BUSINESS OF THE SESSION.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 244, 12 October 1908, Page 8

BUSINESS OF THE SESSION.

THE ACTS PASSED. AN IMPORTANT LIST. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Sunday. Following is a synopsis of the session's business transacted by the House of Representatives. Of bills passed and dropped during the session 99 public bills received the Royal Assent, and two were reserved for signification of Hie Majesty's pleasure. Thirty-six local bills were passed and sis dropped. Two private bills received the Royal Assent. In all. 481 petitions from Europeans and 180 from Maoris were presented. The House sat on 59 days—4l9 hours 24 minutes before midnight and 57 hours 19 minutes after midnight, or an average of 8 hours 6 minutes. Ministers were asked 816 questions, and 1,137 entries were made in journals. The number of papers asked for was 100. The following is an analysis of the papers laid on the table: —74 by command, 29 by leave, 142 by Act, 69 in return to orders, and one by Mr. Speaker. Twenty-six select committees were set up, 24 on public bills and two on private matters. Following is the analysis of reports presented: —From Public Petitions A to L Committee. 47; from Public Petitions M to Z Committee, 70; from Native Affaire Committee, 77; from Lands Committee, 41; from Goldfields and Mines Committee, 15; from Local Bills Committee, 46; from Railways Committee, 17; from other committees, 71; total, 354. The two bills reserved for the Royal Assent were the Immigration Restriction Amendment and Shipping and Seamen. PUBLIC ACTS PASSED. Following is a list of Acts passed by the.General Assembly of New Zealand, 1908:— Acts Interpretation Amendment. Aid to Public Works and 'Land Settlement Appropriation. Auckland University College. Canterbury College Empowering , . '. Civil Service Amendment. Coal Mines Amendment. Consolidated) Statutes Enactment. Coroners Amendment. Counties Act, ISS6, Amendment. Declaratory Judgments. Defence Amendment. Destitute Persons Act Amendment. Education Reserves Leases Validation and Empowering. Fire Brigades Amendment. Fisheries Amendment. Gore Public library Vesting. Government Advances to Settlera Amendment. Harbours Amendment. Hauraki Plains Impounding Amendment. Imprest Supply (No. 1). Imprest Supply (No. 2). Imprest Supply (No. 3). Imprest Supply (No. 4.). Incorporated Societies. Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Amendment. Infants Amendment. Inspection of Machinery Amendment. Justices of the Peace Amendment. Land Drainage Amendment. Land Tax and Income Tax.,, „ Local Authorities' Indemnity. Local Authorities' Superannuation. Local Bodies' Loans Amendment. Local Elections Act Amendment. Maori Land Laws Amendment. Meikle Acquittal. Mental Hospitals' Reserves. Monopolies Act Amendment. Naval Subsidy. New Zealand Society of Accountants. Ol<l Age Pensions Amendment. Palmerston North Dairy School. Police Offences Amendment. Public Bodies' Leases. Public Service Classification and Superannuation Amendment. Public Works Amendment. Quackery Prevention. Railways Authorisation. Second Ballot. Stamp Duties Amendment. Taupo (No. 2) Block. Town Boards Amendment (No. 2). Town Districts Amendment. Validation Court Empowering. Valuation of Landl Amendment. Waipuka Block Road Revesting. Wellington and Manawatu Railway Purchase. Workers' Compensation for Accidents. Agricultural Produce Sarle and Importation^ PREMIER ON THE SESSION. ißy Telegraph.—Parliamentary Beporter.) WELLINGTON, this. day. Interviewed on Sunday as to what he thought of the work of the session, Sir Joseph Ward replied that he was more than satisfied. Measures of the greatest importance to the people of New Zealand had been passed. He felt proud at the way Parliament had carried out its important duties. As leader, he said: , "I have every reason to appreciate the work done by the Government party. Government members have been active and alert in their desire to have laws framed for the benefit of the people of till classes. I feel confident that the impirtjal judgment of those who followed the proceedings of the Liberal party, and who are fair in assessing work, will agree that as a party members have elevated themselves in the estimation of the people, and have done nothing to derogate from the good record that up to*ow they have, by their actions, won. It must be remembered," lie added, "that there have been some most difficult matters legislated upon, laws affecting practically every class of the community, laws requiring not only the care and zealousness of the Government, but of the Government party, and calling for the exercise of a broad-minded view, in no sense parochial,.to enable difficult and : intricate legislation to be passed in such a form as to enable the people to work out their own interests, without injury or clogging by the legislative machine. Necessarily, in dealing with !i niendment of the laws that so vitally affect not only our industries, but . the well-being of both employers and employees, the people's representatives have to look far ahead. It is generally recognised that amendments of our laws from time to time must take place, though we must as practical men &o frame Statutes as to prevent unnecessary r Iteration, and thus prevent uncertainty and delay."