PARLIAMENT.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2249, 22 July 1908, Page 3

PARLIAMENT.

house of representatives AFTERNOON SITTING.

[Press Association.] WELLINGTON, July 21. Tho House met at 2.30 p.m. The Minister of Labor stilted, in a report that tlm Government did notintend to put into operaion tho Agricultural Laborers’ Accommodation Act. It was absolutely untruo that regulations under .the Act wore under consideration.

The Prime Minister said that the Government had never proposed to pay the travelling and hotel expensesof members visiting Auckland during Fleet Week. Tho Minister of Rcfeiioo said the defence report would bo brought down shortly. j The Financial Dobato was resumed" by Mr, T". Iv. Sidey, .who .expressed approval of tho Budget-, .which was a record ono. It would have been wiser not to have exceeded tho usual expenditure of £1,000,000 per annum on public works. It was remarkable that in spite of increased expenditure in old ago pensions and education,, ami remissions In railways, tolegraplis ami Customs there had been no increase in the rate, of taxation. Tho Advances to Workers Act was a usoful Socialistic measure, bringing tho State into competition with private money-lenders. He approvod of the borrowing policy, and ho referred to the valuable concessions given to settlors by the Railways Deportment. Ho said tho timo was coming for a comprehensive education scheme in the direction of granting more attention to children aftor leaving school, both in regard to technical instruction and physical training. Mr. T. H.Davey. criticised at considerable length Dr. Chappie's speech on industrial arbitration, rand said it was a mass of theories and- contradictions. Competition was lauded by Dr. Chappie, but "in tho past- it had done much harm. The normal effort, of -a laborer could not bo deduced from the work be did in one quarter of an hour. If Parliament was not to consult employer and worker in framing industrial legislation, whom were they to consult? He strongly supported the Advances to Workers Act, but thought the Laud for Settlement Act was assisting the wrong class of people. He instanced the resources of those who recently applied far tlio Culvertlen estate, some applicants possessing from £2500 to £BOOO. Mr. H. J. Okev strongly supported tlie Special Land" for Settlement Act, and hoped that the Government would place a vote on the Estimates this session for the Opuuake-Eltham railway, which would lie of groat- service to the Tarana'ki district. He also strongly advocated the opening up of native lands. The speaker pointed out- the delay in dealing with applications for loans under the Advances to Settlers Act, which at the present time took three to four months to complete, while with private firms matters could be settled up in a few days, -these delays caused much dissatisfaction. Dealing with old age pensions, lie said they should encourage thrift. Men who had been a little careful throughout, their lives bad been told they were not entitled to a pension because they woro possessed of property, though the latter was not sufficient to keep them. Something would have to be done with the Arbitration Act this cession, but he contended that the Act should not affect farmers. Any union which supported a- strike might be made responsible for any damages caused by the strike.

Tho House adjourned at 5.30 p.m ' EVENING SITTING.

On the House resuming, Mr. H. Poland quoted statistics showing the importance" of the mining industry, and pointed out that the Waihi mine was the second imjiortant mine in the world, but be contended that sufficient encouragement had not been given to the industry in the colony in the direction of sending" out- prospectors to the back country, where fields equal to the Waihi may be discovered. Neither had facilities been given for the proper-treatment o£--&re-He, advocated the establishment of one or. two State batteries, especially in the Ohinemuri district, and, in respect to mining leases, etc., lie hoped that the Minister and the proposed amended Mining Bill he would bring down would move on a liberal scale towards a. change in that direction. He congratulated the Minister on the satisfactory condition of the State coal mines; but thought it wa3 time ho looked round the North Island for a State mine, as coal, in tho past year, had gone up 6s 60 per ton. Another matter which should receive bis attention was to provide a sick and accident miners' fund, which probaby could be provided by charging a royalty on the gold production. Ho hoped for improved payment to school teachers. Though not advocating uniform school books for the .Dominion, he strongly urged that school books and requisites which bore heavily on the wage-earners should he provided free. He estimated the cost the first yen r at £27,000, with £IO,OOO each succeeding year, which was no considerable amount for the State to bear. Primary schools were not receiving proper attention, and. the pupils were not receiving the attributes of a sound English education. Much of this could be traced to the poor salaries paid to teachers. ’ He favorably criticised the Advances to Settlers Act,. and urged its to mining districts. He urged construction of tho East Coast railway from Waihi to Tauranga, thence to Gisborne.

Mr. A. W. Rutherford-said the Government had done right in setting up a Native Land Commission. Ho approved of the increase of tile naval subsidy, but regretted more was not spent on land defences. The Advances to Settlers Act was the best measure ever passed, and was a great success. Labor_ag.itators, if there were any, were. encouraged by the Government, which gave them billets in the Legislative Council and the public service. Mr. Rutherford said the fall iii wool was only temporary. Ho approved of preference to employees at land ballots. The Land for Settlements Act should assist the slnnll men. He approved of the spo cial lands settlement proposed in the Budget. It was untrue that capitalists had combined to rise the rate of interest. He approved of the visitof the American fleet, hut the Maoris should be kept out of the festivities. Mr. W. Fraser followed with a speech on finance, in which he said, the tame tales of record savings were told. “We could not overlook the fact that so long as we -'borrow we were living beyond our means.” Better provision should be made for prospectors. The Mines Department should submit schemes for thoroughly prospecting the country. The Americans should be welcomed as cousins, not a« saviours. He supported the increase of the naval subsidy. The public debt must increase with all the new proposals. Mr. Fraser said no combination of capital could put up the rate of interest. Ho opposed Socialism, saying the State should control, not possess. Mr. Hogg said Mr. Fraser was a Socialist, in that he advocated Government irrigation for Central Otago. Money was not scarce, but the money-lenders’ screw did harm. The country’s credit had. never been better. Mr. Hogg r,et off the assets against tlio .public debt. Ho approved the expenditure on roads and bridges, and he regretted to notice the aggregation of estates. Air. Hogg asked for State coal depots in the North Island. He said a powerful shipping ring was operating in the colonycompelling exporters to ship in certain, and it was' the duty of the Government to break up this monopoly. On the motion of Mr. Arnold, the debate was adjourned, and the House rose at 11.45 p.m