PARLIAMENT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10041, 15 July 1910, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

By Telegraph—Press Association. WELLINGTON, July 14. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

The Council met at 2.30 p.m. Mr Jones resumed the debate on the Address-in-Reply, and dealt at some iefigth with the land question and controverted Mr Sinclair's contention that the late Sir J. Mackenzie had made a one-sided bargain. If they granted the freehold the freeholder would take good care the land was not taxed Already the freeholder had too strong a hold on the politics of this country. Mr Jones proceeded to argue in favour of the leasehold system, and hoped the promised Land Bill would be of an out and out leasehold* character, and would not pander to the clamour for the freehold. He declared that the policy of the late Sir John Mackenzie had changed the aspect of the wnole country, and his. name would be handed down to posterity as a benefactor to the country in the matter of land legislation. Mr Marshall expressed the opinion that the present land laws weie liberal, and should suit all desires. While approving of the Government's water power scheme, he hoped it would still be possible for legitimate private enterprise to develop the smaller streams.

Mr McGowan contended the lease in-perpetuity was the worst form of tenure ever introduced in any country. The tenure was more important than anything else. The limitation of area was much less important than the limitation of time. If the principle of land tenure was right there would be no need to find work for the unemployed. There would be no unemployed. There should not be sold a single acrea of land, nor should the Government lease a single acre lor a longer period than 50 years. Mr Macdonald having briefly replied, the address waa agreed to, and the Council rose. I HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House met at 2.30 p.m. The Premier gave notice to move at the next sitting day:—l. That in the opinion of the House the provision in the Gaming Act relating to the licensing of bookmakers should be repealed. 2. That the use of the (otalisator be prohibited by law. 3. That provision be made for a reduction in the annual number of race meetings, and totalisator permits by one half. The Premier made a statement regarding the Knyvett case. At no time, he said, since the agitation started had he publicly taken a part in the matter. All saits of stitements had been made, including some by members of the House, which were entirely contrary to fact. He proposed to lay before the House the reports of the evidence taken before the Board of Inquiry, also the report taken on behalf of Captain Knyvett, and read portions of the same necessary to clear up the matter. Sir Joseph Ward then read at length correspondence and evidence relating to the case of Knyvett, beginning with a letter from Captain Knyvett to the O.C.D , leading to the former's arrest. Captain Knyvett had been treated with every consideration, but had refused to withdraw his insubordinate letter. The Premier went on to characterise the attitude of Captain Knyvett's friends as most unfair in attacking Colonel Robin on the public platform. No volunteer system in the world could allow such insubordination to go unpunished. If the Minister of Defence yielded to the agitation in favour of Captain Knyvett, what would be the effect on all the other volunteers and officers who were doing their duty at the present time, Sir Joseph read the opinion of the Solicitor-General, which was that Knyvett was properly dismissed for an offence against military discipline, and that the evidence justified the decision of the court. He had asked Colonel Tuson, in view of further evidence placed before him by CaptainKnyvetts representative, to go into the case again, with the result.that the Ad-jutant-General gave it as his opinion that there was no reason for re-open-ii/g the case. Ke had in view this report when the Cabinet came to the decision that the case should not be re-opened. Colonel Robin, who had been aspersed, was one of the most honourable men he had ever met, but he had been treated with the foulest of injustice. Captain Knyvett had actually put in writing hi 3 refusal to withdraw his insubordinate letter. Even allowing that Knyvett's action in leaving Auckland was not irregular, it was a fact that he had asked for free passes for himself 1 and men, which could not be provided unless the application was made by the Defence Department. He (the Premier) had been asked by several Auckland members to grant these free passes, but he had refused. It had been suggested that an Appeal Board should be set up in connection with such cases, and he was prepared to agree to this so as to avoid a repetition of such agitation in the future. Sir Joseph Ward added that he had never changed his attitude in the matter. He had reason to believe that the agitation was largely political, which was regrettable, as Defence administration ought above I

all others to be kept free from party nfluences. He moved that the papers lie on the table, and be printed. Mr Massey said it was unfair to ask members to discuss papers they had not perused. He gave the statement that he had used the Kuyvttt case for party purposes an unqualified denial. He had taken part in the Auckland meeting at the request of the citizens, who assured him it wa3 not a party one. The meeting was the most enthusiastic and successful he had ever attended. He bad no personal acquaintance with CaptamKnyvett prior to the case. Knyvett had been subjected not to ordinary military discipline, but to persecution. Sir Joseph Ward: Who bv? Mr Massey: That's what I want to know. Continuing, Mi Massey quoted a letter from Captain Knyvett to the Minister for Defence, setting forth the facts connected with his company's visit: to Petone. The debate was interrupted by the 5.30 p.m. adjournment.