PARLIAMENT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3218, 16 June 1909, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

By Telegraph—Press Association. WELLLINGTON, June 15. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. On the House resuming at 2.30 o'clock, Mr Buchanan said that he admitted that the season had been must successful one, but the expenditure had been excessive. Mr Luke considered that a larger sum should have been set apart for the purchase of native lands, which should be opened up and leased to Europeans. Mr Herdman, dealing wi'.h the Advances to Settlers, condemned the extension of loans to people other than settlers. Mr Okey said that he was disappointed that a sum had not been appropriated for advances to settlers. A good deal of the depression last year was due to the Department not having sufficient funds to meet the requirements of settlers. Mr Fraser said that the House was losing control of the public purse, which had gone to tl.e treasury benches. Mr Newman condemned the Government's borrowing policy. Mr Allen said that the Govern- j mint's hand-to-mouth borrowing! policy waa dangerous. He hoped that the House would pass a resolution in favour of military training which would have its effect at the Defence Conference. The Swiss system was incomparably the best for New Zealand, as it did not interfere with employment. The House adjourned at 5.30 o'clock. The House resumed at 7.30 o'clock. Mr Hine criticised the administrgtion of public works, and gave an instance of men in his electorate thrown out of employment. Three hundred men had been discharged last month in the Taranaki district. Mr Clark opposed compulsory training if the volunteer system could be rendered effective. He proposed a scheme whereby volunteers should be insured for £IOO, payable at 50 years of age. The amount of premium would be £2 7s a year per head. This on 200,000 men would be £41,000. He would increase the force by 20,000 next year, and third year would raise the force to 50,000. At the end of the tenth year they would have 110,000 men fit to take the field. Mr Taylor, Christchwch, said he wondered when there would be a party in the House to bring before :it the state of the men who did not earn £IOO a year. This was a class that should be considered, He ' said the Customs taxation pressed heavily on the working men, and 'he pointed mi 1 ; that the British i Chancellor had relieved men. with ' families in the way of taxation.

Sir Joseph Ward replied regarding those who had criticised the loans. Those who indulged in such critic- j ism were constantly asking for money for works in their district. As to the charges regarding the Police Force, the members should, before making them, have communicated with the authorities concerned to learn the other side of the question. He pointed out that of 387 candidates coming up last year 250 were rejected for various reasons. He rebutted further charges against members of the Forie. He knew of no reason why the Minister of Justice should not be in the calm arena of the Upper House so long as he carried out his duties efficiently. He charged those who objected to the limit of £SOO granted to settlers with having killed the proposal to fix the limit at £5,000. The talk of capital being driven out of the country was nonsense. During the last twelve months over four millions had been borrowed by the Government without a hitch, proving that our credit stood high notwithstanding the attempts it. The second reading of the Loan Bill was carried. .In Committee, Mr Massey moved an amendment to clause 2 that the 30th September be substituted for October 14th. The Government were asking, he said, for Supplies till the middle of October, thus deferring the meeting of Parliament till that date. Mr Buchanan supported the amendment. The Premier said that he could not return before 30th September, and it would be necessary to have a week to prepare the Inprust Supply Bill.