PARLIAMENT.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2681, 10 December 1909, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

MISCELLANEOUS' BUSINESS.

fPisR Press Association.] WELLINGTON, Dec. 9

The Legislative Council this afternoon insisted upon its amendments in the Hospitals and Charitable Institutions Bill, and appointed managers to confer with tlio managers from the other House on the subject. The Shipping and Seamen Act Amendment Bill was partially considered in committee, and progress reported. The Designation of Districts Bill, which provides that the Governor-in-Council may alter the names of boroughs, counties, etc., and that (in all such alterations, and in future namings, preference shall be given to original Maori names, was read a second time. LAND SETTLEMENT FINANCE ’ BILL. The Attorney-General moved the second reading of the Land Settlement Finance Bill, received from the House. He said that he thought the result would justify what was proposed. He considered' the Bill a real good workable measure.

The Hon. W. W. McCardle seconded the moftiion, and s(poke eulogisticaily on what the Government had done in the matter of land settlement, and said that he looked forward to a great advance in settlement under this Bill. The Hon. J. Rigg .said lie- was quite willing to give the Government credit for just intentions in the matter of closer settlement, but he believed the measure capable of producing evils. It helped those who were capable of helping themselves, but did not provide land for the landless. Even if the landless were provided for, what was the use of the measure as they could not make use of land without capital. The first people who should have received the consideration of the Liberal Government were those who had families, and were in want, and nothing had been proposed for the amelioration of the lot of-these. He would have been glad to see an energetic administration of an improved Homestead System Bill proposed to remove all the evils which former Liberal administrations had attempted to supdebate was interrupted by the dinner adjournment. t HI train the evening the Hon J* -Kigg continued his speech on the Land Settlement Finance Bill. He pointed out that, while all might be right m prosperous times, the sections . would be abandoned during a financial crisis. The Bill, he said, was badly conceived and ill Considered. He would vote against it. , , • The Hon. J. Anstey announced his intention to heartily support the Bill, but he would nevertheless criticise its provisions. While the principle of the Bill mot with his approval, he feared that the measure would be inoperative in a few years. He went on to point out many difliculties in the way of a combination of persons taking advantage of the Act. _ , ' The Hon. J. T. Paul declared that the new land policy of the Government was in opposition to the traditional policy of the Liberal party. He would have to oppose the Bill. The Hon. J. McGowan said he would support the Bill, as putting people on the land was one method of relieving the labor market.

The Hon. W. Beehan failed to see that the Bill would benefit the poor man as land could not be taken up without capital. After further discussion the Attor-ney-General replied and on the motion being put the Hon. J. T. Paul called for a division. The second reading was agreed to by 16 to 3. HOSPITALS AND CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS BILL. A fresh committee of managers was appointed, consisting of the Hons. Dr. Findlay, W. E. Collms and M. Beehan, to confer with the members from the other Chamber, on the amendments made by the t/Ouncil in the Hospitals and Charitable Institutions Bill and the Council adjourned at 10.50 p.m.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. NAVAL DEFENCE BILL, After midnight on Wednesday, Mr. Massey went on to refer to the alleged crisis preceding the offer of a Dreadnought, and said that it was no wonder that people were beginning to think that the offer had not been made solely for patriotic reasons. The offer had been made under conditions that were a slight upon Parliament. Mr. T. E. Taylor said that the Mother Land had not desired a Dreadnought. Messrs Fisher, Malcolm, and Allen continued the debate. Sir Joseph Warden reply, said that the Admiralty had approved of the course which the Government had taken in regard to naval defence. A fleet unit would cost £600,000 a year, yet in time of war the Dominion would have to fall back on the British navy. The Bill wasyread a second time, and the House rose at 2.20 a.m. TEACHERS’ RAILWAY PASSES. At the afternoon sitting to-day the Education Committee reported on the petition asking for a continuance of week-end railway .passes for teachers, and recommended the same to the favorable consideration of the Government.

NAVAL DEFENCE BILL. The Naval Defence Bill was taken in* committee. Mr. Allen asked what steps were being taken in regard to the following matters: Extension of Calliope dock, Auckland, to enable it to accommodate an Indomitable • erection of an additional dock at Wellington; provision for repair yards; and manufacture or ammunition in the Dominion. Messrs Luke and Poole expressed the opinion that the Calliope dock required to be extended. Mr. Massey said that the matter was an important one. It ought to be remembered, however, that there was good dock accommodation m Hong Kong, which would meet the requirements of the Dominion flagship while in China seas. , Mr Baume urged that steps should be taken to organise a proper system of naval volunteering. , Messrs Malcolm, Phillips, and Okoy also took part in the debate. Mr. Duncan (Wairau) urged the claims of the Marlborough Sounds as a navarbase. These, he contended, wore superior to those of Auckland. Mr. Glover said that the Prime Minister had chosen wisely in selecting Auckland as the naval base equipped as it was with a splendid dock. Sir Joseph Ward, in reply, said that he had been in communication with the chairmen of the Wellington and Auckland Harbor Boards in regard te docks, but the responsibihtv lay with tho Admiralty and the Auckland Har-

bor Board, it having been decided that Auckland should he the naval base. The naval volunteer system could best ho discussed when the Naval Bill was before the House. Mr. T. 32. Taylor hoped that the Prime Minister would investigate the conditions surrounding naval service in training ships, and discover why lads, after being trained for five years, found it so unattractive that they sought employment elsewhere. Mr. Allen said it .would have been far better to have expended £250,000, the cost of naval defence, on docks and re.pair yards in the Dominion. Mr. Hogg said that this meant increased expenditure. On the motion of Mr. Herries a new sub-clause was added to clause 7. dealing with the sinking fund, as follows: “An annual statement of the securities in which such sinking fund is invested shall be laid before Parliament within 14 days of the commencement of each session.” The Bill was reported with amendments. , , . On the motion that the Bill be read a third time, Mr. Thomson (Wallace), in a lengthy speech, denounced the attempt to foist a local navy on the Dominion, which, he said, was contrary to its best interests. He supported the third reading. The debate was interrupted by the adjournment of the House at 5.30 p.m. In the House at the evening sitting the debate on the Defence-Bill was continued, and' the Bill was put through its final stages. • HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS BILL. A message from the Legislative Council was received stating that the Council could not accept the reasons of the House for disagreeing with the amendments made in the Hospita.s and c a ritable Institutions Bill by the Council. The Hon. G. Fowlds moved that the reasons assigned by the Council be disagreed with. , . , This was carried and a fresh committee 1 was set up to confer with the Council. FRIENDLY SOCIETIES BILL. The Premier moved the second reading of the Friendly Societies Bill and stated that he intended to drop clause 15, providing for actually certifying contributions before registration, on account of the strong objection raised bv prominent friendly societies. Mr Massey said that the Bill was a Committee one, and expressed approval at dropping Clause 15. Messrs Jennings, Wilford, Davey, Anderson and Buick supported the second reading. _ Mr Stallworthy said that every societv should' have an adequate scale contributions as provided for in Clause 15. Mr Poole expressed regret that no satisfactory soluSon had been arrived at in regard' to Clause 15 in the interests of lodges. _ The second reading was agreed to. LANDS FOR SETTLEMENT ADMINISTRATION BILL. Consideration of the report- on the Lands for Settlement Administration Bill was taken. Mr Massey referred to the amendments be bad made in tbe Bill and said that the divisions thereon showed that, in spite of the freehold provisions in the Land Bill, the -Government v as still sympathetic to the leased Pd oriudebate was continued by Messrs Ell, Ross, Witty, Russell. Hanan and Jennings. (Left Sitting.)