HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIV, Issue 179, 29 July 1903, Page 8

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

WELLINGTON, Tuesday. He House of Representatives resumed its sitting at 7.30 p.m. to-day. PETITIONS. Several Southern petitions were presented asking that the Bank of New Zealand be converted into a State .bank, and in favour of assisting the immigration of young women as domestic serVimt3 " LEAVE OF ABSENCE. i fortnight's leave of absence was granted to "air Hone Heke upon urgent public business. FIRST READINGS. The following bills were read a first time- Trade Monopolies Prevention (the Premier), City Single Electorates (Minister for Railways), and Nelson City Lands Vesting (Mr Graham). RAILWAY MATTERS. The Minister for Railways replied to a number of questions asked during the past month. * PESTS. The Orchard and Garden Pests Bill tras Tead a second time pro forma, on the motion of the Premier., and referred to the Stock Committee. LOCAL BODIES RATING. The Road and Town Districts Rating Bill was read a third, time and passed, ' after the amendments of the Committee had been agreed to. WEIGHTS AND MEASURES. The Weights and Measures Bill, as reported from Committee, was finally passed. CLITTHA RELIEF FUND. The second reading of the Clutha Relief Pund Bill, which provides for the unexpended balance of the fund mentioned being handed over to the Shipmrecked Belief Society, was read a second time.. COUNTIES ACT. The House went into Committee to consider the Counties Act Amendment BilL Mr W. Fraser suggested the insertion of a clause denning what an outlying district consisted of; otherwise, he urged, there would be considerable trouble and the measure would be found unworkable in counties where there were neither Road Boards m>r Town Districts, a3 the term outlying district would have no meaning in such cases. After discussion the Premier agreed to consult the law officers as to the need of amendment, and to have it made if necessary before the measure finally passed. Mr Alison then moved that the proposed power of increasing the rating to threepence in the pound on outlying districts (at present lid.) be reduced to twopence. The Premier strongly opposed this, saying that it struck at the root of the whole bill, which was brought in at the instance of the local bodies. Mr Hogg, and other members expressed astonishment at this, stating that no such expression of opinion had been made to them. The amendment, after lengthy discussion, was rejected by 34 to 24. A verbal amendment was made in clause four, which enables a Council to establish or assist lire brigades. Mr Houston proposed a new clause enabling County Councils to pass -bylaws providing for the licensing of bit Hard rooms unconnected with hotels or clubs, and prohibiting unlicensed billiard rooms. In his district, he said, there "were unlicensed rooms which were simply sly-grog Ehops. The Premier accepted the amendment, believing that unlicensed billiard rooms ■were a source of danger, and that local bodies should have power to control them. Mr Houston said that in his district, where unlicensed rooms were more numerous than in any other part of the colony, they should have power to impose such a prohibitive fee that the rooms would have to be closed. The House divided on the amendment proposed by Mr Baume, that the word "public" be inserted before "billiard room," which was agreed to by 33 votes to 22. On the motion of the Premier an addition was made to the clause enforcing the closing of public billiard rooms at 11 p.m. Mr Field moved a new clause enabling County Councils to light streets, roads, bridges, and other public places and pubhe buildings within the colony, and of entering into contracts for the same purpose. On the suggestion of the Premier, the last portion of the clause was elided, and the bill Avas reported, the House' rising at 12.25 a.m.