HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Taranaki Daily News, 13 February 1922, Page 6

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

REPLIES TO QUESTIONS. The House met at 11 o’clock. Replying to Mr. W. T. Jennings, Mr. Massey said a great deal of the exported coal was taken as bunker coal by overseas vessels and by the Imperial Navy. Replying to 4fr. J. A. Hanan, Mr. D. H. Guthrie said he could assure the people of Southland that their district would not suffer more than other districts as the result of the railway cut. In all probability the present arrangements would stand.

Replying to Mr. J. Horn, the Hon. D. H. Guthrie said that' some connections with the South Island trunk railway were certain to be affected by the cut, but the matter was receiving the fullest consideration with the view of imposing as little hardship as possible. Replying to Mr. Fraser, Mr. Massey said he did not think the surplus was going to be anything like as large as recently had been supposed, but it was impossible to say definitely for the next three weeks. The Rotorua Control Bill was introduced by Governor’s Message, but the Premier announced it would not be proceeded with this session. SUPPLEMENTARY ESTIMATES. The House then went into committee of supply to consider the Supplementary Estimates. On the vote Legislative Department (£23,489), several members complained that a bonus was not being given to employees about the House this session. The Minister said the employees were told at the beginning of the session that the bonus would not be paid this year.

Mr. P. Fraser moved that the vote be reduced by £1 as an indication that the bonus should be paid. The amendment was negatived by 34 to 19, and the vote passed. On the vote of £47,372 for the Internal Affairs Department, Mr. Walford protested against the vote of £lOOO towards housing and furnishing accommodation for the High Commissioner. The Premier defended the vote on the ground that the expenses of living in London far exceeded anticipation. If some assistance was not given Sir James Allen could not retain the position. He understood the furniture purchased would belong to the Dominion, but he was convinced the whole position would have to be reviewed. The discussion was proceeding when the House adjourned at one o'clock. The House resumed at 2.30.

An amendment to reduce the vote of £lOOO for “expenses in securing and furnishing housing accommodation for the High Commissioner,” was defeated by 26 to 11, and the vote was passed. Mr. C. E. Statham asked why it was necessary to spend £235 on an expedition to Fiordland to discover whether moose had established themselves there.

The Hon. W. D. Stewart said he did not think the money was altogether wasted, but it was not anticipated when the expedition was agreed to that it would cost so much. The vote was passed. Mr. T. M. Wilford raised the question -of “purchase of foreshore, Kawau Island, £1250.”

Sir William Herries said that Kawau Island was one of the few places where there was a Crown grant to enter to the lowwater mark, instead of the high-water mark, consequently there was great difficulty in depredations on oyster beds, because, when a suspected cargo of oysters came in it was always said they came from Kawau, and it was difficult to prove the contrary, and when opportunity came to purchase this portion of the foreshore the Government deemed it wise to buy it. He thought it an excellent purchase. The vote was passed. Messrs. H. Atmore and R. McCallum raised the question of a new and more powerful light at the French Pass when the marine vote (£12,413) was under consideration. Sir William Herries said that Captain Bollans had reported that the present light was sufficient, but the Department would ask for a further report in view of the representations of hon. members.

On the Education Department vote (£9456), Mr. S. G. Smith (Taranaki) objected to the expenditure of £125 on the publication of the Education Gazette, and he moved that the vote be reduced as a protest. The Premier said that Cabinet had decided to stop this expenditure. The vote was agreed to. Dr Newman protested against the expenditure of £ll,OOO on the planting of marram grass by the Lands Department to reclaim sand dunes. His experience was that marram grass was not a success. Mr. W. T. Jennings explained Canada’s experience, where most of the areas of sand dunes were reclaimed by grass procured from France. He urged that the sand country from Kawhia to Patea should be treated. The Minister said that to-day their advice was that marram grass was best suited to New Zealand conditions.

Mr. C. E, Statham asked the Minister of Defence if he thought £lOO was sufficient compensation to H. H. Thompson “in respect of the sentence of the court-martial subsequently annulled.”

The Minister said the amount was recommended by the Defence Committee, and Cabinet accepted the recommendation. Thompson had already received £75. Mr. H. E. Holland, Dr. Newn an, Messrs. J. M. Dickson tCha’.-r rs), W. 2 Glenn. T. M Wilford and G. R. Sykes appealed for fuiiLer consideration for Thomis’’*, and Mr. Holland mo zed that the vote lie reduced by £1 as an indication that the amount be increased. The vote was sustained by 23 to 13. The remainder of the votes were passed unchallenged. The total votes passed amounted to £347,103.

