PARLIAMENT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 1 October 1913, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. (By Tdearaph — Prett Auooiation.) WELLINGTON, Last Night. The Legislative Council met at 2.30 p.m. PRISONERS' DETENTION. In reply to the Hon. Dr Collins, the Hon. H. D. 801 l eaid the Government had not yet received sufficient information from New South Wales to determine whether legislation based on the Prisoners' Detention Act should be introduced. A CHRISTCHURCH BILL. The Christchurch Electrical Supply Empowering Bill was, on the ruling of the Speaker, referred to the Joint Committee on Bills, to determine whether it wa-s a local or a private B:1J. SECOND READINGS. The Land and Income Tax Bill and the Land Tax Assessment Amendment Bill were read a second time. The Council rose at 4 o'clock. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House of Representatives met at 2.30 p.m. MONDAY SITTINGS. The Hon. W>. F. Massey gave notice to move that on and after October 6th the House sits on Mondays at 7.30 p.m; UNIVERSITY REFORM. The Education Committee reported on the petition praying for University reform. On the motion of the Prime Minister, . the debate on the report was adjourned till later in the week. THIRD READINGS. The N.Z. Institute of Architects Bill and Local Elections and Polls Amendment Bill, were read a third time. ■ ' THE LOAN RILL. The Hon. James Allen moved the second reading of Aid to Public Works and Land Settlement Bill. The Bill provided for £600,000 for the construction of railways, instead of £800,000,. as" was the case last* year. It also provided- for £500,000 instead of £300.000 for additions to rolling stock. Mr Allen said he was endeavouring to arrange the expenditure of loan money so that it would not run out in November, as it did now, but would last till March in each year. The million and threequarters loan was required' for the above purposes and for land settlement and roads and bridges. Dur-

ing the past year a sum of £684,196 was expended in tEe construction of railways, which was somewhat less than in the previous year. The expenditure on all railway works was £1,148,822, which was the largest expenditure for the -past six years. Dealing with the public debt, he said that from 31st March to let July, under the Mackenzie Government, the debt increased by £2,574,690. For the other nine months of the year the. increase was £2,925,460. He was pleased to state that for the five months just passed there was an improvement in the revenue as compared with the expenditure. As compared' with the previous period, this year's figures showed an increase of revenue To. the extent of £172,551. r This.did not.include cash derived from the sale; of land, which, was now transferred io Hie land settlement fund. If he added that amount, it would make a difference of £25,000, The increase of expenditure for the five months ending 31st August was £146.530. The increase of revenue exceeded the increase of expenditure by £26,021. Provision had been made for all loan moneys coming due this year, and New Zealand never stood in a better position financially: He had to provide £150,000 for school buildings >next year. There were mental hospitals, workers' homes, and postal buildings to be provided for also. Sir Joseph Ward said the Hon. Mr Allen's optimism was gratifying, compared with the views formerly expressed by him when he (Sir Joseph) was in office. The Minister had claimed credit for the improved financial position, but at whose expense had ho kept down the expenditure to get the improved position P It was at the expense of the settlers and workers, because he had not lent money to settlers and workers. He had starved those sections of tlie community.. In proof of this assertion he quoted the fact that money had been actually loaned by the Ward Government to the settlers and workers during the last year of its ofiice. The failure t 0 expend unexhausted authorities was not a legitimate method of improving the financial position. He expressed gratification at the success of the recent loans, but .asked on whose finance these results had been achieved ? Surely Mr Allen did not claim that it was on his own finance. Such a claim was absurd, because no change had been made in the finance of the country, or in the incidence of taxation. The prospectus in connection with the recent loan proved on whose finance the success of that loan rested. Sir Joseph Ward complained of the comparisons made between the cost of raising the £3,000,000 4 per cent loan with the £5,000,000 3J per cent loan, as the period of their currency was altogether different, and on that everything depended. Much had been made of the loans that were falling due, but there was not a country in the world but had renewals falling due. In the case of Australia, over £170,000,000 was falling due shortly; but that fact was not paraded for party purposes. In conclusion, he desired to poinE out that the Government had not disclosed what amount it was proposed to borrow for advances to settlers and workers.

The Hon. W. F. Massey, in reply tg Sir Joseph Ward, quoted clause 18 of the Guaranteed Advances Bill now before the House to shovr that the Government were taking full power to meet all reasonable requirements. The figures quoted by the Finance Minister relating 'to the increase of revenue over expenditure indicated the buoyant state of the country's fianances, and falsified all that had been said by the Opposition for the past twelve years, to the effect that

if the Reform Government succeeded to the Treasury benches chaotic conditions would prevail. He quoted figures showing that each of the Australian States had raised loans on rerecent dates at similar rates as Now Zealamd loans'. The most satisfactory nhase of the country's condition was the fact that all the time the exports were going up. Dealing with the consolidated fund. Mr Massey said he 1 greed with Mr Allen that the immigration charges m& the salaries of

nubhc works officers, should be charged rojainst the consolidated fund. The debate on llie Bill was continued at considerable length, t&e Opposition cm'; cism being that the prosperity of l!it» country was due to the policy of tlu l Liberal Administrations, and not to anything done by the Massey Government. The Hon James Allen having replied, the Bill was read a second time on the voices. HAURAKI PLAINS. The Hon. W. F. Massey moved the second reading of the Haurak: 'Plains Amendment Bill, which provides for an alteration iu the financing; of the scheme for draining the awnnvp.