PARLIAMENT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10064, 11 August 1910, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. By Telegraph—Prers Association.' WELLINGTON, August 9. ,In the Legislative Council in the afternoon, the adjourned debate on t : ie Hon." J Rigg'a motion for setting up a. committee to consider the advantage of a State bask issue, and s State paper currency, was resumed.

The Attorney-General, Hon J. T. Findlay, said he thought the personnel of the committee proposed was a guarantees that the enquiry would be intelligently conducted. He would support the motion, but would defer anything he had to say until the report was received. The motion was carried on the voices. The debate was resume 1 Jin the Destitute Persons' Bill (second reading.) The Hon. 0. Samuel said the importance of the measure could not be exaggerated. It affected the well being of the whole community, and what hud to be done was to consider , the welfare of the great number I which represented thefpoorer classes. In legard to the legal responsibilities j of relatives, one to the other, he i did not think it right Mo pass* such drastic provisions as that those who.had relatives of whom they knew little or 1 nothing, should be placed in the position of responsibility in which the Bill placed them.

The debate was adjourned, and the Council rose. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House met at.2.30. Replying to questions, Ministers stated that the House would have the oportunity of expressing an opinion in regard to the request for official recognltiou oi the engine drivers', fire mens', and cleaners' union; that the Government will continue to grant pound for pound subsidies on loans raised by settlers for raetal-

ling roads. Or. the motion of the Hon. G. tow Ids, Grey Lynn, to lay a return of Oregon timber imported into the Dominion, on the table, Mr R. W* Smith,. Rangitikei, raised the question of th 3 Timber Commission's Report, and urged" that something should be done to give effect thereto. Sir Joseph. Watd, in replying to Mr Maßsey,,Baid that the Government recognise that the milling industry was an important one, and required protection, but after the report of the Commission was made, it was found that the sawmillera did not agree with the recommendations made by the Commission. The problem was a difficult one,' and the opinion was divided as to what should be done He was quite willing to give the House an opportunity to discuss the ; .report of the Commission, and be believed the. House-would-decide vto give effect to its recomendations in which case the -sawmillera would be worse off Jthan ever. Regardiing railway concessions he denied that the railway department was showing favouritism in the matter. If-the House was desirous of having astraight out issue on the timber question he was quite willing to grant it. MrT. E. Taylor, Christchurch North, said the present trouble in the sawmilling industry wbb due to over investment by the miillersj who were anxious to recoup themselves by i adding to,flie cost of timber Mr J. T. Logan, Wanganui, contended that no restriction should be placed on Oregon pine until it was shown that this was doing harm.

The House rose at 5.30 p.m. Iu the' House in the evening the debate on the Budget was resumed by Mr P.. Buxton, Geraldine, who conthat the question of land tenure was largely a sentimental one. What concerned the people was how to get on the laud. He was not in favour of selling the endowment lands, but urged the acquisition of i estates in- Canterbury suitable for closer' settlement. Mr B. Newman 7 , Manawatu, referring to the waste of time in connection with th«j Financial } Debate, suggested' the appointment of a committee to reform the rule of procedure'so to prevent thK His land policy-was "every man his own landlord.", Referring to water power utilisation, he disproved of the State entering into this enterprise which would require a huge amount oX capital.

Mr T. E. Taylor. Cbristchurch North, referring to the utilisation of -water power,.and Mr Massey's attitude therein, declared that' the farmeri were vitally interested in The question'of water power affected every interest in the community, and the development of water power would assist the farmers by enabling tbetn to use nitrogenous manures manufactured in the Dominion. There were six' to twelve, sources of water power in the Dominion that could be successfully utilised in a few years. ,M ( r J. Graham, Nelson, dealt at some length 'with the Native land question, basing bis remarks on the Native Minister's Bpeecb, which he said proved that the Government was doirg a ureat daal towards opening up Native ands. He oppoeed giving the freehold to on settlement lands. He defended the. Governments' ftnanf e and publfc works po'i y and taraiHon, giving statistics, shoviiiiß condition of thVvaribua depai-titients ' *"" • j The debate adjourned, and tie House rose at 11.80 p.m.