APPROPRIATION BILL. The Appropriation Bill was introduced by Governor’s message and read a second time without debate. The House went into committee on the Bill, which was reported without amendment. On the third reading, Mr. T. M, Wilford I commented on the adjustment of wages at i which the Government had made an atj tempt. He said there was going to be a hiatus beween the public rate of wages fixed, and which were to be cut, and the wages to be fixed by the Arbitration Court. This position was going to have serious consequences, and it was only right that someone should point this out to the Premier. A LAND DEAL. Mr. R. McCallum complained that the Government had not this session taken the Opposition into their confidence as they had done in other sessions, and he wondered why. He criticised the wisdom of permitting members of Parliament to sell land to the Government, and went into the details of the purchase for soldiers of an estate for £38,000 from Sir Edwin Mitchelson. He made no charge of impropriety in this case, but he asked the Premier to say what was the land tax value of this land? Next session he proposed to move for a return showing the details of this transaction, and, failing that, he intended to move for a public inquiry, his aim being to keep the standard of public morality high. Mr. Massey: You will get a public inquiry all right. Hon. D. H. Guthrie said he was sorry a shadow of suspicion had been thrown outin connection with this case because Sir Edwin Mitchelson was no more desirous of loading up soldiers than the hon. gentleman was. Sir E. Mitchelson had never approached any member of the Government about the purchase, the property being bo- M through the ordinary channels, and s supported by responsible officers of the Government. He read a telegram from Mr. Greville (Commissioner of Crown Lands), in which that gentleman said the purchase could be defended against any criticism. He defended Sir E. Mitchelson against any charge of impropriety. Mr. McCallum said if the Government would give him the tax valuation of land he would withdraw all he said. Mr. Guthrie said the land tax valuation was of no value in cases of land purchases. Mr. G. Witty regretted that the land tax valuation of land purchased for soldiers had been consistently refused to members.' He had asked for it time after time, but had never been able to get it. Mr. J. McCombs supported this complaint, since soldiers had been compelled to go off the land because of the high price paid for it. Mr. R. A. Wright regretted that many useful Bills had not been passed during the session. If a Bill had been passed requiring teachers and professors to take the oath of allegiance he felt sure none would have refused to take it. They were all absolutely loyal. Mr. H. E. Holland said that, after listen ing to the speech of Mr. McCallum, he could read into it nothing but a serious charge. Mr. Massey: Well, make your charges outside, unprotected by Parliamentary privilege.

Mr. Holland remarked that if that was the attitude the Government was going to take up, then they should appoint a commission of inquiry into the whole business.

Mr. Massey: That is probably what will be done.

Mr. McCallum: I don’t withdraw a word I have said.

Continuing, Mr. Holland proceeded to complain of the high cost of explosives to miners. He regretted that no pensions had been provided for the blind, and that oth«r pensions had not been increased. While unemployment was rampant, the Government was accentuating that problem by increasing immigration. From his constituents’ point of view the session would be considered one of the most harmful and disappointing which had ever taken place in the history of Jthe Dominion. Mr. Massey, in reply, said it was idle to denounce the Government’s immigration policy, because the experience of all countries was that if they got the right kind of immigrants the increased population never reduced wages. Now we had the opportunity to get the best of British people, and we were right in receiving them. He defended the pensions policy of the Government. It was not possible to give pensions to all, but he quoted the results of Government legislation, which had materially improved the position of those in receipt of pensions. Referring to the speech of Mr. McCallum, he asked him specifically to formulate a charge.

Mr. McCallum said he had made his charge. Mr. Massey: What is it?

Mr. McCallum: That there is a suspicion you have been beaten by Sir E. Michelson. Mr. Massey, continuing, said the hon. member should have gone further than saying there was a “suspicion”. However, the matter had gone so far that it Would have to be probed to the bottom. It could not rest where it was. He quoted from & speech he delivered in the House at the time when the loan was altered to enable the Crown to purchase land from members of Parliament to show’ he was not going to be a party to jobbery betw<_ the Government and sellers of land. He knew the land referred to fairly well. The Motutara estate was within twenty-two miles of Auckland, and as the price was only about £l2 14s per care, members could understand that it was extremely reasonable for good dairy land in that position. Sir E. Mitchelson had never brought influence to bear to have the land bought, but its purchase was recommended by the Auckland Land Board, and that was an extremely good board. Coming to the land tax value as a basis of purchase, he ridiculed the idea, because that valuation, having been made perhaps five or ten years before, must be far below its present day value. Mr. McCallum: Then give us the valuation.

Mr. Massey said Mr. McCallum only wanted the valuation in order that he might throw mud at the Government. Land tax valuation was no good unless it was made at the time, and this land had been valued at the time of purchase by three of the most competent men the Government could employ. Mr. McCallum had said eith *r too much or too little. He must either prove his charge or apologise to Sir E. Mitchelson. He had endeavored to maintain the reputation of his friend, and he thought he had not been unsuccessful in doing so.

The Bill was then read a third time, and at 6.30 the House adjourned until the ringing of the bell. When the House resumed in the evening a message was received from the Legislative Council that they had passed the Appropriation Bill, which they returned to the House as one of their Bills of supply. The Speaker then announced that he would proceed to Government House to secure the signature of the GovernorGeneral to the Bill, and the House would resume on his return. At 8.12 p.m. the Speakef returned and announced that the Governor-General had, ni the name of His Majesty, assented to the Appropriation Act.