HAPPENINGS IN THE HOUSE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3310, 31 August 1911, Page 2

HAPPENINGS IN THE HOUSE.

C 2-5 EA P MONEY FOR SETTLERS. the’five million loan. After the telegraph' office closed on Tuesday night the second reading of the Imprest Bill was resumed by Mr Massey, who stated that he was just as anxious for cheap money for settlers as anyone else, and he advocated that the Post Office Savings Banks be available to settlers as in other countries, and as the Auckland Savings Bank is available, but he was opposed to further borrowing. Regarding the five million loan, the Premier had the authority of the House to raise it, but it was bad finance to raise it in one sum. Regarding the expenditure of public money for party purposes, Mr Massey said Makara Road Board in his district wrote him regarding a vote of £l5O which appeared on the Supplementary Estimates for his district. He knew nothing of it, but it afterwards appeared that his (Mr Massey’s) opponent at the last election had asked the Premier for this grant, and the Minister of Public Works had not been approached on tfie matter. He had last January, by letter, asked for an explanation, but so far had not received any. He had other similar instances which he could speak of. The principle of discrimination in advertising in papers was another instance. Sir Joseph Ward stated that the Opposition had predicted disaster, so far as the Government was concerned, for the past twenty years, but that disaster had never come about, and the country was prosperous. The work of some of the best financiers in England was being constantly decried by thd Opposition. In reference to the money mentioned by Mr Massey as having been voted to his district it was spent on special roading to a small harbor, and the expenditure was absolutely necessary. Reports to be laid on the table would show that the advertisements in papers had not been unfairly distributed. The Bill was passed through committee, read a 3rd time, and passed, and the House rose at 1.45 a.m.