PARLIAMENT.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2279, 26 August 1908, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. AFTERNOON SITTING. [Press Association.] WELLINGTON, August 25

The Council met .'it 2.50 p.m. The Roman Catholic Archbishop of Wellington Empowering Hill, and the Wellington Harbor Hoard Empowering Bill were read a second time. Hon. F. Trask resumed the interrupted debate on Hon. J. Barr’s motion urging particularly the advisability of granting married workers special exemptions from taxation in order to encourage parenthood. lie said Mr. Harr ought to have indicated how. the Government should meet the problem. Hon. C. Lonisson. thought the Council would sympathise with the motion. A vote of the Council would show whether the Government relied upon an increased birth-rate or increased immigration for the growth of the population. After several other members bail spoken, the Attorney-General said that many of Mr. Harr’s proposals were more or less practical. The Government had done much in tile direction of assisting married workers. Referring to the birth-rate, he said that if the population did not increase at a greater rate New Zealand would become a decadent nation like France, which could not hold her present position. The Government should assist those who had assumed the responsibilities of parentage. City life tended to a decrease, and 'country life towards an increase of the population. High rents also told against an increase .of the" population. The vernment had done much to increase land settlement. New Zealand could not become a great manufacturing nation. They must help tile farmer, and by so doing would increase the prosperity of the country. Hon. J. Harr, in reply, said that land settlements could not completely solve the problem, because there must always ho city workers. Children should receive free railway and tramwa” carriage. The motion was carried on the voices. The Council adjourned at 5 p.m. till 8.30 p.m. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

AFTERNOON SITTING,

The House met at 2.30 p.m. In reply to Mr. Poland, Hon. J. McGowan said he would inquire into the position at the Talisman mine. In reply to Mr. Massey, Sir J. G. Ward said-the Government intended o put through the whole programme, i he Arbitration Bill would bo proceeded with after the Estimates and the Ptiblio Works Statement and Estimates had been disposed of.

The Imprest Supply Bill, No. 3, for £1,226,000, was put through after a protracted discussion upon railway construction in various parts of the colony, which was advocated in electioneering speeches by several members.

The Prime Minister, replying to the speeches made, said the cry of the north versus south was the most detestable cry ever heard in the south. The Government would allocate the public funds fairly without reference to the electioneering speeches made by members.

The second reading was carried oil the voices.

The Prime Minister stated £500,000 in the Bill was for the purchase of matured debentures. The Manawatu Railway Company would pay interest on that sum at the rate of 4' per cent until the acquisition of the line on December 31st. The House adjourned at 5.30 p.m.

EVENING SITTING

The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. On the motion for third reading of the Imprest Supply Bill, the Premier stated drat the authorisation of £500,000 from the Public Works Fund would not prejudice the expenditure oil ordinary public works. In reality not a shilling would betaken from the public works authorisation. A long discussion followed on a variety of.topics, during which the neglect of the country districts in the matter of roads was pointed out with considerable force by Mr. ITogg and others.

■Sir Joseph Ward, in reply, said that tho greatest success in tho matter of land settlement bad been in small solllements associations

Replying to Air. Herries, lie said suburban rates were cheaper in New Zealand.than any other State in Australasia. Whether the Government should further encourage suburban residence by extending workers’ tickets to a greater area was a matter for careful consideration. The Government was endeavoring to carry out the policy indicated in the Budget of last year, and had been working on the North Island Trunk railway up to areas of 200 acres. They were not preaching a doctrine without putting it into practice, but while they were doing this they were also doing all they could in the interest of all classes of the community with due regard for its solidity. The Bill was read a third time and passed. The following Bills were introduced by message from the Governor and read a first time: Government Advances to Settlers Amendment, Public Revenues Amendment, and Local Bodies’ Loans Amendment.

The amendments made by the Legislative Council to the Now Zealand Societies of Accountants Bill were agreed to.

The Pawnbrokers’ Charges Bill passed the committee stage, and the Civil Service Amendment Bill also passed the committee stage unamended. The Taupo No. 2 Block Bill (Hon. R. AfcNab), to repeal section 32 of the Alaori Claims Adjournment and Laws Amendment Act, 1906, was read a second time without discussion.

The Public Holidays Bill was read a second time pro forma, and was referred to the Industries and Commerce Committee.

The Imprest Supply Bill was received from the Legislative Council, having been passed by that body.