HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVI, Issue 222, 17 September 1915, Page 8

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

lE.r Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, Thursday. NIGHT OCT FOR HUTT The committee stage of two bills occupied the attention of the House du-ing the greater part of to-day's sitting. The Land Transfer Acts Compilation Bill passed through its second reading and committee stage in a few- minutes, and then a halt in progress was called, the Births and Deaths Registration Amendment Bill being held up by Mr. Wilfo-rd, who wished to insert, inter alia, an amendment which he declared would, by concealing the parentage of an illegitimate child which had been legallyadopted, save the child possible emberrassment in future life. The member for Hutt vainly endeavoured to persuade the Minister in Charge of the measure (Hon. Mr. Russell) to accept some of his suggestions, and divided the committee several times, but the bill was ultimatelyput through in the form desired by the Minister. The next one was the Hutt Road Bill, and as the Hutt Road rating question is always certain to provoke a disputatious spirit among Wellington members, Mr. Wilford had on this occasion plenty of assistance in delaying the passage of the Hon. Mr. Herries' bill through committee. In the course of the evening the Minister remarked that the fiovern ment proposed to make a rebate of £40.000 to the local bodies respecting their total obligations. Mr. Herries expressed the opinion that this was a very generous concession, and the majority of members appeared to agree with him, but Mr. Wilford and his Wellington supporters thought otherwise, and spent several hours in voicing their thoughts on the subject. The argument started at eight o'clock, and was still in good heart at 1 a.m. COMMITTEE REPORTS. On account of the conflicting evidence the Railways Committee has decided to make no recommendation regarding the petition of.lsabella M. Glass, of Mercer, for compensation for . loss caused through fire alleged to .have originated through a railway engine spark. Reporting 0 n the Waikato River Board's petition that the Railway. Department should pay a substantial subsidy for work done in preventing .the Waikato river from overflowing .the per-manent-way between Mercer and Huntly, the Railways Committee has referred the matter to the Government foT consideration. The Obstruction to Hutt Road Bill collapsed at 1.25 a.m. The bill was reported, and the House adjourned.