HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9154, 29 July 1908, Page 5

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

The House met at 2.30 p.m. A debate ensued upon the report by the Public Petitions Committee on the petition for a grant for the improvement of roads in the Otau block, Auckland. The Premier condemned the principle of getting a committee t3 report favourably on, petitions, and asking for expenditure on roads, bridges and railways, as absolutely reprehensible. The Ho- > vernment gave every consideration to public works nroposals, but would not give precedence to any recommendation of the Committee. The presentation of the petition, he declared, gave no superior right to consideration. The applications corning in were far in excess of the ..appropriations Mr W. F. Massey disclaimed any.. attempt to obtain an advantage. The settlers had a to petition Parliament, and it was the business of members to do tneir best; for their constituents.

Mr F. M. B. Fisher moved an amendment to the effect that all petitions for 'he expenditure of public money should be referred to the Government d.rect. After further debate, the Premier said that he never wished to dmy the right to petition the House, but' desired to make it clear that it was unfair to give the impression that by petitioning Parliament petitioners would be specially favoured. Mr Massey declared that under the present system, which was bad and corrupt, thousands of pounds were spent on works to ensure political support. Ultimately the amendment was lost, and the report ordered to lie on the table. The House adjourned at 5.30. The House resumed at 7.30. On the motion to go into Con mittee of Supply on, the Imprest Sipply Bill (No. 2), Mr James Allen uiged the necessity of making adequate provision for the defence of the Co-* minior. It was the duty of every citize-i to help in the defence Of the country and make IsilliStlf fit to (la so. Uv T. M. Wilford contended. t l .at a citizen army was indisjJenSlbt.e, a - d quick mobilisation absolutely necessary/ Mr F. M. B. Fisher scathingly ncunced the volunteer service as utterly inefficient and valueless. The transport system was quite efficient. Mr C. E. Major said that great consternation would be created if the Government came down with a proposal to spend two or three millions to re-organise and equip the defence forces.

The Premier dissented from the view of some members that we were at the mercy of any foe descending upon our shores. Any foe attacking us were attacking Great Britain. Jn view of our small population, such an expenditure as that ! suggested waa out of the question, even if Japanese alliance was not renewed. But the members overlooked the entente cordiale between Great Britain and France, which indicated the coming together of two great nations for their mutual advantage. On the motion to go into ways and means, Mr Massey criticised; the finance and borrowing of the Govern-' ment, maintaining that it was im-r proper for the Government to be' stockbrokers. As to local borrowing he asserted that when the Premier said he had only borrowed one and ahalf millions in the Dominion in five years he overlooked the borrowing" from the post office at the rate of half a million yearly. He complained of the Government underpaying its beat officers, who were snapped up elsewhere, instancing amongat others Mr Gilruth. The Hon. K.' McNab said that he had received no communications from officers of the Department indicating their dissatisfaction, and could take no notice of rumours. As to Mr Gilruth he had received no communication from him as to his intended retirement. No officer was indispens} able. The Premier replied at soma length, explaining how conversions are carried out, and denying that any loss had been made on these transactions. ' , - The motion was carried, and a further debate arose on the motion for the second reading of the Bill. The Bill vva3 eventually put through its final stages. The Education Amendment, Workers Compensation, Declaration Judgment, and Corporation Contracts Bills were read a second time pro forma. The Coroners Amendment Bill passed through ;,its final stages, and the House rose at 11.45 p.m.