PARLIAMENT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8486, 13 July 1907, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

(Abridged from Press Association Report.) LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. WELLINGTON, July 12. The Legislative Council met at 2.30 o'clock. The Hon. R. k. Loughnan resumed the debate on the Address-in-Reply. In the matter of naval defence he said the whole country would applaud the decision of the Premier to continue the subsidy. He approved of the Government land proposals, and expressed regret that there had not been more endowment in the past: The Hon. J. Ban* (Canterbury) said that he would like to see something practical done in the way of relieving taxation upon the necessaries of life. He advocated the removal of the duties upon flour and sugar. The State ought to carry coal in State-owned vessels and employ its own men in every department of the coal industry. The Council adjourned at 5 o'clock till Tuesday next. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House met at 2.30 o'clock. NEW BILLS. The following Bills were read a first time: — Water Supply Amendment, Wairau Harbour Board , Gore Streets, Local Bodies Loans Act, 1901, Amendment. THE DOMINION OF NEW ZEALAND. The Premier moved: "That this House respectfully request?) that His Majesty the King may be graciously pleased to take such steps as he may consider necessary in order that the designation of New Zealand may be changed from the Colony of New Zealand to the Dominion of New Zealand, and that his Excellency the Governor be requested to transmit this resolution for submission to His Majesty." Sir J. G. Ward said that considerable ignorance pi-evaileJ at Home in regard to New Zealand, and since the inauguration of theCoinmonwealth of Australia many people thought New Zealand was included in the Commonwealth. There were fortythree colonies, and in changing the name to Dominion, New Zealand would be lifted out of the ranks of colonies. He maintained that in the eyes of British people the Dominion of Canada occupied a higher position than that of the colonies. His only ' desire in making the proposed change was to lift the country to a higher plane. Australia, since the adoption of the Commonwealth, stood in a far higher position than the previous ' Federation.

Mr W. F. Massey said that h°. did not intend to speak at any length on the motion, as he did not desire to waste the time of the House. He noticed that the proposal bsd not met with any enthusiasm by the community or members of the House. He argued that ths Dominion of Canada was a collection of colonies, whilst Now Zealand was only one colony. The proposal under notice would result hi an adJitiona! cost to the community. He did not think it worth while opposing the proposal, but he did not think it would do any good. The C. H. Mills expressed approval of the proposed change. Mr F. M. B. Fisher contended that the Premier was 50 years too premature in the proposal. It was true that federation in Australia had raised Australia's dignity, but that was because it was an aggregation of six States. The motion was agreed to bv 50 to 15. The House resumed at 7.30 o'clock. SOUTH AFRICAN CUSTOMS RATIFICATION. The Minister of Customs moved the second reading of the South African Customs Ratification Bill, which ratifies the Act of last year, and makes the treaty operative for another term. Mr Massey approved of any policy for the extension of our markets, but whilst Customs duties had to be paid on some New Zealand goods exported to South Africa, Great Britain admitted these commodities free. The Premier said that the whole treaty was the beginning of trade which would develop. Mr W.H.Hemes said that there was a direct line of steamers running from South Africa to New Zealand, but not from New Zealand to South Africa. Our trade could not develop under the circumstances. Mr J. G. W. Aitken said that the British market was going to be our market, for the next half century at any rate if not longer, and if we are going to lose the British market our prosperity as a Dominion would L>2 at an end. The second reading was agreed to on the voices. The Bill was put through the Committee stages without amendment and passed. ROTORUA TOWN BILL. The Premier moved the second reading of the Rotorua Town Bill, i He said that it was of the utmost | importance that for the purpose of , developing the township it should be placed under the administration of the Tourist Department. Mr W. H. Herries (Bay of Plenty) opposed the motion. The second reading was agreed to on the voices. PURE FOODS BILL. The Pure Foods Bill was taken in Committee. Clauses 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6 were passed. Clause 4 was slightly amended. Progress was reported, and theHouse rose ac 12.10 a.m.