PARLIAMENT

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 64, 6 September 1911, Page 8

PARLIAMENT

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. 'Tlio Tlonse of Representatives mot at "2.30 p.m. IMMIGRATION. Replying to questions by .Messrs Wright and Russell concerning an article in the "Dominion," quoting a statement published in London said to have been issued by the High Commissioner, to the effect'.that there is a general scarcity of labor in the Dominion, and that domestic servants are as difficult to procure as nuggets of gold; that the Dominion requires to import apprentices, ploughmen and capable farm hands anxious to become settlers, and that we needed another million people in the cities and two millions on the 'land, whom wo would welcome, ami who if here to-morrow would all find ample employment, Sir Joseph Ward said he had brought the, matter of immigration up at the Imperial Conference. Labor exchange and immigration was a very difficult matter to deal with at certain times of the year. The system of immigration employed by the High Commissioner was stopped for the time being so as not to bring people here during the winter months. They were getting a.s many people in New Zealand for the purposes named as was necessary. Assisted immigrants of 11)10 totalled '2l-87, and for six months this year the. number was 1 lflo. The Government had not changed its policy concerning immigration, and no instructions had been given to alter the system now obtaining. There must be some mistake or misapprehension in the statement attributed to the High Commissioner. Sir William 1 bill-Tones could never have said such a I thing*.

THE FIXAXCIAL STATEMENT. | Sir Joseph Ward stated tlmt the Finuncial Statement would be brought down on Friday evening. The Railway Statement would be submitted before Friday. COAb MIXES BILL. Hon. It. McKenzie moved the committal of the Coal Mines Amendment Bill. He explained that the Bill contained a provision fpr tlie determination of leases within six months; also for allowing the Minister, on behalf of his Majesty, to purchase and sell eoal, wood and coke. Mr. Massey objected to the last clause, dealing \vtli the sale of wood and coal. He objected to the way the Government wan going into business. The State should be used to crush monopolies and combines, and so far as he knew there w«s nothing of this description in connection with the eoal trade, and if there were not, what was the object of the clause?

The House adjourned at 5.30 p.m. In the House in the evening the debate on the motion for committal of the Coal Mines Bill was continued. Messrs Merries and Herdman contended the Government coal ventures were not successful and did not pay. slr. Herdman characterised the State management as the worst possible, involving waste, neglect, carelessness, and often incapacity. Sir Joseph Ward pointed to the fact that whereas coal was £-2 a ton before the State mines were established, the retail price in Wellington now was 28s. Private consumers in Wellington saved .€50,000 a vear and in Christehureh £35.000 a. year. The existence of the State mines had a steadying influence on the price of coal and prevented a combination. The balance-sheet of the State eoal minea showed a net profit of £617!). After further discussion, the Bill went into committee. The Bill was reported from committee with amendments.