PARLIAMENT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9136, 11 July 1908, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

BY TEI/EGRAI'H —PBKBB ASSOCIATION.. LEGISLATtVE COUNCIL. WELLINGTON, July 10. The Legislative Council met at 2.30 o'clock.

The Hon. J. Marshal! resumed the debate on the Address-in -Reply, stating that cheap freights and American competition were a serious menace to industry in the Dominion. He congratulated the Government on its policy to develop the mining industry.

The Hon. F. Trask advocated a spirit of conciliation in the settlement of industrial disputes, and the transportation of agitators. If the seat of Government was to be changed Nelson should have the preference.

The Hon. J. Anstey thought the industrial crisis most seiious. As to farm labourers he believed it impossible to have a fair award. The Council adjourned Bit 5 o'clock.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House met at 2 30 o'clock. The Standing Orders Committee reported that the Wellington Harbour Board Bill was a private Bill.. The Workers' Compensation for Accidents Bill was read a first time. The Premier moved that a Committee be set up to act with the Con - mittee of the Legislative Council in considering the best site for the rebuilding of the Parliamentary Build~ ings. An amendment was moved by Mr W. T. Wood that the Committee consider sites in Nelson, Marlborough, Manawatu and Wairarapa with a view to the 'creation of a new capital for the Dominion. The Premier said that the intention had been to consider as to the rebuilding in Wellington, but if there was to be a wider reference then the re-erection would be indefinitely postponed. Moreover the question should be the work of a Royal Commission, which would visit various parts of the Dominion.

Mr W. F. Massey said he could not see how the seat of: Government could be chantred except at the, cost of £1,000,000. Mr C. J. Poole moved an amendment that Nelson, Marlborough, Manawatu and Wairarapa be struck out.

This was agre d to. Mr Poole furiher moved that the Committee consider the question of re-erection on some suitable site in the Dominion of Parliament Buildings and state the approximate cost. This was agreed to. The Premier said that he considered it would cost considerably mor<> than £2,000,000 to create a new capital on State-owned property.

Mr Jas. Allen advocated that the time waß opportune for changing the site. The House adjourned at 5.30 o'clock.

The House resumed at 7.30 o'clock. The debate on the motion to set up a Committee to enquire into the sites for the re-buildine of Parliament House was continued by V ~*. J::-" ( ™fy «al3 that the Library wing Would have to be razed to the acronni as fire had perished the mortar i * v « Fmser and otherr. The Prer v^er aai( * that ie P' ans for the new buile in «!, must be ******* upon by (he Executf,**--Hot by the Committee. _' Eventually all the amendments* were rejected, and the motion carried on the voices. The Aid to Public Works and Land Settlement Bill was committed. Mr J. Allen criticised the schedule to the Bill. The Premier replied, explaining and defending the Government's railway policy. The Bill was reported without amendment, read a third time and passed.