PARLIAMENT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8478, 4 July 1907, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

GOVERNMENT CAUCUS. By Telegraph—Press Association. WELLINGTON, July 3. At the Government caucus, to-day, there were 56 members present. The others were accounted for. The Premier thanked those present for their expressions of welcome. This was the first caucus since he became head of the Government, and he hoped that many such meetings would be held to discuss matters of importance. He could not discuss policy measures, but he hoped the party as a whole would keep in close touch with the Government upon the more important measures. He indicated the following as measures Parliament should put through this session:—The Land Bill, Native Land Bill, and Customs Tariff. It was important that the arbitration system should be amended so as to ensure a continuance of its benefits. He 'also hoped to put through the classification and superannuation scheme tor the Civil Service. The development in the Postal and Railway Departments necessitated alterations since the re-classification scheme. The caucus passed a resolution of loyalty to the Government. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Tne Council met at 2.30 p.m. and immediately adjourned until 3.30. On resuming, the Hons. Rigg and Jenkinson. who had been re-appointed members of the Council, were sworn in, and took their seats. The Hon. Wi Pere was also sworn in. The Hon. Mr Paul gave notice to move the Address-in-Reply for the next sitting day. The Council rose at 3.35 p.m.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

The House met at 2. SO, and on the motion of the Hon. J. Carroll, in consequence of Miss May Seddon's wedding, immediately adjourned until 4.30 p.m.

On resuming the following Bills passed their first readings:—Legislative Council Election Bill ("Sir W. J. Steward). Noxious Weeds Act Amendment Bill (Mr R. McKenzie), Quackery Prevention Bill (Mr J. T. M. Hornsby, Public Bank Holidays Bill (Mr C. E. Major), Trustee Act Amendment Bill (Mr T. K, Sidey), Abolition of Plural Voting Bill (Mr A. W. Hogg), Farriers ' Bill, 'Marriages Validation Act, Amendment Bill, Lights on Vehicles Bill (Mr C. E. Major), Flour Duty Abolition Bill (Mr A. W. Hogg), Musicians Biil, Land Agent Bill (Mr G. Witty), Divorce Act Amendment, Law Practitioners Act Amendment (Mr G. Laurenson), Auckland Hospitals Acts Amendment Bill (Mr A. Kidd), Borough of New Plymouth Electric Loan and Waterworks Loan Validation Bill (Mr Okey), Ci»y of Christchurch Electric Power and Loan Empowering Amendment Bill. The House adjourned at 5.15 p.m.

ADDRESS-IN-REPLY

(Abridged from Press Association Report.)

WELLINGTON. July 3. The House resumed at 7.30 o'clock

Mr W. F. Massey resumed the debate on the Address-in-Reply. and stated that usually the two junior members or the last two elected move and second the Address-in-Reply, but on this occasion the two new members elected sat on the Opposition side of the House. Referring to Mr Davey's remarks oh the Chinese question, he said that if the Premier brought in a Bill to double the polltax or even go further, he would support him. Dealing with the proposed change to a Dominion, he saw no reason for the change. There was no parallel between New Zealand and Canada. He considered the surprise mentioned by the Premier on the night of his return from England was like the Government's policy—it had little in it. Touching on preferential trade, he thought the Home Government missed a grand opportunity of cementing the ties of the colonies and the old country, but he was confident that the time would come when the statesmen of Great Britain would arise and adopt preference. Dealing with the mail question, he said he thought the Vancouver route should be taken up by the Imperial Government, and he hoped they would do so and carry it through, particularly as some New Zealanders were dissatisfied with the Suez route. Ori the question of naval subsidy, he thought they should be prepared to pay a substantial contribution to the upkeep of the British navy, and had the Home Government asked New Zealand to double her contributions he thought the people of this country would gladly do so. He considered that Australia and New Zealand should be consulted on the New Hebrides question. He would be pleased if the Colonial Secretary would pay periodical visits to the colonies. Referring to the Land Bill of last session, he*said it had created a deal of excitement and unrest amongst the people of the country, and the modification that it was proposed to introduce would not lessen that excitement as the people of the country knew the Socialistic views and the single-tax views held by members of the Government, and the Bill was a most assiduous attack on freeholders. He was unable to understand where the Ministry was going to get the endowment from. He advocated an improved Local Authorities Bill as the Government were not doing what they ought to do in assisting local bodies. He considered that roads should be made before land was opened for settlement or as soon afterwax'ds as possible. He knew of a dairy factory w'hich had to close because the suppliers were unable to get their milk to the factory. It was absurd to talk about surpluses whilst such conditions existed. The colony was in a prosperous condition, and more should be done for people residing ip the back blocks. The Premier explained that the constitutional precedent had been followed in the matter of moving the Address-in-Reply. On the Chinese' question the Government's firm con-

