PARLIAMENT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9149, 23 July 1908, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

By Telegraph—Abridged from Press Association Report.

WELLINGTON July 22. The Legislative Council met at 23.0 p.m. The Hon. W. W. McCardle's motion that the attention of the Government be called to the long delay in extending relief to a number of settlers who met with heavy losses through the great bush fires that swept a large portion of newly settled land in the King country was carried. The Incorporated Societies Bill and Law Practitioners' Amendment Bill were postponed until next sitting day, the and New Zealand Society of Accountants Bill until Wednesday. With respect to the Law Prac ■ titioners' Amendment Bill, the At-torney-General stated that he had received, from a number of law students, a request that their positions should be more clearly denned, and desired to consider the question. The Council adjourned until Tuesday afternoon next.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

WELLINGTON, Julyl22. The House met at 2.30 p.m. QUESTIONS. Replying to questions, Ministers said The Government could not see its way to increase the amount usually voted for the Salvation Army: a Model Bye-laws Bill will be introduced this session; that l here is no objection to leases of native lands from Maoris, approved and endorsed ,by Maori Land Boards, being made a class of security for loans from the Advances to Settlers Office, provided such leases contain conditions similar to those in leases from the Crown in respect of the right of renewal, compensation for improvements, and conditions of forfeiture; that in the Amendment to the Electoral Act a new form of ballot naper will be provided for, with one black corner so as to put beyond all question the secrecy of the ballot in this respect; that in the interests of public safety they could not grant a half-holiday to surface labourers on the Government railways; that the Government could not issue free railway tickets to children under fifteen travelling to school or work; that until the present system or" immigration of British born subjects fails to give satisfaction, it is not necestary to attract immigrants from Germany and other countries; that it is not intended to make provisions in the Shearers' Accommodation Bill apply to sheds where less than six shearers are engaged ; that the Government could not abolish the duly on millet and sorghum seed; that there is no intention to amend the Land Act this session; that an endeavour will be made to introduce a better system of sheepmarking in order to assist in preventing sheep stealing; that it is not intended to amend the Vaccination Act this session.

FINANCIAL DEBATE. The Financial debate was resumed by Mr J. F. Arnold (Dunedin South), who said that the Budget was satisfactory. The prosperity of the country was undoubted, and was shsred by the poorer classes, though the amount of unemployed this winter was greater than in past years. The Dominion shculd entertain the American fleet. The administration of the Old-age Pensioi s Act required to be looked into, r>obody wanted to repeal the Arbitration Act. The late unrest was not due to the Act, but to the way in which it was administered.. It was quite true that there-had'been talk uf coalition between the Government and the Opposition, the idea being that thereby labour could better be resisted. Labour felt it necessary to secure separate representation in the House, ar' obody seemed to care for its interest?.

Mr A. E. Remington (Rangitikei) said that the large surplus had obviated the greater borrowing. Unemployed of a kind would always be with us. He spoke at considerable length on Socialism. He advised the Opposition ,to read several books to educate themselves 0:1 the subject. The Valuation Department had not placed fictitious values on properties. He thought it was not ,wise for the Government to guarantee the full amount of the money borrowed on the security of land as proposed under the special land settlement scheme. Many Government members had assisted the Opposition to keep the flag of freehold flying:. Mr C. A. C. Hardy (Selwyn) said that some agita'ors had been appointed to positions in the Labour Department. These could scarcely be unbiassed officeis. The Government Party was nondescript, and the Ministry a weak-kneed, limp-backed Ministry. Labcur only favoured arbitration when it was in its favour. He criticised the Ministers individually. The Bur get was full of promises, because the Government had not the will power to resist requests. The House rose at 5.30 p.m. The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. Mr Hardy, continuing the debate said that ram bine and tariff had put up the price of apricultural implements by 50 per c nt. The workers here did not want Socialism. The Crown tenants we. e dissatisfied and wanted the freehold. Mr W. H. P. Barber (Newtown) followed with a congratulatory reference to the Budget. Mr Barber said that the preferential tariff did not favour the Mother Country *$ it should.- Referring to the public debt "bogey," he said, a young country must borrow money. The workers' 'homes had been a failure. The special land settlement proposals meant a transference of the freehold from or.e to many. Mr Barber said that the timber trust here was putting up prices and keeping many men out of work. Non-associated millers were being boycotted. High prices meant high rents. The duty on imported timber should be abolished. \ Mr H. G. Ell (Christchurch South) said that the 'Government must go into the timber milling industry to

break up the ring. The exportation of white nine must be stopped i» the interest of the dairy industry. Mr Ell said that the tariff had kept out sweated and shoddy goods. The. Government had not climbed down in

its land policy. The tariff had not lowered the standard of labour, and the labour courts bad not increased the cost of all commodities. Clothes ! were cheaper now than ten years ago. The Government should persevere in workers' homes policy. Mr Ell appealed for cheap railway fares for workers to stop rural depopulation and city overcrowding. Mr H. J. Greenslade (Waikato) said that he regretted the attempts made to decry our financial stability. The advances to settlers had prereversion to the days of the ten per cent. He was glad to see the Maoris uplifting themselves. Mr Greenslade admitted the growth of land settlement. He approved of the back-blocks reading proposal. Mr T. E. Y. Seddon (Westland) said that if a tax was not put on Oregon pine local industry would be killed and thousands of men out of Work. .