PARLIAMENT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9627, 20 October 1909, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

By Telegraph—Press Association. WELLINGTON, October 19. LEGISLATIVE COUNGLI.

The Legislative Council met this a/temoon. fon. J. T Paul (Otago) resumed the debate on the Address-in-Reply, and denlt mainly with labour questions. He thought some scheme should be devised to prevent the recurrence of the unemployed difficulty, and suggested three remedies—insurance, extension of labour bureaus-, and facilities for bringing man and land together. Hon. S. T. George (Auckland) approved of the Dreadnought offer. If the Militia Act were enforced the Dominion would soon have efficient land forces. Old age pensions should be placed on a sound financial basis.

Hon. J. B. Callan (Otago) considered the retrenchment scheme of the Government a very courageous move. As to the argument that settlement of the people on the laud would be a panacea for vunemployed he pointed out that large numbers of working men were among the unemployed who would never go upon, th 3 land. The debate was adjourned.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

The House met at 2.30. The Address-m-Rely debate was continued by Mr R Scott (Tuapeka), who expressed satisfaction at the growing deßire for the freehold, as shown by the speeches of members. Mr D. McLaren ( Wellington East) dealing with the land problem plead* ed for security of tenure for workers in towns as well as for'settlers on the land. The land que3tiou must be considered from the standpoint of the interests of state and posterity. We must avoid conditions existing in the Old Country, wnere people have been driven to the towns. He advocatedthe decentralisation of population, which would help to relieve unem-

ployment. The House adourned at 5.30, and on resu ning; in the evening Mr T. H. Davey (Chriitchurch East) speaking on tha land question, was of opinion that'lha Act of 1907 had not had sufficient trial. The endowments under that Act were imperilled by the attitude of the Opposition. Mr G. W. Russell (Avon) defended the system of co operative railway works, which he said stood as a monument to the late .Mr Seddon, wh<» inaugurated it. He quoted figures to show that the, labour laws had resulted in increased production and improved wages. Be upheld the retrenchment scheme as prudent and businesslike. In rebuttal of Mr Herdman's statement that loan companies been driven oat of the country, he said the business of such concerns had actually increased during the last four years by 135.