORAL KUN& The Lands Committee reported tbtt after consideration-of the Land Laws Amendment Bill it had been decided that the House be recommended to proceed with the same as amended by the committee. On the motion that the report be laid on the table, Mr. Taylor (Christchurch) raised the question of the disposal of pastoral runs in the Mackenzie Country. He hoped the same would not be disposed of by auction, which would have the effect of debarring practical men with small means from acquiring these properties.

LAND MONOPOLY. Mr. Laurenson adduced some facts relative to land monopoly in Canterbury, and urged that taxation should be resorted to, with the object of inducing subdivisions. This was a national matter which demanded the early attention of the Government. Mr. Hine considered the evils referred to by Mr. Laurenson. were due to the Government's administration.

Mr. Russell agreed Avith Mr. Laurenson that the population of Canterbury had been decreasing, the reason being that the land was held by large owners who had no inducement to part with their land. He advised the compulsory acquisition of estates and the setting up of Arbitration Courts to settle the terms of purahase. A PREMATURE DISCUSSION. Sir Joseph Ward, replying, said it was premature to raise a discussion on the land question generally on the introduction of the committee's report as previously stated. He believed the House should legislate in the direction of preventing landowners from putting prohibitive prices upon their estates. The House would be asked to do so this session. The system of appointing Arbitration Courts to fix prices had not been altogether successful, leading in many cases to excessive amounts being paid. He asked the House to wait till the Land Bill was before it. When questions were raised the matter could be fully discussed. The land question was the chief one demanding solution at the present time, and he intended to do all he could to settle it in a satisfactory manner. Replying to further criticism, Sir Joseph Ward said he had been always in favor of land settlement in small areas. He was not a land nationaliser. Referring to the Glen Wye and Double Hill runs, which had been mentioned by Mr. Taylor, the Government proposed that these should be further inspected with a view to their being subdivided. The report was adopted and the House rose at 5.30 p.m.

NATIONAL PROVIDENT BILL. In the House, in the evening the National Provident Bill was read a first time. WATER POWER BILL. Sir Joseph Ward moved the third reading of the Water-power Works Bill. After referring to the criticism passed by ilr. Black on the Government scheme, the Premier said it was proposed to provide 8 per cent, depreciation on the plant and a sinking fund of one per cent., irrespective of sinking fund provided for the loan in the ordinary Xvay. Mr. Allen justified thel attempts of the Opposition to have the vote reduced from £500,000 to £300.000. The evidence before the House did not warrant it in sanctioning the full scheme of the Government. Some of the estimates had been based on the continuous use of power for 24 hours, but experts stated that power would only be available for 12 hours. The Premier ought to have submitted the whole scheme to the committee of the House and have given it every information so that the matter could have been fully considered. He said he would continue to vote against the waste of public money, as he had done last night on the second reading of the Bill. (Left sitting).