PARLIAMENT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9622, 15 October 1909, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

(By Telegraph—Abridged From Press Association Report). WELLINGTON, October 14. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL The Legislative Council met this afternoon. Hon. J. K Sinclair resumed the debate on the Address-in Reply, He dealt solely with ihe labour problem, and co.itended that great care should be taken that no law should go on the Statute Book that woud have a tendency to dry up the natural sources of industry, and we should keep our employment for our own people not depend upon other countries. Hon. J. Rigg, (Wellington), dealing with the decisions of the Defence Conferene, referred to the enormous expenditure to which the country had been pledged to, •, for which it gains nothing. They would get seven small vessels, which would be taken away in time of war, and we would be left as defenceless in the future as we were in the pnat. The annual charge for our Dreadnought would be £152,000, in addition to our subsidy of £IOO,OOO. and it seemed to him that tnis would necessitate further taxation. In addition to the naval scheme we were prominisad an internal defence scheme, which would probably cost another £250,000. Hon. J. Anstey (Canterbury) did not agree with thej idea of joining with the Australian navy. In reference to the labour problem he was an upholder of the Arbitration Act. He blamed the labour agitators for being responsible to a large extent lor accentuation of the unemployed difficulty. The debate was adiourned

HOUSE OF KEPRESENTATIVES. The House in the afternoon continued the debate on the Address-in-Reply. Mr A. S. Malcolm (vJlutba) reviewed the history of the Ward- Administration; which, he said, was ban en of any legislative results worthy of admiration. Cabinet was out of touch with the people, as was shown by the fact that the majority of the members in the House favoured the freehold, yet the Government bad no land policy to put before the country. Mr Mai colrn referred in severe terms to the educational policy and affirmed that the whole system was regarded with contempt by parents throughout the country. Mr W. D. S. Macdonald (Bay of Plenty) dealt chiefly with the financial depression, which he attributed to t e fall in the price of mutton and wool, and not to any maladministration of the party in power. Mr G. T. Anderson (Mataura) referring to Mr G. Laurenson's remarks re the Mataura election, stated that. he (Mr Anderson) would never hava opposed his friend (Mr R. McNab) 1 at for the fact that the ex-Minister for Lands had gjns back on his freehold principles. He would not accept Mr Laurenson's challenge to debate tte land question at Gore, but would tie glad to stand against him tor Mataura at the next General election. The House rose at 5 30 p.m. In the House in the evening, the Prime Mini'ster, continuing the dabate, said he had never heard anything like the speech of Mr Allen for wilful misrepresentation. Statements made by public men, though perhaps not intended to have bad effect, had undoubtedly damaged the reputation of the Dominion. The Leader of the Opposition, speaking in the House last year, said that if the Government did not feel inclined to put the brake on, he hoped the money -lenders would.. ; The Sydney "Bulletin" had stated that the bottom had been knocked out of Maoriland; the member for Bruce had said that the Dominion had drifted into such a position that a financial breakdown was imminent. All these statements were sufficient proof that the idea had been disseminated that New Zealand was on the verge of bankruptcy. He 'denied that the country had ever been in financial difficulties. The member for Bruce had in his speech commended the Government's financial,policy and expressed satisfaction at the surplus 'and provision for the sinking funds. The methods pursued by the Oppu ■ sition for the purpose of attaining political ascendancy were absolutely unjustifiable. He was getting tired of the cry abpUt driving capital, out of thp country. The only peopla whowere taking money out of the Dominion were those who made fortunes in New Zealand. The member I for Wairarapa had urged the Govern ment to buy a large eßtate which would only support half a dozen men. This was not a policy. The Government would have the whole land question threshed out this session, but the Government had no intention of buying estates at enormous prices, which would mean rum to unfortun ate settlers. Mr J. Allen denied that he had stated that the Dominion was on the verge of bankruptcy. What he had said was that under certain con • ditions w? were bound to make default, that was to sa -, unless tha i Government raised another han to carry on the Midland Railway. The House rose at 11.30 p.m.