PARLIAMENT

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 59, 31 August 1911, Page 8

PARLIAMENT

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL I By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The Council met at 2.30 p.m. The Imprest Supply Bill, No. 2, was passed through all its stages without discussion. Sir J. ft. Findlay gave a resume of the subjects dealt with by the Imperial Conference. He pointed to the danger of encouraging the view that the oversea dependencies were a loose collection ot nations that could at any time sever fcroin the Mother Country. He spoke oi the necessity for some such body as had been suggested: by Sir Joseph Ward to deal with Imperial matters in which ths various sections of the dominions were concerned, and dealt with the several proposals, which were brought forward with the object of unifying the Empire. The Hon. Mr. Jenkinson moved resolutions appreciative of the services rendered by the Premier and Sir J. G. Findlay at the Conference. The debate was adjourned, and the Council rose.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. J The Prime Minister, on Tuesday night, in his. reply, pointed out that the Opposition consistently supported the loans they now criticised. The loans were all raised on satisfactory terms. Since he took office the revenue had increased by £-2,712,000, but this was always overlooked by the critics when talking about increased borrowing since the death of Mr. Seddon. The new-found friend of the railwayiuen advocated a commissioner. How mucli chance would the railwaymen have to get improved conditions under such circumstances, compared with their power to appeal to the people's representatives? Comparisons regarding the cost of maintaining the railways in New Zealand and New South Wales were made (by Mr. Herdman to show that it was much higher here. If any reduction was made in compliance with that demand, it would mean the reduction'of every surfaceman's wages in this country. Mr. Herdman: Play the game. Sir Joseph: That's what it means, because there can be no reduction in cost of maintenance otherwise. If the wages paid under commissioners in New South Wales were paid in New Zealand, £50,00* would be saved. If the electioneering went on that lie had heard from the Opposition, raihvavmen would find that their worst enemies liad been their professed friends, bringing the public largely into conflict with them on issues they would rather avoid. New Zealand was recognised as a difficult country for railway management l>ecause of its mountainous character. -To pay NewZealand wages in New South Wales would pull down the earnings by one per cent. As for suburban facilities, the Government had been asked to make concessions in one district which would have cost £20,000. The Bill was put through all its stages and passed. The House rose at 1.45 a.m. Wellington, Last Night. The House met at 2.30 p.m. Mx. Greenslade drew the attention of the Minister for Defence to the action of a drill instructor in Auckland in ordering that Territorials' hair shall be of a uniform length. Mr. Clark said the Territorials should not be harrassed. There was a certain amount of feeling against compulsory training at present, and the lot of the men should be made as congenial as possible. Sir Joseph Ward said he had asked for a report on the matter. He would not approve of anything derogatory to the service. He did not intend to allow such a state of affairs as had been mentioned in a newspaper report. It might be found to he exaggerated. MajorGeneral Godley was most desirous that the system should be carried out properly, and any irregularity, if brought before the Major-General, would promptly be set right. Sir Joseph then made a statement regarding the invitations to the Coronation. He had received the invitations, marked private, and was not in a position to disclose the contents. Mr. Masfey had seen a document addressed to the Governor, which was really in IV' form of an enquiry made by the Home Government with a view of sending invitations later. He had suggested to Mr. Massey that three Opposition and five Government members should go. His interview with Mr. Massey was strictly confidential. Later, an article appeared in the '•Dominion," dealing with the matter. Someone had committed a gross breach of confidence. He had informed Mr. Massey that lie was prepared to (five facilities to every member to go Home at his own expense, and suggested postponing the opening of Parliament till early in August, and putting off the elections till February. Mr. Massey later informed him that he had discussed the matter with his party, and they had decided that they could not accept the invitation. As the outcome of that, he asked His Excellency the Governor to caWe Home to see if the matter could not he brought before Parliament. The reply he received was that arrangements had not- progressed far enough to allow the matter to go to the House. On October 0 an item appeared in the Evening Post concerning the visit Home. At that time he had received no invitations. He read the letter from the Under-Secretary for the Colonies, which stated that the House of Lords and the House of Commons Committee had forwarded invitations on February 23. He sent telegrams to the members immediately on receipt of that communication. Only one member (Mr. Rhodes) expressed a willingness to go Home. He then sent a message Home explaining that the time was too short to accept the invitations, and that there had been no response j from the members.

I Mr. Massey said lie hud respected Sir j Joseph Ward's confidence. He objected to the condition of the postponement of the session and the general election, and therefore could not go. Sir Joseph Ward, interjecting, said that eight members going had nothing to do with the suggestion that the House lie postponed. Mr. Massey said he understood that the postponement would l be necessary. He reiterated there had been no breach of confidence on the part of any member of his party, and he had not given the information to any newspaper. The House adjourned at 5.30. EVENING SITTING. In answer to questions, the Minister said— Telephone .regulations were now under revision. It was hoped shortly to be able to announce the decision in reference to reduction to country settlers. Tho Local Government Bill is now in course of preparation, and will be circulated' this session. Mr. Herdman moved the second reading of the Public Service Reform Bill. The Bill aimed at the elimination of political influence from appointments to the Civil Service. The discussion was on the lines of the debate on the first reading of the Bill. The lion. T. Mackenzie said that if the mover of the Bill were conversant with the work of Ministers he would know that they would not stuff their departments full of incompetent officers. The position was too impossible.

Sir Joseph Ward, replying to the arguments in support of the measure, s:iid it was of the greatest importance to the humblest and highoa-t that there should be a good public service. The difference between the Civil Service of to-day and when their opponents were in power 'was the difference between paradise and somewhere else. lie wanted to know if they were to hare the handing over to a Czar or an autocrat the destinies of the Civil Servants, who were getting old, and who would be liable to he reduced in salary on account of age. (Left sitting.)