MEMBERS' HONORARIA

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10699, 21 August 1912, Page 5

MEMBERS' HONORARIA

(By Telegraph—Press Association.)

WELLINGTON, Last Night

Replying to Mr H. M. Campbell, member for Hawke's Bay, in the House this afternoon, the Prime Minister stated that before any increase could be made to members' honoraria, legislation would have to be introduced, and he could say that the Government had no intention of introducing any such legislation.

meat. It would settle the question J

of leasehold and freehold, and allow the House to get on with the more important matter, the settlement of the land. Mr Lauronson said he would stick to his leasehold principles, even though it lost him his seat. Mr Pearee held that the freehold was the best way to settle the land and make it productive.

Mr G. W. Russell said that when Mr Craigie moved to limit the tenure to leasehold, he must expect to find some of the Liberals against him. Had ho attempted to affirm the principle of the reservation of one-half of the land, he would have had some support.

Mr Davey said he was astonished at the speech of Mr Russell. "I have heard a good deal of twisHng and turning," ho said,, "but that takes the cake." He regretted that Mr Russell had gone back on his leasehold convictions. \ THE AMENDMENT LOST. After Messrs Ell and R. Bollard had referred to University endowments, the amrndment was put and lost by 52 votes to It.

THE DEBATE CONTINUED

Mr L. M. Tsitt continued tho general debate on the Budget. He f.uid it was only through traitors who had turned from the Liberal side and tupported Mr MneiSey that the present Government occupied the Treasury benches. The Government, when in Opposition, did nothing to further the. interests of the country, but had lu'kl the chariot back. He proceeded to relate what the Liberal Government had done. Liberalism and Toryism, he said, would not mix. Mr Mass?y's party would never give this country progressive Liberalism. He wa.> convinced that large land-holders wore represented by tlio Government of to-day. The breaking up of huge estates adjacent to railways and roads would do more than settling the hack-blocks. As to the graduated land tax, h 0 described that r« a "homoepathic pilule." The Government had not dared to bring clown any practical proposal on the subject of the defence system. He said that the compulsory chaise was a relic of mediaeval times. It was as illiberal and narrow in character as it could be.

.MR D. BUICK. Mr D. Buick (Palmevstci:) said the present was the first Budget he could not criticise. He urged the cheapening of telephone charges for country settlers at the earliest possible moment. Tho only way to find out the true value .of land was to ascertain the true value of land for cash. The value of the improvements could then be taken off. Nobody knew where he was in regard to valuations now. There was no such thing ay unearned increment. Ho could not congratulate tho Government on the appointment of the High Commissioner. Ho had not been rewarded for faithful service. He had thrown everyone he had ever been connected with overboard.

The debate was adjourned, and the House rotec at 11.20.

THE FIRST DIVISION

The division list on Mr Craigie'fj amendment was as follows:—Ayes (14). —Messrs Colvin. Craigie, Davey, Ell, Forbes, Hanan, Hindmarsh, T&itt, Lauren so Parata, Robertson, Soddon, Sidey, Veiteh. Noes (52). — Messrs Allen, Anderson, Atmore, Bell. J. Holland, R. Bolland. Bradney, Brown, Buchanan, Bud do. Buick, Buxton, Campbell, Carroll, Clark, Coites, Escott, Fisher. Fraser, Glover, Guthrie, Harris, HerdmaiT, Herrics. Hine. Lang, Lee, MoCalliim, Mac Donald, R. McKenzio. Mander, Mas-soy, Xewmnn Ngatn, Nosworthy. Okey, Pearce, Poland. Pomaro, Reed, R. Rhodes, T. Rhodes, Russell, Scott, Statham. Sykes. G. M. Thomson. Ward. Wilford, Wilyon, Wiitty, Young.