DISCUSSING THE ESTIMATES

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10443, 7 October 1911, Page 5

DISCUSSING THE ESTIMATES

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE S.

J By Telegraph—Press Association. ) WELLINGTON - , Last Night. The House of Representatives went into Committee this afternoon to further consider the Estimates, the Land for Settlement account (£9446) * being taken. Mr Hassey contended that as the accounts were presented the House had no chance of finding out how the various acquired estates, were being administered, whether they shouad be labelled "credit" or "loss." I The Hon. D. Buddo said the ad- | ministration of the estates was iit i the hands of the Lands Department, i Tlie success of an estate was not I leased on one year's return. I Mr Luke thought the Government \ should be congratulated'on the fact that during the past year 14,399 acres had been acquired under the Lands for Settlement Act. Mr Fisher asked why the Government should not make a rebate of rent to farmers, and not to workers who really needed it. . i '"■ Mr Isitt said a rebate of'lo per cent, to farmers who paid their rent regularly, was iniquitous/. Under the 999 years' lease, > men who were holding land at a pepper-corn rent were saving 10 per cent, by paying up on the due date. \ Mr Fisher moved a reduction by , £2 of the item' for the Land Purchaser's salary, <a& an indication that if a 10 per cent. relbate. were given to farmers it should be given to workers. ! .y' i liV's';;:'' ; The Hon. D. Buddo, in reply, said the matter of rebates" was' based onr the existing law. . '

(The further utterance's ,;of the Minister were drowned by the l»uzz of 'conversation of .members.) Mfj' Ell said married men ooiild hot I go into the country- to work, .as no [provision was made for the housing. | of their wives and families. ', Under existing married labourers had to keep two homes; going. Mr Rhodes said he would allow ■country work to advance step by step till holders of Crown land had acquired the freehold. Mr Fisher's' amendment was ruled, out of order, and the total Land for Settlements account vote' iwas pass- . ed. The' State Forests aoount (£22,397)' was rittxt taken.'.* - ( Mr Sco'ttmoved of vth© 1 ■' Bakries; itein, as an indication that a scientifically trained expert should be procured to take charge of the State " forests." . ( Meß&rjs, T. Y; Dunceur and Malcolm a man with a knowledge of Dominion requirements would be better. • '■ : Mr' Fraser held that two prime necessities of the Dominion were afforestation and irrigation. The Hon. D. Buddo, replying, said eight million trees were being planted annually. In this matter an ounce of experience .was worth/a ton of theory. If Mr Scott's suggestion was carried out it would be simply -a matter of importing a man to teach him his business. .... r f .

j Mr Scott's amendment was nega- ; tived, and the total vote was passed. ■ The Committee proceeded to conI sider the Defence vote (£384,574). I , ißepliying to Messrs Allen and Luke, the Minister said, there were I twenty-three officers in New, Zealand. | from Home, and', a like number of | Now - ' at fioine undergoing I training. It was not the present in- . I ■ tention of the Government to estalbI lish a small arms factory in New Zea- | land.,''/'/ \ ; The Hon. J. ,A. Millar informed Mr I Fisher that -the Agricultural Depart- | ment - was buying all the horses rej quired for. the artillery. The mounted corps purchased their own horses. He further stated, that eight field batteries were expected to arrive in New Zealand shortly. ' (Replying to other questions, . the Hon. Mr Millar said there was not a man getting le£s than -Bs' to .9s a day, and quarters. The ! Force was the most highly paid in the world. It : wav riot.'a general principle of the . Government to prosecute in cases of j failure to register. There may be, he added., special cases.- Cpntinuing, he said the whole, scheme, of compulsory training was a matter of evolution. It was a big scheme,. and the way had to be felt as they went along. It Was proposed to make theI force 30,000 strong. There was hot ; I one man over Si being enrolled at I th<f present time. ••

,Mr yLaurenson congratulated the Department.on the initial success of the system. t lf he-; had /twenty sonß, they would ail ,be in; the; > ■ ■■;'..' iMr Isitt said Parliament could notcarry out "the scheme. It had to be carried out by the people. This was the first time in the Empire; thaf; any compulsory •' system of defence had been instituted..'; 'Replying to Mr Jennings', th« Hon. J. A: Millar said a general training camp had been abandoned, as it was impossible to take 'men away from their work for any considerable time. Camips would be held in the respective districts.

Replying to Sir Arthur Guinness, the Minister, said the Government was not going to abandon prosecuting those who, .failed .to register. Each■ csftse would be dealt oh • its* .merits.--':---•J To'Mr Wright, Mr Millar said the medical examinations had-been car- ■■■< ried out; ,to the satisfaction of the General. . : r' 1 ": „■.;/';. ' : \Y>Y,.' :; -;"' r . l \- '.-''■: To a further question, the Minister said boys were only rejected when it was found they could not benefit from training. 'Mr Allen asked if the Minister was satisfied that the officers sent Home were doing the duties intended by the Department. The Minister replied that a report had been requested, but had so far not come to hand.

The total vote was passed unaltered. The New Zealand State Guaranteed Advances Act (£479,502 was then taken. Mr Herries urged that advances ■shouldi be made on mining leases. Mr Poland moved a reduction by £1 in the salary of the Superintendent of Advances as an indication that the administration of the Depart-, ment was not, satisfactory. The Hbn. J. A. Millar said the, Advances to Settlers Board w-as-working on business lines, and would, no*, lend money unless the securitywas there. The Board was acting as I trustee, and would not advance one. penny piece unless full security were, there. . ' " (Left Sitting.) -