PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 October 1919, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. ■ By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The Legislative Council met at 2.30. The Tauronga Harbor Board Empowering Bill, Tauranga Electric Loans Empowering Bill ,and Manawatu County Loan and Empowering Amendment Bill were read a first time, and referred to the Local Bills Committee. The Mortgages Extension Bill was put through its final stages and passed. The Council appointed Sir Walter Buchanan, Sir J. R„ Sinclair and the Hon. 0. Samuel to act as managers to discuss the reasons of the Council for insisting on the 'amendments to the Women's Parliamentary Rights Bill. In moving in this direction, Sir F. Bell said the managers would not enter into fif, discussion of the merits of the Bill, but would confine their remarks to the reasons for the amendment.

The Council rose at 3.5 until 8 p.mThe Council resumed at 8 o'clock, but immediately adjourned until Wednesday, no statement being made regarding a conference with the representatives of the Lower House on the subject of the Women's Parliamentary Rights Bill. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House metsat 2.30. ' "' : 'I "' REPLIES TO QUESTIONS. Replying to Sir Jo&eph -Ward, Mr, Massey said he understood electoral law had been altered Borne years ago in such a way as to enable anyone in the positon of the High Commissioner to be registered as an elector immediately on his return to New Zealand. In any case he thought it should be so, and he would look into the matter. Replying to Mr. Anstey, the Minister of Finance, said he proposed to repeal the war regulation requiring companies to obtain permission before increasing their capital. WAR LOAN. Replying to Sir Joseph Ward, Sir James "Allen said he was hot in j. position to state just how much had been subscribed towards the War Loan, but ho thought members could rest satisfied that the loan was assured. WAR MEMORIALS. t The Minister of Defence stated to the House that ararngementi had been made for the purchase from the Belgian s Gov-' eminent of two sites for war memorials —one at Messines, and one at Gtavenstafel—at a cost.of £l5O. Authority had been given for the completion of, the arrangements. THE LOCAL BODIES LOANS. Replying to Mr, Wilkinson, Sir James Allen said he could not yet say whether he could repeal the restrictions placed on local bodies regarding the raising of loans- It was a matter requiring, very careful consideration. ESTIMATES. The House went into Committer of Supply to consider the Estimates. Land and Survey Department £231,405) Mr. McCalhim urged the Minister to push on with a more progressive policy of settlement of Crown lands. Private lands were now so high priced that no extensive development can take place in that direction. Messrs. Wilford and Wright urged that soldiers who served in the South African war should have the right to take up land under the Soldiers' Settlement scheme. The Hon. W. D. S. Macdonald put in a plea for, reading backblock sections, fq.r which he saw no ample provision on the Estimates. Mr. Talbot criticised the manner in which some of the Government settlements are sub-divided.

The Minister, in reply, said the first duty of the country was to, settle soldiers; after that operations cquid '£>(• extended in such a way afc to include South African veterans. The vote was passed. Valuation Department (£40,423). Several members contended that raluationa of country lands were in a backyard condition," and should be brought up-to-date. Mr. Massey, in reply, said he was at the head of the Valuation Department', in 1014, and he thought it unwißi to make extensive valuations during tli< war period. The war, however, hat gone on longer than was anticipated, an< he had been compelled to change hii mind. Since 1914, 7B counties had beei re-valued, showing an increase in nn improved value of £47,000,000} 17 ha< styown practically no increase; '24 weri now ripe for re-valuation, and 14 wouh be put in hand at once, but ho,did no anticipate any great increase in tin value would be shpwn. One of th greatest difficulties the Department hai to contend with was the shortage o competent valuers, owing to war «t>jn ditions, * I -,. /:_*• f*

Mr. McCallura said that in spite of he report put in by the Premier, he eonidered there should 'he an inquiry into lie conduct of this Department for the [»t ten years. It well well knowii hat vast sums had been lost in taxaion because of faulty valuations, and u etroaotive Taxation Act should be lassed compelling land owners to ,pay axation they escaped during the war leriod, '.,■■" •Mr. Massey defended the Valuerieneral against the imputations of the ast speaker. There was no ■ better >fficer in the service, and he was assisted jy an able, energetic staff, Mr. MoQallum said it might be a good Department, but it did not do its work. The vote was passed. Electoral Department ( £117,378). The vote was passed without discussion. Agriculture, Industries, and Comjrreree (£470,1117)- This gave rise to a brief discussion, mainly on the subject of evperimental farms in the South Island, which was proceeding at 5.30. ■ When the House resumed at 7.30, the discussion on the agricultural estimates proceeded. Mr. Anstey criticised the manner in which the wheat growing industry ha J been treated. He contended that if wheat growers got fair play, this country could grow every bushel of wheat it required. He would like to have from the Government a declaration of its policy on this question.

Mr. Massey said the policy. Of the Government was to grow enough' wheat in New Zealand to serve our requirements. It had been said we should, go to Australia for our wheat, and devote our energies to something that paid better. He did not subscribe to that view. They had to consider the fact that Australia was subject to periodical droughts. They were suffering from one now, which, he understood, was, affecting a very wide area, and he had been advised by an experienced miller that if we were not careful we might, in consequence, see flour up t,Q £26.a ton inthis country. However,, unless the drought laittd two et thj«« &t&

not think it would do any great harau but the fact remained that these droughM were an element in the case which ahoufft not be lost Bight of, and they njdfrgfp necessary to grow enough wheat fgtf ourselvevs. There was no reason whw we should not. He had seen some A the famous wheat growing countries |b the world, but he had never seen wheat growing land than we had in totup , parts of Canterbury, and North Otagfc Be himself, as a farmer, had grown wheat for twenty years, and he was. satisfied lie had made no money out of it. Mr. Semple: Are you making more out ' of politics?

Mr. Massey: No. Politics are worse than wheat growing.

Continuing, he said that no douuV conditions were different in those dayk when they often sold wheat at 2s B|j per bushel, but, whatever, happened, w|, must encourage wheat growing. must have our own brcadstuffa and mah» it unnecessary to look outside our own country for our own bread supplies, The Hon. W. D. S. MacdonaM warmly defended the wheat growing policy of the National Government.

Immediately on the House resuming , after supper, the agricultural estimates { were passed. * Discussing the education rote (£2,014,11 626), members complained of tfca condM tion of school buildings,' play-ground*,' and the general want of policy of Department. ' ','

Sir Jas. Allen, for the Minisi.r of Education, replied, that he had already* indicated there would be a Bill before" ' the House providing half a million ion* school buildings and sites this year. Bftj recognised that the sites were not in all cases what they ought to be* With.', . respect to the maintenance of schools, there was an extra £13,000 on ettl« mates this year. The question of provision for country schools was a matterin which the Education. Departments would have "to he guided by the boards. Discussion on this vote was freely, : availed of by members to ventilate local j grievances and advocate : local require*; ' ments. *

The Education Department vote waaj put through at 12.40, after Sir Jam**? Allen bad given to Mr. Rußsell an assuM ance that the doctors and dentists emv ployed to examine school children would - be allowed to examine children attending* the private as well as the public sohools, The House then passed on to consider the railway vote of £3,575,000. Replying to questions, Mr: Maaiey gaid a new time-table was being prepared which would come into cember next. Under this, new time-table, the through trains from ChrUtchUMh to Invercargill would be rescinded. (Left Sitting.)