PARLIAMENT

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 40, 9 August 1911, Page 8

PARLIAMENT

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The Council met at 2.30. Sir M. O'Rorke and the Hon. Mr. Harris were re-appointed to the Council, and took the customary oath. The Hon. Mr. Beehan resumed the debate on the Address-in-Reply, and defended the Auckland and Wellington Working Men's Clubs from the reflections made upon such clubs as a whole by the Hon. Mr. Barr. He maintained the institutions were well conducted by the pick of working men, and a large percentage of members were total abstainers. On the land question he said something would have to be done to provide for the demands for land. _A 1 board should be set up and a price fixed for the rising value of land. T!.. Hon. Mr. Mills dealt with the Coronation invitations, and expressed wonder why the invitation originally received 'by the Government for 1 eight members of the New Zealand Parliament to attend the Coronation had not been sent to members of the Council. The Hon. Mr. Anstey dealt mainly with the land question. Referring to agricultural colleges, he said he hoped the Government would not establish any more, as for practical instruction for farmers they were little better than useless. There was only one place to teach farming, and that was oil the farm. The Department could do an immense amount of good by appointing instructors who could demonstrate amongst the farmers. He criticised the administration of the Crown kinds by the Lands Department and the Land Hoards, and gave an instance where, out of _8 runs, 14 were offered at auction and 14 by ballot, and said speculators and aggregators were asked to come in and compete. They were there without the slightest intention to settle on the land, their sole object being to sell out the goodwill. Mr. Anstey closed by urging the necessity for the Government having a strong, bold and progressive land policy. The debate was adjourned, and the Council rose.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. THE EVENING SITTING. In tlit House in the evening Sir James Carroll made sympathetic reference to the death of Mr. Fraser, ex-M.L.C., and moved a resolution recording appreciation of his public services and sympathy with the family, which was carried in silence. The Wanganui School Sites Amendment Bill (Hon. Geo. Fowlds) was read a second time.