IN PARLIAMENT.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3334, 28 September 1911, Page 2

IN PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

A SERIES OF QUESTIONS.

DEATH OF MAJOR CA3IPBELL.

The 'House'met at 2.® p-m.,' when MSsusterm, replying to question®, said: That it is hoped to he able to announce the decision of the Government respecting . the question of increased pay of the rank and file of the police fee.fore the end of the session. Thai it is not proposed to introduce this session a Betterment Bill dealing with increased unimproved Jand values, but the question of what is the best coutuso to adopt to obtain jurthfir land for the people is receiving earnest consideration. That it may be necessary to renew, from time to time, the rentals charged for railway houses occupied by the employees, and that the railway employees receive pay. for the Dominion Day holiday.

That provision is being made on the supplementary estimates for increasing the pay of mental hospital attendants. The "Speaker announced the death of Major Campbell, who was Clerk of the House for 35 Tears. Qn the motion of the Premier, a motion of regret was recorded in the Journals of the House. The Premier, replying xo 31 r. Allen regirding the right kA dril servants who had served in the Provincial Governments to include their services for superannuation purposes, said the proposal involved an important question, involving the stability of the whole superannuation fund. He promised a careful investigation of the matter. The remainder of the afternoon sitting was occupied in discussing the answers to questions.

IN THE EVENING. AD3I IN ISTRATTOx” A3IEND3IENT BILL. The House resumed at 7.30 p.rn., and went into Committee on the Administration Amendment Bill. Objection was taken to the new clause moved by the Minister, which provides that three months be allowed in which to take legal proceedings to enforce a claim. Mr Allen moved that the period ior proceedings lie six months. He poinfced out that- absentees in England or America could not possibly move within three months. On the division the amendment was negatived by 35 to 24, and the Bill was reported with amendments. The House then considered the report on the Hauraki Plains Amendment Bill. . , Mr Fisher moved that the Bill be recommitted for the purpose of reconsidering the clauses authorising the Minister to levy taxation without the people concerned being consulted. The amendment was lost by 44 to 18. Sir Joseph Ward, speaking on the motion for the third reading of the Bill, said that the area of land settled during the past ten years was 4,844,86-5 acres, and the selectors numbered 10,71-5, which meant that 66,000 people had been put on the land within the decade ._ The Government had lent a million of money to those men to go on the land, and If they had doubled the amount lent, as suggested by the Opposition, there would have been a financial crisis.

After midnight Mr Allen, continuing, said the statement of the Premier concerning the settlers put on the land was misleading. He wanted to know if the figures quoted included pastoral leaseholders. The Government had no Land policy and very little other policy. (Left Sitting.)