PARLIAMENT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10035, 8 July 1910, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

By Telegraph—Press Association. WELLINGTON, July 7. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. The Coun6il met at 2.30 p.m. The debate on the Address-in-Replv was resumed by Mr Carncross, who expressed the opinion that it was | the duly of: the Government to use every possible effort to encourage industry and settlement. He did not think the proposal for local selfgovernment was likely to do much good. He thought it unnecessary for the Goverrfment to incur the expense of appointing canvassers to place the peuple's names on the electoral rolls. Last year's Gaming Legislation had been beneficial though' psrhapa it did not go far enough. The optional system of freehold, with restriction ot the area, would, he thought, be the last word on the question of tenure. Mr Scotland, referring to the local government question, contended that ■ the function of road boards was to. keep up roads and bridges, and the county councils ought to go. He believed they would go. It might not b8 possible to go back to the provincial system, but there might be a modified form of it with limited powers of borrowing.

Mr Wigram thought in these i modern day 3 the form of the Speech from the-Throne, and also the Add-ress-in-Reply, might be modified. Much might be left out of the Speech and much valuable information given that at present was lacking. He would like to see tbe Government take up the question ot aeriarnavigation. On the land question, he said giving freehold to lease-in-perpetu-ity tenants could be dismissed from present day politics. The Government could safely give them the freehold without granting the holders more than they already had. A great many people were attracted to the land merely by the goodwill they might secure in the way of pay-', ment for improvements, and this was not a good thing, for the Dominion. | It was not right that the money derived from the taxpayers at large should be devoted to encouraging; a • system by which one man in the course of a few years might go off the land with a thousand pounds or so. The State had a right to set its face against any such transactions in goodwill. The debate was adjourned, and the Council rose.

HOUSE OP REPRESENTATIVES. The Home met at 2.30 p.m. .. The debate on the Addreas-in-Reply was resumed by Mr Bollard, who urged that more should be done in the way of agricultural education which was one of the most important questions demanding attention at tbe present time. Mr Pearce urged the necessity for an improved means of communication in the backblocks. Mr Jennings was glad that the prospects of land settlement in the North were favourable. Mr Buxton, referring to the Land Settlement and Finance Act, said, he was glad to know the Act would be amended. He considered it a very valuable aid to land settlement. Mr Hogan hoped the Advances to Workers' Act would be amended so

as to permit applicants receiving loans on houses already built. The present methods of promotion in the railway service were unfair, and he hoped the Minister would amend these, and also abolish his right of vetoing the Appeal Board decisions. He urged that the money voted for public works in the back blocks districts should be expended without further loss of time.

Mr Lang expressed dissatisfaction at the condition of native lands, which were unproductive. The Government's policy on this matter was not progressive. On,th2 land question the Government lacked a policy, except that of siding with the majority in the House. . The House adjourned at 5.30 p.m. When the House resumed in the evening, Mr Wright concluded his speech on the Address in Reply, after whicn Mr McDonald replied briefly. ' Considerable discussion arose on the personnel of the committees.

Mr Massey moved that there be laid before'the House the correspondence between members of the Government and persons in or out of the Dominion in reference to the Prof. Bickerton fund. He said he had received a communication from a gentleman in Queensland, named Aplir, stating that he was desirous of contributing £I,OOO to the fund. Mr Focvlus stated that he had had correspondence from the gentleman mentioned, who had some fictitious claim against the Government for j £5,000, out of which he proposed to I grant £1 000 to tbe Bickerton fund. Sir Joseph Ward said the Goverrtr.eot were prepared to place the correspondence on the table. Mr Maasey said he knew nothing nf the matter mentioned by Mi' FjwlJs. The motion was agreed 40 »n the voices. Mr Massey* moved that, a return be laid on the table as on the Ist July of the current names of all persons employed by the High Com-

il missioner's office, and the duties of same; also salaries paid. Sir Joseph Ward, while offering no objection to the return, asked for, said it was not possible to give the information for some time. Referring to the E. A. Smith case, he said it had been used by the Opposition press in attacking the Government. Mr Taylor, Christchurch, raised a point ot order, and asked whether I the Premier could discuss E. A. Smith, who was not mentioned in the motion. The Speaker ruled that the Premier must confine himself to those now engaged in the High Commissioner's office. The motion was then put and carried, Sir Joseph Ward stated would deal with E. A. Smith to-morrow. A more bogus attempt to raise a scandal had never been maie in the country, The House rose at 10.30 p.m.