PARLIAMENT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9175, 26 August 1908, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. (By Telegraph—Abridged from Press Association Report). WELLINGTON, August 25.' The Legislative Council met at 2.30 o'clock.

The Roman Catholic Archbishop of Wellington Empowering Bill, and the Wellington Harbour Board Empowering Bill, were iead a second time. The Hon. F. Trask resumed the interrupted debate on the Hon. J. Barr's motion urging particularly I the advisability of granting married workers special exemption from taxation in order to encourage parenthood. Mr Trask said that Mr Barr ought to have indicated how the Government should meet the problems. The Hon. C. Louisson said that he thought the Council would sympathise with the motion. A vote of the Council would show whether the Government relied upon the increased birthrate or increased immigration for the growth of population. After several other members had spoken the Attorney-General said that many of Mr Barr's proposals were more or less practical. The Government had done much in the direction of assisting the married worker. Referring to the birth-rate he said that if the population did not increase at a greater rate New Zealand would become a decadent nation like France, which could not hold her present position. High rents in the city told against an increase of population. The Government had done much to incrsaso land settlement. We could not become a great manufacturing nation, so must help the farmer. By so doing we would increase the prosperity of the country. The Hon. J. Barr, in reply, said that land settlement couid not completely solve the problem, because there must always be city workers. Children shoujd receive free railway and tramway carriage. The motion was carried on the voices, and the Council adjourned at sp.m. till 8.30 p.m.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

The House met at 2.30 p.m. In reply to Mr H. Poland, the Hon. J. McGowan said that he would enquire into the position at the Talis• man mine. In reply to Mr W. P. Massey, Sir J. G. Ward said that the Government intended to put through the whole programme. The Arbitration Bill would be proceeded with afttr the estimates and public works statement and estimates had been disposed of. The Imprest Supply Bill, No. 3, for £1,226,000 was put through after a protracted discussion upon railway construction in various parts of the Dominion advocated in electioneering speeches by several members. The Prime Minister, replying to the speeches maile, said that the cry of North versus South was the moEt detestable cry ever heard in the House. The Government would allocate the public funds fairly without reference to the electioneering speeches made by members. The House adjourned at 5.30 p.m. The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. On the motion for the third reading of the Imprest Bill the Premier stated that the authorisation of half a million from the public works fund would not prejudice the expenditure on ordinary public works.. In reality not one shilling would be taken from the public works authorisation. A long discussion followed on a variety of topics, during which the neglect of country districts in the matter of roads was pointed 1 out with considerable force by several members. Sir Joseph Ward, in reply, said that the greatest success in the matter of land settlement had been in small settlement associations! Replying to Mr Herries, he said that subuman rates were cheaper in New Zealand than any other State in Australasia. Whether the Government should further encourage surburban residence by extending workers' tickets to a greater area was a matter for the careful consideration of the Government. He was endeavouring to carry out the policy indicated in the Budget of last year, and had been working on the North Island trunk railway up to areas of 200 acres. They were not preaching a doctrine without putting it into practice, but while they were doing this they were also doing all they could' in the interest of all classes in the country with due regard to its solidity. The Bill was read a third time and passed. The following Bills were introduced by message from the Govenor and read a first time:—Government Advances to Settlers Amendment, Public Revenues Amendment, Local Bodies Loans Amendment. The amendments made by the Legislative Council to the New Zealand Societies of Accountants Bill, were agreed to. The Pawnbrokers Charges Bill passed the Committee stage. The Civil Service Amendment Bill also passed the Committee stage un- : amended. The Taupo No. 2 Block Bill, to repeal section 32 of the Maori Claims Adjustment and Laws Amendment Act, 1906, was read a second time without discussion. The Public Holidays Bill was read a second time, pro forma, and referred to the Industries and Commerce Committee. The Imprest Supply Bill was received from the Council, having been passed by that body. '