PARLIAMENT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10033, 6 July 1910, Page 6

PARLIAMENT.

By Telegraph- Press Association. WELLINGTON, July 5. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. The Council met at 2.30 p. m, and immediately adjourned for the presentation of the Speaker to the Governor. Upon resuming, Hon R. A. Loughnan continued the debate on the Address in-Reply. He said he hoped great things from the water-power scheme of the Government, and looked to the time when all industrial concerns would be run electrically by water-generated power. On tha land question, he did not think subject of tenure mastered twopence. The present Act supplied all that was required, and the"question of tenure had been settled on a reasonable basis. What should be done was to take every pcs3ible step to increase the productivity of the soil and extend markets. He believed by these means £5,000.000 could be added to the exports of the Dominion. Mr Callan dealt with the question of the tourist traffic, and considered that any money spent in that direction was money well spent. He hoped the Government would adopt all reasonable means to attract visitors. Under the present land system settlement was going on satisfactorily, and he tho.Ji.ht it would be wise for the Government to rest on its present legislation. He approved of the proposal respecting water-power, and hoped it would be put into operation promptly. The debate was adjoruned and the Courcil rose. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House met at 2.30 p.-". On a motion by the H« iillar that a return showing the number of members of industrial unions be laid on the table, Mr Taylor, Christchurch, raised the question of the Shearers' Union demand that a uniform award for shearers should be givjn for the whole Dominion. The cnief grounds upon which this was asked was that the shearers' work was currrd out under similar conditions throughout flu; coy..try. Various members took part in the discussion, and the concensus of opinion was that £1 pev hundred was a fair rate, and that a colonial award was desirable. Mr Millar said the point raised was a very important on°. The Shearers' Union wanted to register one union for New Zealand. This power was not conferred by the Act. The workers themselves were opposed to colonial awards, as these might be based on the lowest district award. An amendment to the Arbitration Act would be brought down this session, and he would welcome any feasible scheme for securing la colonial award. If bath sides to the dispute were agreed they could get a uniform award. There were differences of opinion as to the use of a trades unions funds for political purposes. He could not approve of compulsion being used to compel members of trade unions to support prir.eipete they did not approve of. The return was laid on the table. Mr Davey made a personal explanation regarding an action of his which had been much criticised. He said he bad, at the instance of a friend, who had been arrested for drunkenness;made representations to the police inspector. He ought not to have done so, and bitterly regretted his action.

Mr Taylor, Christchurch, said it had been stated that the name had been altered on the charge sheet. The man arrested was of good character, but falsifications of the records was a serious master. While Mr Davy acted from friendly motives he did not think the member of Parliament showed a clear idea of his duties in approaching a police officer with a view to influencing the course of justice. Mr Taylor went on to refer to the approaching election of Chairman of Committees, stating that any member ot Parliament guilty of such a misdemeanor was unfit to occupy the position," but he was cailed upon by the Speaker to confine himself to the question before the House.

Sir Joseph Ward said upon receipt of the report on the matter, it was considered by Cabinet. No one was ustified in attempting to influence an officer of justice. Mr Davey admitted his fault, which was prompted by good motived It was the clear duty of the Government in

such matters to protect the public service. The particular officer concerned had a clear record of 35 years, and it was unfortunate that he should have such a cliaree lai i against him. The Government ttili had the matter under consideration, hut would come to a decision so »n. On the mutian that tha report of the Bank of New Zealand be laid on the table, Mr Taylor, Christchurch, asked whether the time had not come to convert the state interest in the Bank with the share inter est, and maka a National Bank of New Zealand. Messis EH, Hogg, and Russell favoured the idea. Sir Joseph Ward said that under the act governing tha bank the country actually controlled the bank. If proposals to convert the country's stock were carried out the bank could still retain their deposits and the greater part of their business. The theory put forward that the bank could be changed into a State institution was quite erroneous, although the Dominion ccul 1 establish its own State bank. The debate adjourned.