PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 October 1919, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

i LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

By-Telegraph.— Press Association. 1 Wellington, Last Night. The Legislative Council met at 2.30. The Hon. 0. Samuel reported that managers from the Council and the House had failed to agree upon the matters in dispute in regard to the Women's Parliamentary Rights Bill. The following Bills were read a first time: Wellington City Abattoirs, Matakaoa County, Hawke's Bay Rivers, Auckland Harbor Board Loan Empowering, Inglewood County, Wellington City Empowering Amendment, Patea Harbor Amendment, Invercargill Borough Boundary Extension, Hauraki Plains, Thames, and Ohinemuri Counties, and Housing.

Sir Francis Bell moved the second reading of the New Zealand University Amendment Bill. The Hon. Garland complained that only £2OOO was voted towards workers' extension classes. Sir Francis Bell replied that' hitherto the senate had had to find the finance for this work from its own grant. The Bill was put through its final stages and passed. The Post and Telegraph Amendment Bill, and the Howard Estate Bill were also passed. The Discharged Soldiers' Settlement Amendment Bill was read a third time and passed. The Council rose at 3.35. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House met at 2.30. REPLIES TO QUESTIONS. ■Replying to Mr Seddon, the Prerneir said the finances of the Greymouth. Harbor Board were under consideration by Cabinet, but he could not say what decision would he come to. Replying to f3ir Joseph Ward, Mr Massey said the Government had not yet received a reply from the High Commissioner as to whether lie accepted an extension of office till 25th February. He had looked into the legal point raised a few days ago as to whether the .High Commissioner would be eligible to go on the electoral roll on his return to the Dominion, if he so desired, and he found that legislation would be necessary to enable him to do so. Replying to Mr Myers, Mr Massey said it was quite impossible to begin an active immigration policy until the laßt of our soldiers had been brought back. The fact that there was a shortage of domestic servants in the Dominion had not been lost, sight of, but nothing could be done at present. Replying to Mr Isitt, Mr Massey said he would look into the question of claiming preference in the Labor market for the Government housing scheme. The suggestion went in the right direction, but ho could not forget that, owing to stoppage of building due to the cost of material, there were now maMy buildings required apart from the housing scheme, and the problem was a difficult one. Replying to Mr Poole, Mr Mnssey said nothing had been done in the matter of placing seamen on out-going ships on the roll. He would look into it, but he thought an amendment of the law would be necessary. He had received a report from the chief electoral officer to the effect that postal officers are proceeding energetically with the enrolling of electors. Replying to Mr Semple, Mr Massey said it was proposed to proceed vigorously with the housing scheme so as to provide houses for the people at th» earliest moment. Replying to Mr P. Fraser. Mr Massey said he had in contemplation some scheme for organising building labor, with a view to preventing the erection of non-essential buildings. He would consult the head of the Labor Depart- , ment as .to the advisability of calling a conference of Dominion builders to discuss the question and the labor question. POST AND TELEGRAPH RIGHT OF APPEAL The Post and Telegraph Department Amendment Bill, dealing; with the rights of appeal in the service, was introduced by Mr Young (Waikato) and read a first time. THE* WHEEL TAX. A discussion, lasting nearly the whole afternoon took place on the Counties Act Amendment Bill, introduced by Governor's message. The Premier explained that the Bill dealt with the question of the wheel tax. REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE. Sir Jas. Allen stated that the revenue for the six. months ending 30th September totalled £8,2411,145, being an increase of £1,192,157 on the similar period of the previous year. The abnormal items were: Customs £405,000, stamps £547,000. The expenditure totalled £10,462,000, being . £2,139;000 in excess of the similar period of the previous year. The largest items were: Interest and sinking fund £850,928 and £313,000 under special acts; railways £-MH),000, mental hospitals £200,000, agriculture £113,000; education £llO,000. THE EVENING SESSION. ADMINISTRATION OF SAMOA. r ■ The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. Sir James Allen moved the second reading of the Treaties of Peace Bill. He explained the Bill provides that the Peace Treaty may be given full effect to by an Order-in-Council. Under the Bill New Zealaud accepted a mandate on the question of Samoa. The provision of the mandate could not be published until the. approval of the Powers had been received from Home, but that approval might come any day. It was, however, determined by the covenant of the League of Nations that New Zealand should accept the mandate as an outcome of the mission which loft our shores on loth August, 1910, for an unknown destination, but which everyone now knew was destined for Samoa. The covenant of the League of Nations imposed' upon this country recognition of the fact thnt the territories concerned should he recognised as an integral part of this country. Samoa would not be a British territory nor will it be a British protectorate. They recognised the rights to independence of tlie Samoan people, who had their own laws and customs. Mr. Massey, in reply to Mr. Downey Stewart, said New Zealand had signed the Peace Treaty as a partner with Britain, not as an independent nation. Mr. Ngata agreed that New Zealand was best, equipped for the administration of Samoa, because it was the only I country which had jurisdiction over the ■Polynesian race. He would be jjlad to see two Samoan representatives in Parliament.

Mr. Poole said that with fair wages and good labor conditions, it waa possible to make Samoa a good and prosperous country, which would repay any expenditure made on its behalf. The putting down of slavery, trading in firearms, and the prohibition of the liquor traffic must be insisted upon. Mr. Barr much preferred to see Samoa taken over by Britain. He thought the whole subject of labor should be the subject of an inquiry by a special com. mittee of the House!

Mr. Hannn thought that education' and the health of the natives should be our chief concern.

