PARLIAMENT

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 61, 2 September 1911, Page 8

PARLIAMENT

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 1911. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. I By Telegraph —Press Associa-tion. Wellington, Last Night. The House met at 2.30 p.m. THE OTAHUHU HERO. The report of the Petitions Committee on the petition of the late Mr. Claude (who prevented a disastrous railway! smash at Otahuhu) for compassionate! allowance was recommended for the favorable consideration of the Government. Several members urged the Ministry to seriously and favorably consider the I petition. The Hon. Mr. Millar said he did not wish to detract from the late Mr. Claude's action, but he maintained that the collision would not have taken place had Claude not been there. The en-gine-driver of the express pulled his train up on seeing the three tail lights of the runaway approaching. The Government, in paying £SO to Mr. Claude, had, in his opinion, paid sufficiently for what Mr. Claude had done. There was not a tittle of evidence in support of the contention that Mr. Claude's action on that night was responsible for his death. He pointed out that the people of Auckland had done nothing for Mr. Claude. •Mr. Massey held that Mr. Claude had not been paid enough for his action. In his opinion Mr. Claude saved a collision, lie hoped the Government would make the necessary provision for the widow and children of an undoubtedly brave man. With reference to the Auckland people's action, they felt it was the duty of the Government to take the matter up. Mr. Hogaii said the committe recognised that the late Mr. Claude had done a noble act. The committee wished to place the widow on a better footing than she was at present. If any doubt existed as to whether Mr. Claude had saved the train, he should be given the benefit of the doubt. I PURE SEEDS.

Tim Side of Poisons Bill (Hon. Fowlds) and the Seeds Sale Control Bill (Hon. T. Mackenzie) were read a second time pro forma and referred to the Agricultural Committee.

Mr. Massey hoped the passage of the measures would not be hurried through the House. A number of people wanted to give evidence before the Agricultural Committee, especially regarding the latter Bill.

Hon. T. Mackenzie said there would be no undue hurrv, and every opportunity would be given to those'desirous of giving evidence. The Hon. J. A. Millar moved the second reading of the Mutt Railway and Road Improvement Aimn.iment Bill, allocating the cost of the formation of the road amongst the local bodies. Members representing the districts wherein the local bodies concerned were situated voiced their objection to the Bill, declaring the work to be a national one.

The House adjourned at 5.30 p.m. EVENING SITTING.

In the House this evening the debate on the second reading of the Hutt Kailway and Road Improvement Bill was resumed, and the second reading was agred to.

The Hon. D. Buddo moved the second reading of the Hauraki Plains Amendment Bill.

Mr. Massey said that settlers had experienced dill'iculty in getting advances from the Advances,to Settlers Department, They had been informed that the drainage operations were in the nature of an experiment, and it must be seen how the experiment operated before advances were made. He objected to the proceeds of sales of land on the plains being paid into the Consolidated Fund as revenue.

Messrs. Poland, Taylor and Oreenslade applauded the principle of the Bill. Mr. Jennings approved the Bill, and advocated advances to settlers on the. plains.

The Hon. D. Buddo, in his reply, said the Bill had been circulated amongst the settlers on the plains, and the Government officer there had informed him that the settlers had mode jio protest against being' rated. The land was of good quality, and would give excellr-t results. The striking of a rate for t' :■ maintenance of the drains was expected by the settlers. In three years' time the land would lie in profitable occupation, and he hoped the plains would be linked up with the railway system in the near future. The Bill was read a second time. The Kaikoitra Hospital Site Bill, to provide a site for a cottage hospital, was read a second time. The House adjourned at 11.40 p.m.