PARLIAMENT.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2530, 17 June 1909, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. THE FINANCE BILU-PASSED THROUGH THE. COUNCIL. [Pica Pricks Association.) WELLINGTON, Juno 16. Th© Council met at 3.30 p.m. The Attorney-Go a© ral moved —“That the Council at it? rising adjourn till Monday next,” and the motion was agreed to. The Attorney-General moved the second reading of .the Public Revenues Act, received from the House.

The Hon. J. E. Jenkinson urged the importance of building a. harbor, and dock at Westport, on Point Elizabeth, capable of receiving a Dreadnought. He said that it mattered not if it cost 5. or 10 millions. It would be a reproductive work.

The Hon. G. Jones commended tho Government for the proposal to settle Native lands, and urged activity in tho resumption of estates.

The Hon. Wi Pore said if objection were raised to the Premier going Home on tlie score of expense, he would give him £SOO or £IOOO, and it would cost the country nothing. Tho Hon. W. W. McCardl© spoke as to the urgent necessity of selling Native lands.

The Hon. A. Baldey and R. A. Loughnan approved of the action of the Government in offering a Dreadnought to the Mother Country. The Hon. J. T. Paul said he was very pleased to know that tlie Premier •■was going to do something immediately to provide work ft>r the unemployed. The Bill was read a second time, and put through its final stages. The Council then adjourned.

HOUSE OF. REPRESENTATIVES. THE FINANCE BILL. After the telegraph office closed, Mr. Massey’s amendment was rejected by 43 to 25. Mr. Herdman moved to insert a clause repealing section 41 respecting the transference of appropriations. The motion was defeated. Mr. Allen proposed a further amendment, requiring that all money paid under authority of the Act bo included in the Estimates for the year ending March next. The amendment 'was rejected by 45 to 24, /and the Bill passed through without alteration. The Hons© adjourned at 1.40 a.m. QUESTIONS. The House met at 10.30 a.m. In reply to* Mr. T. E. Taylor, the Premier said that the Government would go into the question -f granting old age pensions without reduction to aid people possessing nomes. , fn answer to Mr. Jennings, the Premier said he would make full inquiries into the question of providing for old soldiers, and would set up a permanent body to make recommendations. Otnorwise there would be no finality iu tlie matter. Mr. T. E. Taylor asked if, in view of the amount set apart for increa -.e of rolling stock, the men dismissed from Addington worshops wvuid he reinstated, but Sir -Joseph Ward saia he could give no assurance beyond that if yj-ffi-dent work offered, they would b© •GE asauu THE FINANCE BILL—PASSED . THROUGH CHE HOUSE. The Prenter moved the thira? reading cl the £ inane© BiAL M?. ha regretted tho c.tacu: made soy Sir Joseph --Ward «£ .Wellington members, in his speech, at the' preceding sitting, 'p.-They oouiq - have obstructed, and_ did hot. My. Massey,, denied thati the credit of th© country had been damaged by the Opposition. It was true that money was leaving the country, and it was impossible for the Government to replace it. Members of the Opposition had a right to ask for Votes for their districts, even if they condemned the .present system of finance. He instanced expenditure on unnecessary roads in Mr. Hogg’s electorate. Referring tq> the police, Mr. Massey said it was quite evident there was .something wrong, and no hoped the Minister of Justice >r.ould look into it. He contended that'the railways were paying on© per cent, lees than interest on their cost, and that State coal was being charged to them a( double the price charged bo private consumers, in order to make, the mines show a profit,. The Hon. R. McKenzie denied the accuracy of this statement, and said that the railways were paying less for the coal than the public were. Mr. J. Allen said that the Opposition had no desire to injure the State coal mines.

The Hon. A. W. Hogg, in reply to Mr Massey’s statement regarding roads at Eketanuna (in his electorate) said he had not used his position for furthering these. ' „ Mr. Fisher condemned the Premiers insinuation regarding th© alleged hostile demonstration on .his departure. Mr. Poole referred to the '.police force and said that the liquor traffic was its greatest enemy. He hoped a reform would be made. ’ . Mr. E. H, Taylor denied that capital was being driven out of tho country. Sir Joseph Ward replied to tho criticism of the Government’s ‘finance, andsaid that the. Dominion was able to provide against a financial crisis. Refer--ence had been made to £BOO,OOO reserves. This sum had been invested in gilt-edged securities, and was unpledged. The Opposition w r ere simply repeating ancient history.. . The House,rose at 1 p.m. The House resumed at 2.30 p.m. Sir Joseph Ward continued his remarks. He said that objection had been made to the investment of £BOO,i)0 savings bank deposits in Home securities. lie held that this was the proper thing to do. The money was free and unpledged, and absolutely secure. The face value of these securities to-day was £868,000. Mr. Massey denied that the Opposition was in favor of increasing the rate of interest on advances to settlors by ] per cent. Tho Premier said that the member for Taranaki had advocated an increase of f per cent, on advances to settlers. " , , , * .. Mr. Okey explained that he had said it would be better for settlers to pay ) per cont. more than bo loft without m Tlie Premier said that Mr. Okey had made that statement knowing that the Department had advanced £1,190,000 during tlie last year. , The Bill was read a third time on the voices. s , , , • The report of tlie Native Laud Commission of 1909 was ordered to lie on the table, and be printed. UNIVERSAL MILITARY TRAINING Mr Massey moved—-“ That the House, beino- satisfied that the existing volunteer "system lias proved inadequate for the defence of the Dominion, is'of the opinion that it should be replaced by universal training for defence purposes.” He said that it would he a good tiling if the Premier .could fell the l>e- ; 1 * .. t ....a-.. . I .. .". . -..1..'.....'

ienoe, Conferenco tliat New Zealand w'-as not only prepared to assist tho Imperial navy, but to defend ourselves. Tho Premier suggested that, as he had already intimated that tho Government intended to submit proposals providing for defence, it would be better to allow the motion to pass without debate, on the understanding that no one was bound by it. The defence system would havo to be materially alterMr. Wilforcl ia-sked Mr. Massey if he would accept an amendment as follows —After the word “opinion” inoert the words “that isome system should be introduced by which tho defence of the Dominion will bo effectively carried out.” Mr. Vigor Brown seconded the amendment. Mr. G. W. Russell moved the adjournment *of the debate till 21*st October. This would, he said, leave members free to* discuss the proposal to bo placed before the House by the Government. Mr. T. E. Tayior supported the motion for adjournment, which, on being put, was carried by 44 to 29. MISCELLANEOUS. The report of tho Commission on the Addington workshops was ordered to lie on the table and be printed, and tho House adjourned. Tho House resumed at 4.39 p.m. The Speaker announced that the Council had .passed the Finance Bill, without amendment. A message was read from Sir James Prendergast, Deputy-Governor, announcing his assent to the Bill. The Premier bid farewell to the House, and Mr. Massey said he was confident that the Premier would represent the. Dominion creditably. The Speaker returned thanks for the felicitations of the Premier and the leader of the Opposition, and said he hoped to see all then present in their places next session. On the motion of the Premier the House adjourned till 2.30 p.m. on Friday. The House rose at 5.20 p.m.