Mr. P. Fraser denounced indentured labor, declaring that what had failed in South Africa, Fiji, and Queensland was albout to be introduced into New Zealand territory. He believed that so soon as the people of -\o>,- Zealand realisVsd what was contemplated, they would rise up in their might and sweep the Government into oblivion.

Mr. McGalluin favored accepting our responsibility, but leaving it to the next Parliament tfc more carefully go into it. Sir Jas. Allen, in reply, said he was just as much opposed as any one to indentured labor, but they had to face the fact that these Islands had been developed by the Germans under indentured labor, and to keep the Island* up to their present state of cultivation, outside labor mu3t be introduced. Samoans would not work. Colonel Logan was against indentured labor when he first went to Samoa, but was compelled to change his views. He hoped that by establishing a proper system of education we would be able to do n great' deal for the people of Samoa. We were bound to do our best to develop the Te-' sources of these Islands. The mandate taw being conferred on New Zealand br the British Empire on behalf of the League of Nations, to which we v-re bound to report annually. The Bill was read a second time. 1 MINISTER OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS. .Sir Jas. Allen moved the second reading of the External Affairs Bill, provid- '' mg for the appointment, -of a Minister I of External Affairs, to look after the administration of Isiuud affairs. The, Minister would be resident in New Zea- j land, but would consolidate the business ' which was now conducted by several departments into his own department. The : Bill was read a second time. i The constitution regarding the white men m Samoa would be a portion of the Order-in-Council. Provision would 'be made whereby two native chiefs would control native affairs and report to the administrator regarding grievances, anomalies, etc. Regarding the civil service he mentioned that the Government was agreed that the service should be made part and parcel of the New Zealand service. The responsibility for education in Samoa was fully recognised by the Government and a system had already been started there. Public Health was also an important problem which had not been overlooked.

Regarding the question of liquor lie said it was most important that the natives should not be allowed to become victims of the alcoholic habit, and' to prevent this he was convinced the best way was to put the white and the native on the same footing, and that practically meant total-prohibition. It .was the intention of the (ioveriiment to extend the Public Trust Office to Samoa, and to appoint a civil Administrator and a deputy Administrator and withdraw the military.altogether. The salaries of the Civil Service would be paid out of the Ramoan revenue, but if these revenues were not sufficient New Zealand would have to make up deficiencies, but he did not think that contingency would arise.

On the other hand he saw mnHy opportunities for increasing our trade with Samoa, which would he profitable to us. It was not intended to prohibit indentured labor for the present. Tie repotted he was not able to disclose the exact terms of the Order-in-Council, but that was unavoidable. What was ccttnin was that wc either had to accept this mandate or see these Islands go hack to nature.

Sir Joseph Ward said we undoubtedly had to accept the Bill, -hi't it was a pity the House had not the full proposals of (lie Government. He thought next session We would have to begin de novo and pass a Bsll dealing with the whole question of Samoan matters. The extremely complicated question of labor just mentioned by the Minister was n case in point. Tt was all very well to set up a Legislative Council in the Islands to administer public affairs, hut, he was fully satisfied the native rccn should have representation in both Houses of the New Zealand Parliament. Such a course would create confidence in the mind of the natives and would be a most effective means to enlightening them on Imperial affairs. He emphasised the need for guarding the health of the natives and expressed the hope that the Government would havo the conditions of peace translated and issued to the people of New Zealand at the earliest possible date. It was a most important document and would give the people as much information regarding the Treaty as it was possible for them to get. He disliked the wide powers taken by means of the Order-in-Conncil. They were wider than any other ever taken in the history of the Dominion and he thought the whole matter should be taken up again next session and consolidated into one comprehensive measure, and fully discussed by Parliament. He paid a tribute to the men who went, out to fight for the Empire and said the fact we now held Samoa was comforting evidence to the people of these Southern Dominions that 110 enemy had a footing near our gates.

Mr Downic Stewart said Unit unless New Zealand was allowed to sign the Peace Treaty merely as a compliment she was taking up a position tanlaniount to a sovereign power and thereby assuming enormous responsibilities. Whatever was the intention of our delegates at the Peace Conference the fact that we signed the Peace Treaty would, in the minds of lawyers, create us a sovereign state and put us in a most anomolous position with foreign states, who might expect us to carry out the functions and accept the responsibilities of a sovereign state. Tf there was some special arrangement with the Imperial authorities which relieved us of that position then no doubt it was a great compliment on the part of the British Government to allow ur to sign the Treaty. He hoped the Premier would make our position quite clenr.

Mr Holland said it was a pity the House had not the full proposals of the Government before it, but so far as the House knew what the Government proposed was something for which the Labor Party could not stand either in the House or out of it. It was quite clear the system of Government pro-' posrd was divested of every semblance of democracy and so fnr a* indentured labor was concerned the Labor Party would' fisht it tn the last ditch. Mr Massey referred to the question of indentured labor. • He said labor night not be Chinese, mi»h.t not be In-

dinn, but might come from the East Indies, lie thought that after a term of indenture many laborers might elect to remain in Samoa. Great statesmen of the past had endeavored to attach Samoa to New Zealand, but for some reason Great Britain would not agree. The battle of Coronel, in which Britain lost two fino battleships and 1000 men, was directly the result of Germany having a base in the Pacific. He pointed out dc-iinitely that if New Zealand did not control Samoa it would go to a foreign Power. We dare not let it go. He Believed Samoa would be selfsupporting. (Left Sitting).