PARLIAMENT

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 72, 15 September 1911, Page 5

PARLIAMENT

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 14. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. By Telegraph—-Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The House of Representatives met at 2.30 p.m. PETITION. A Bpccial committee was set up to enquire into the petition of the Totara Company for railway extension and any other matter in connection therewith. FINANCIAL 'DEBATE. The debate on the 'Budget was resumed by Mr. Dive, who deplored the absence from the Budget of a Land Bill and a Local Government Bill. Regarding the Government dairy herds, he declared the Ayrshire herd was a very poor one, and that the majority of the animals would not bring 30a in the open market. He condemned the "taihoa" policy in dealing with native lands, and criticised the administration of the experimental farms by the Agricultural. Department. I Mr. J. S. Thompson contended that tlie Opposition, by dealing only in half the facts respecting the public debt, were hot fair to the country. They omitted to state the assets. He asked if the social and intellectual welfare of the people could be better catered for than under the present Government. In the matter of defence he considered the country was doing everything possible, and he deprecated any self-constituted body asking intending candidates to do more in the matter of expenditure.

Mr. Newman said the Budget was v a good election one and provided bribes for political support for every section of the community. He regretted the absence of a Land Bill in the Budget; also that the Lands for Settlement Act was not being made better use of. He urged greater expediency in dealing with native lands, which were increasing in value every year. He regretted there was nothing proposed regarding our industries. The legislation which had been passed had had a paralysing effect upon them, and the present position was discouraging. .

EVENING SITTING, On the House resuming in the evening, Mr. Sidey expressed satisfaction at the railway proposals for Otago, and complimented the Government on the activity displayed in the unemployed question. He also complimented the Minister of Agriculture upon his activity in the multifarious duties coming within his scope. *He welcomed the Betting up of a Royal Commission to ascertain to what extent monopolies existed in the Dominion. It was absurd to contend that the Government had not reduced taxation. The worker paid no direct taxation and the tendency was to reduce the indirect and to increase direct taxation. Mr. G. M. Thompson urged the importance of putting afforestation work on a scientific basis and advocated the appointment of a chief forester for five years at a salary of £IOOO a year. He complained of the vague way in which information respecting experiments were given in the Agricultural Jpurnal. Mr. Reid remarked upon the circumstances that although the Budget was aB important as any placed before the House, the Opposition counterblast was expected. The only front bencher to reply was the Leader of the Opposition. Mr. Reid, continuing, approved the humanitarian proposals in the Budget, and maintained the Opposition hnd constantly opposed better provision for the aged and needy. He traversed the statements that the Government had some of the Opposition planks in the Budget. Mr. Okey said the allegation as to the front' benches of the Opposition being | silent applied to the Government as well. He averred the Opposition were respon- { stble for the workers* homos scheme, which was quite as beneficial as the old-

age pension scheme. He urged the pushing on of railway works in the backblocks. He would support tiie htrmani- ■ tarian proposals of the Budget.