viction for many years was that the whole colony was against the importation of Chinese. As far as could be ascertained no selfgoverning colony absolutely prevented Chinese from entering, but they could introduce Legislation to restrict aliens such as instituting a prohibitive poll tax, and he thought that the best course to adopt for New Zealand, as a heavy poll tax would be restrictive. It was absurd to say that it was undesirable to have the name Dominion as another country possessed the name. There were a score of countries called '"colony," yet the people who objected to Dominion were content to retain the word "colony." Referring to the Premier's Conference and the question of preference he did not think it possible for a Government, returned as it had been pledged to a parttclar policy, to turn round and reverse the pledges. He was one of those who believed that the Old Country was not going on the right lines, but one could not expect them to change in a year. All they could*do was to educate them. Referring to the mail service he said it would pay the Old Country handsomely, if she wanted to see the bonds of unity strengthened, to join hands with the younger countries and give them a faster mail service. The contract with the San Francisco line was stopped when it was recognised that they were not getting what they had a right to. Touching on naval matters he had strongly supported adherence to the policy of an Australian Squadron. If the system of submarines suggested were adopted, it would cost New Zealand as initiative expenses £479,300, up-keep £70,100, depreciation £31,000, and for complement £50,000 per annum. Referring to the Exhibition he stated that it had been computed that the colony had gained £150,000 more revenue as a direct result of the Exhibition. Dealing with land matters he twitted Mr Massey with altering his views from those expressed on June 28 th, 1905. when he held that leaseholders in perpetuity should be granted the freehold at the original value. Replying to Mr Massey he explained that all the lands purchased from the natives after the Bill was passed would be outside endowments, and dealt with under the ordinary clause. Dealing with telephones he did not know of any country in the world where such enormous work had been done for the people. What the Government had always given the settlers of the country was a good article at the cheapest possible price and he contended that the greater facilities given the people in this direction the better for the country. He maintained that the Conciliation and Arbitration Act had been beneficial to employers and employed, and no argument that had been put forth was sufficiently weighty to call for the abolition of the Act.

After the supper adjournment, Mr Massey made an explanation with regard to his views on the freehold, and urged that the capital value of holdings should be apportioned between the interest of the State on one hand and the settler on the other—that improvements belonged to the settler and the goodwill also, because the Government lent money on improvements and goodwills. That had been urged by himself and the Opposition, and was no deviation from the views always expressed. Mr Hornsby said that he had been termed a single-taxer and socialist by Mr Massey. He wa& pleased to let the country know that he was a socialist. If anyone expected a Conservative party ever to come into power in New Zealand, he was mistaken. _ It was proved by every successive Government that it was more radical than its predecessor. Referring to the illness of the Hon. W. HallJones, he argued that they were asking too much of Ministers, and advocated that under-serretaries be appointed with a salary, who would be the understudies of Ministers, and ready to fill Ministerial vacancies when they occur. He spoke at great length on the wages paid to railway labourers and other employees, and maintained that they should be paid better and less money expended on palatial railway stations. He advocated setting up a Royal Commission to enquire into the working of railways. The House adjourned at 11.47 p.m.