PARLIAMENTARY.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10122, 19 October 1910, Page 5

PARLIAMENTARY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Last Night. In the Legislative Council this afternoon, the Attorney-General and various members expressed their pleasure at the return of Mr. Leonard Stowe, Clerk of the Council, from the Old Country, in renewed health. The debate on the second reading of the Defence Bill was continued by Hons. Sinclair and Carncross. The Attorney-General, in his reply, disclaimed any intention to create a military class or encourage a spirit of militarism. The object of the measure was not to create a standing army, but an efficient force to protect the Dominion from a possible invader. The Bill was read a second time. OTHER BILLS. The Immigration Restriction Bill was read a third time and passed. The Animals Protection Bill, which came form the House, was read a second time. NATIVE TOWNSHIPS BILL., The Attorney-General moved the second reading of the Native Townships Bill. The Hon. W. W. McCardle thought that something ought to be done to prevent the natives from receiving and spending as they pleased the whole purchase money. A portion should be used to improve the balance of their holdings and encourage them to farm for themselves. The Hon. G. Jones protested against the Freetrade principle embodied in the Bill by the House. The Government should either buy native lands or let the natives lease them ; but he did not think they should be allowed to sell to everybody, as was proposed. The Hon. Mr Paid said there ought to be a clause to protect the Maori against any Minister or any European influence. He spoke strongly as to the methods of dealing with native lands in the past, and indignantly denounced the "practices by which Maoris had been robbed. The Hon. Dr. Findlay having briefly replied, the second reading was agreed to, and the Council rose. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

The House met at 2.30. KAIAPOI RESERVES BILL. The Kaiapoi Reserves Bill (Hon. J. Carroll) was read a second time, pro forma. RAILWAY SERVICES. On a motion by the Hon. J. A. Millar to-day, the Railway Classification List (D 3) was ordered to lie on the table. Considerable discussion ensued upon the time-tables and running of the services in. the Wairarapa. and various parts of the North Island, respecting which it was alleged there was much dissatisfaction. Mr. Laurenson complained that sufficient facilities were not given to men in the second division, who had qualified for the first division, entering the latter branch of the sei'vice. The shunters ought also to be provided with speedier means of promotion. Mr. Hogan held that the percentage barrier to promotion in the railway service should be abolished. Mr. Fisher contended that the railway servants ought not to be restricted from taking part in public life so long as they refrained from commenting on the work of their Department or improperly divulging information. He also objected to the men's right to annual leave being taken away by the new regulations. The Hoi). Mr. Millar, replying, said he doubted if the Arch-Angel Gabriel could devise a time-table to suit the needs of the Wairarapa district. However, he had promised when the session closed to look into the question. Replying.to Mr. Laurenson, the Minister said a reasonable number of promotions yearly were made from the second to the first grade. He could not agree with Mr. Taylor in regadr to removing the restrictions from railway servants in regard to politics. He would see that an enquiry was made into the complaints at the Newmarket Workshops. The percentage barrier to promotion could not be altered, as the cost would be too great. The papers were ordered to lie on the table.

SUGAR BEET. The Agricultural Committee reported that after taking the evidence of witnesses, it had not sufficient evidence before it to justify the recommendation of the Sugar Beet Industry Bill, and leaves the matter of proceeding with the Bill to the discretion of the Government. 'Mr. Poole moved that the evidence be printed. Sir Joseph Ward felt that the country ought to go in for the beet sugar industry in some form or other, and he believed the Bill should be proceeded with. Ho was not averse to the State taking up the industry. He would do his best to establish the industry, seeing that the remission of the duty had failed in its object. The evidence should be printed, so that the views of witnesses could be perused, and if further eivdence was required it should be obtained. The debate was adjourned. HARBOCRS AMENDMENT BILL. The second reading of the Harbours Amendment Bill (No. 2) was moved by the Hon. J. A. Millar, who explained the difference between the present and the original Bill. Mr. Herries said the, Bill showed the wisdom of going slowly. Had the original Bill been passed, it would have been necessary to pass an amending Bill next session, containing the amendments of the Bill now before the House. He hoped that voting by proxy, winch gave rise to abuses, would bo done away with. He was glad to see that the country districts would be represented on the Harbour Boards, as well as the town districts. Mr. Hogg contended that the Harbour Boards should be elected on the Parliamentary franchise. Mr. Poole hoped that special care would be taken to see that the coun-. try members were possessed of some knowledge of the work of Boards. After further discussion, the second reading was carried, and the House went into Committee on the Bv-laws Bill.