PARLIAMENT

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 34, 3 August 1911, Page 8

PARLIAMENT

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 2. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. In the Legislative Council, the debate on the Address-in-Reply was continued/' by the Hon. T. McCardle, who urged an amendment of the Land Settlement and Finance Act in ■the direction of bringing its provisions more within the scope oS poorer men. He pointed to the necessity of some measure to prevent 'the aggregation of land. The only way ito secure this end was to amend the Land Transfer Aot so as to limit the amount of land any man might hold in fee simple. Regarding the Hon. S. T. George's suggestion as to borrowing to Immediately complete the Main Trunk railways, he considered the scheme too huge for a country the size of N«w Zealand).

The Hon. Rigg wished to direct attention to a matter which appeared to him to infringe the rights and privileges oi the Legislative Council. He referred to the invitations sent to the members ol the Legislative Council to attend the Coronation. Meimibers of the Council appear to ;htive been overlooked, a, circumstance which, to his mind, constituted a grave discourtesy to them. Referring to Imperial matters, lie saw great difficulties in the formation of an Imperial Council, ''as such a council would be valueless in advising on a majtter ol war. There was no time for such consideration, as nations now struck first, and that was their declaration of war. It was impossible, therefore, for a council' to consider such matters. He failed to understand why some well-meaning people opposed military training. They did not appear to realise what would happen in the event of war. He felt sure tihai some day the young men who were now being trained would have to fight for their liberties in New Zealand. Referring to -the Hon. George's speech in reference to the completion of the Main Trunk railways, he said rt was one which would commend itself to any business man with capital. The debate was adjourned and l the Council rose.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The Hou.se of Representatives met at 2.30 p.m. The Speaker was directed to issue a warrant to make a new writ .for a motion that a member for Chrisitchurch North be olm-Ux! i;i place of the late Mr. T. E. Tavlor.

Mr. Fisher asked the Acting-Prime Minister to afford the House time to discuss tlie report of the Representation Commission before the «s»ion closed. Sir James Carroll replied thai it was rather premature to give an answer, as the report had not been received from the Commission. DEATHS AT PORIRUA. »

Replying to a question by Mr. Field, concerning a rumor thai eleven burials of patients from Porirua Asylum had taken place on one day, Mr.. Fowlds laid there had teen 30 cases of typhoid it the asylum. Three attendants had ••onfcrawted fever, but no nurses. There ver© 110 edges a*t the asylum now, except «ne attendant, wlio had been removed to he hospital. There were four deaths in 'larch, two in April, two in May, and >ne in June. There had never Ibeen nore 'than one death on any one day.

LAND SETTLEMENT. ~l tr: McDonald resumed the deba/te on toe Addtess-in-Reply. He congratulated iv Guinness and Sir J amies Carroll mi the honor conferred on them by the Jirog. He traversed statements made by Mr. Maasey on the previous evening, and congratulated the administration on splMKhd progress made of laite years, especially m the matter of land settlement. Be felt sure that now the Natives realised, the Government was doing their best for all concerned, they would come forward and offer their land for settle"f"' - wished to draw .the attention of the Minister of Public Works to the groat difficulty experienced .by co-opera-tive workers in getting .their goods to camps, especially in winter, when manv of the roada, .which were the only means of access, were practically impassable. He suggested 'the erection of a lar~ store for storage .purposes only in t). vicinity of the largest camp to facilitate the distribution of food stuffs to tiiose engaged on co-operative works. With regard to the defence system, the great majority of the people of the country had adopted it and were quite satisfied to have their children trained for detensile purposes. NEW ZEALAND'S ASSETS. Mr. V Lawry, continuing the debate, congratulated both Sir A. Guinness and' .Sir James Carroll on the honors received from the King. With regard to the Opposition policy, what was new in it uZ ol rUB and ™ hat w£ * true was not new- The country was undoubtedly prosperous, and this was due to the excellent policy of the Government. Regarding the national debt, he considered this was an illustration of the intrinsic worth Oif the country, and if it were offered 111 the public market, a syndicate would readily be found to offer JOO per eent. for it, so high were our assets valued.

air Poole followed, and after congratulating Sir A. Guinness and Sir James Carroll on the -reward of their services, said. he still l was. of opinion that the Prime Minister, in accepting an hereditary title, had made a stupendous blunder and the action was injurious to the principles of the democracy He recognised Sir Joseph Ward's work for the Dominion and Empire, but still' he must protest against his accepting' an hereditary title. Dealing with the high cost of living, the cause of the trouble was the expense of distribution which needed a remedy;. To combat' monopolies. State competition was the best remedy.

MINISTERS DISAPPEAR. M this stage, the Hons. R. McKenzie, D. Buddo and G. Fowlds were the onh> Ministers present, and Mr. Poole entered a. protest against this, saying that the Address-in-Reply was mainly to allow the Executive 'to (hew what private members had to say. He dealt with the pay off railway employees, saying that ™° reduction in fares was no benefit to the country. If employees were no-t paid a decent wage, this should be remedied, even if fares have to be raised. He nlcarled fr>r s-rewt expenditure on roads i* the North Island, which 'hod not a 1

natural means of transport like those in the South Island. The House adjourned at 5.30 p.m. THE EVENING SITTING. On the, House resuming, Mr. Poole said one of the features of tile session would be the introduction of the bare majority measure. Mr. Malcolm dealt mainly with Imperial questions. Mr. Luke, after referring to the good work done by Sir Joseph Ward at Home, protested against the Jitter's action in keeping back information till he got to Sydney. He considered 'hat New Zealand would have fared better at the Imperial Conference if questions which were deliberated upon had 'been discussed on bhe floor of the House prior to the departure of the country's envoys. He condemned the contemptible (and he used the "word advisedly) desire to shine abroad. When the representatives came baiek from Home they must give an account of what went on at the Imperial Conference.

Mr. E. H. Taylor, in referring to the titles dispensed at the Coronation, said those who sneered at titles were not true to the monarchy to which they belonged. If the King desired to honor any of his subjects, who were they to decry those honors? The debate was adjourned and the [House rose at 10.35 p.m.