PARLIAMENT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8477, 3 July 1907, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

(Abridged from Press Association Report.)

WELLINGTON, July 2. The House met at 7.30 o'clock. LEAVE OF ABSENCE.

The Premier moved that six mcnths' Jeave of absence be granted to the Hon. W. Hall-Jones. The motori was agreed to. ADDRESS-IN-REPLY. Mr T. H. Davey moved the Ad-dress-in-Reply. Referring to the illness of the Hon. W. Hall-Jones, he deprecated the attitude of the press in wishing and suggesting the appointment of a successor to fill his shoes. He thought it was unfair to harass the Premier is such a He referred to the good work the Premier had accomplished at the Imperial and Navigation Conferences. He quite agreed with Sir Joseph Ward in the matter of the naval subsidy (£40,000). which was little enough to ,pay, and should be increased. He would like the Premier to state whether he had made any arrangements in England to induce immigration, also as to whether he knew who. issued the pamphlets said to have misled persons entering! the colony. Referring to the. Chinese question, Mr Davey said that it was an everlasting disgrace to the people of New Zealand that they dealt with Chinese.at all. It was incumbent to pass a law forbidding Chinese to enter the colony. Referring to the Conciliation Act, he described it as a farce, and from what he had learned' of Mr McNab's proposal in the Governor's Speech for an Industrial Council, he thought it the best possible means to settle the differences of employers and workers. Touching the kauri timber trade, he hoped . the Minister t would enquire why kauri could be purchased cheaper in Melbourne than in Ceristchurch. He could not say that he was" much ,i impressed at the. proposal tq call' New Zealand a Dominion, though it could not do harm, but he should prefer some other distinct name. He considered that it would be beneficial to follow Canada, and term thei Upper House members Senators any | the Lower House members M's.P. The latter two words were understood throughout f.he world, whereas M.H.R. was probably not understood - outside New Zealand. Mr H. Poland, in seconding the I motion, congratulated the colony on the change of title, which was more in keeping with New Zealand's status and prospects. New Zealand would in future be the leading country in the Southern Pacific. Referring to the mining industry he considered it as the second industry of the colony, and it should receive assistance in its development; and particularly in regard to prospecting work. He urged the necessity ©f utilising water power in the developing of goldmining. If the Government was indisposed to put the power into use itself, it might authorise companies to do so. Referring to the Land Bill, he said it hit the Opposition "squattocracy" in a vital place, and it was evident that the days of the squatter and old nobility were coming to an end. He strongly advocated setting apart a portion of the Crown lands as an endowment for education purposes. After the supper adjournment, Mr Poland resumed, and said that endowments were advocated by Sir Robert Stout, Sir George Grey, Mr Rolleston, Sir Julius Vogel, and Mr Seddon, and he supported the same. He also supported a graduated land tax. Referring to the Homes Act, he said he hoped that the Minister for Labour would propose an amendment to a man earning six or seven shillings per dav to take advantage of the Act, as one day's pay was quite enough for a working man to pay as rent. Dealing with the workers on the Main Trunk railway, he contended that they were paid a miserable pittance and should be paid a minimum wage of ten shillings per day. > •■ ' The House rose at 10.15 o'clock.