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PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The Council met at 2.30. The Revocation of Naturalisation Bill and the River Boards. Amendment Bill were received from the House of 'Representatives. The first named was put through all stages without amendment, and the ltiver Boards Amendment Bill nvus also rea-d a third time after minor amendments had been made in committee. 'the debato on the second reading of tiie Finance Bill, which the leader pointed out could not be amended by tho Council, was adjourned at 5,0 p.m. until 8.15 p.m. The Council resumed in the evening, when vSir Francis Bell explained the provisions of the Finance Bill, which, after debate, passed the third reading. The Council adjourned at 9 p.m. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES The House met at 2.30, TEA, SALT, AND WHEAT PRICES. Replying to Mr. Hornsby, the Premier said he would be pleased to refer the alleged rise in the price of salt to' the Board of Trade. He read a reply from the Board on the subject of the rise in the price of tea, which went to show that the prico of tea had not risen beyond 3d. No duty had been imposed by the Government. Replying to Mr. Nosworthy, Hon. W. D. S. Mac Donald said the prices of wheat and regulations under which next season's wheat would 'be purchased would bo gazetted this afternoon. MONDAY MEETINGS. Mr. Massey gave notice to move that on and after the 17th the House meet at 7.30 p.m. on Mondays till the end of the session.. * , ] OLD AGE PENSIONS. Sir Joseph Ward said he had promised to make a statement regarding increases' in the old age pensions, as suggested by members during the debate on the Finance Bill, He regretted, after looking into the requests, that he was unable to agree to any of the proposals. The exemption of homes suggested would mean an ijiereaae of from £2a.-000 to £50,000; tlii- exemption of capital up to £3lO per annum would mean an increase of £,30,000; tho extension of the income of a pensioner from £3-1 to £52 would also mean an increase of £50,000, while if pensions were paid on the secession of employment it would mean £2OOO additional. These increase would mean an annual cost of £ 132.000, and as he was proposing to make increases totalling a quarter of a million in the Finance Bill, it was not possible to grant the requests made by members unless other taxes were considerably increased. THE ESTIMATES, The. House then proceeded to consider the estimates. Class 11, Treasury (£MI,OG/>). Discussing the item £27.798 for the Land and Income Tax Department, Sir Joseph Ward said he would have a table prepared showing typical cases of taxation as a guide to those desiring to make up their own returns. The vote was passed. Class 11, Post and Telegraph Department (£i,436j086). Replying to Hon. R. H. Rhodes, Sir Joseph Ward said that no vote appeared this year for the Pacific cable, 'because the cable was now pay-, iug, and no vote was required. It was not possible to secure further cable concessions during the whr, but arrangements that lie could not disclose were in course of development, which would considerably improve the cable facilities. He also stressed the point that he could not and would not provide large sums for new post offices until the war was over. He was entirely in sympathy with the proposal to lay a cable across Cook Straits for telephone purposes. The present cables were not entirely suitable for this purpose, and were rarely available, bceauso they were needed for telegraphic work. There was a good deal of difficulty in laying such a cable at present, but as soon as possible he promised to have such a cable laid. The vote was passed after a lengthy discussion.

RAILWAY ADMINISTRATION. « Class IV, Working Railways ( £2,943,500). Mr. Vcitch criticised the general manager's connection with the Defence Department, contending that the Minister should secure his release from duties at. camps to enable him to give his whole time to the management of the railways. The discussion was proceeding when the House rose at 5.30. On resuming at 7.30, the discussion on the railway estimates was continued by Dr. Thocker, who attacked the management 'by the general manager. Mr. Wright defended Mr. Hiley, contending that members had no right to attack him when he was unable to defend himself. Mr. Hornsby stated there was great discontent in the railway service, and unless the present methods as to subordinate officers ceased the result must bo disastrous to the railways, as many of t'no best men were leaving, and others were contemplating doing so. The exodus must be stopped by reformed management. Mr. McCallum demanded to know what timo Mr. Hiley was giving to the Dofence Department, and he contended that tliat department should pay for the Se . Ce ' MINISTER'S DEFENCE. < ' Hon. W. H. Herriea explained that Mr. Hiley was imported, not only for the Railway Department, but for the government of tlie Dominion generally, And it would have been a most improper thing for him to have refused to give the benefit bf his expert knowledge to tlie Defence Department when asked for, for that department more than any other, would assist tliem to win the war. Me denied that the railways had suffered, as this had 'been a record year, the railways having mado -profits they had never made before, and no railways in Australasia could show such steady progress since the war began as the Now Zealand railways had made. Members ought to be proud of the way in which the railways had been managed, for thoy were a great example of Stats control. He admitted there was discontent in the service, and it was giving himself and the general manager much anxiety. Ha would regret very much if the fine body of men in the service wore disbanded, but it was largely a matter of finance, and that matter wag not entirely ta. hia hands The high wages being paid by other employers 'Would not go oft for ever, and after tho war he thought jnoat

of the men would, come baelc. & ggxqdt deal liad been, done in the direction: bt increasing the men's dages, audi ■wMI was called /'.pin pricks" on. the mat wensS . decreasing, as the fines last year aged only sixpence per ma«, aa agailisfl elevenpence! .per man the previous yeasty Ho justified the cutting- down at sulk urban t"ains on tiie ground of assisting! the Defence Department. Men called up in the ballot, and- it tiha men • wex-e taken away the services irwnt ha reduced. About 6000 men had! gone to| the front already—a fine record! which he was anxious not to break. In cutting down trains, he contended that ho eautq not reduce the goods trains, nor «wM| 'the maintenance staff ha reduced, oe the lines must be kept safe no matter ton* many or how few trains were run. Tha traffic department, then, was ihe onljjj one out of which they could gefr ft cut s > ■ His policy 1 was to bring into work and take thom hack, bat h# could not provide for abnorjnal tr&fflp* If the Houbs decided that the rallwajj. men should not ba taken for service he was prepared to reinstate them and resume the suburban services, but that was a matter for the House. The question of supplies {particularly coal) was also an important factor ilk the running of trains, and the need fog ■ economy was still great. The discussion proceeded mainly on thff subject of suburban trains (whiah tlia Minister refusod to reinstate) until 11.45, when Mr. Wilford sought to bring thfi] position to a head by moving a £1 re- ' duction in the estimates aa an indteationi tliat the time had come, when train* - should 'run in suburban' areas on Friday, night. The amendment waa lost by 3f to 12. Mr. Wilford then moved to report pr(H gress, on the ground that the kubjeeti was too large to be dealt with at on«|' sitting. The amendment was lost on thq voices, and the vole passed. Progrcsjj was then reported, and the house rojjfc at' 12.7 a.m. '" ■

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/TDN19170908.2.32

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Taranaki Daily News, 8 September 1917, Page 5

Word count
Tapeke kupu
1,370

PARLIAMENT. Taranaki Daily News, 8 September 1917, Page 5

PARLIAMENT. Taranaki Daily News, 8 September 1917, Page 5

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