EVENING SITTING.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 11647, 29 July 1903, Page 8

EVENING SITTING.

The House resumed at 7.30 o'clock. PROGRESS OF, BILLS. The Inebriates Institutions Act Amendment Bill was received the Legislative Council, and read a first time. The Orchard and Garden Pests Bill was read a second time pro forma, and referred to the Stock Committee. ROAD AND TOWN DISTRICTS. On the motion for the third reading of the Road aud Town Districts Bail/

Mr MASSEY urged that there should be nn alteration in the present pvstem of paying subsidies to local bodies. He thought it "was wrong that those bodies that taxed themselves highest hhould receive the smallest subsidies'.

Mr SEDDON agreed that the time had arrived when thf-re should be a graduated Kytoem of subsidies, and the matter would have the consideration of the Govtrnment. When lie brourht d<>wn a Local Government Bill two sessions azo there (seemed to be a general desire among members for the ..vmsolidvition and amendment of the law, although a great diversity of opinion existed as to the details, "if the memberwould like him to make another attempt to ge-t a Local Government Bill through, it would give him great pleasure to place his best services before the- House in the matter. Tf they went no further thin session than to give, the necessary machinery for the subdivision of the colony, they would do good work in laying the foundation of a scheme. Something required to be done. as the local bodies under the present system wen- eatitur up too much money in the cost of administration. The Bill passed it.s final stages. THE METRIC SYSTEM. On the motion for the third reading of the Weiirhts and Measures Bill, Mr SEDDON congratulated the Bouse and Sir J. G. Ward upon the passage of the measure. The metric system was one of the proposals adopted at the Premiers' Conference, and it appeared as if New Zealand would be the first colony to place the system on the. statute book. The Bill passed its final stages. INSPECTION OF MACHINERY. The Inspection of Machinery Aot Amendment Bill was read a third time und passed. RELIEF FUNDS. Mr SEDToTN moved the second reading of the Glut ha Floods Relief Fund Trustees Em [lowering Bill, which provides for the payment of the balance of the Relict Fund (£218) to the N.-w Zealand Shipwreck Relief Society. Mr J. W. THOMSON thought the money should go to the widow of a man who was drowned in the flood. The woman was in poor circumstances in Dunedin. Mr SEDDON said he would make enquiries- into tho matter. He was not aware that there were any uiisatisfi'-d claims, and he would agree to insert a clause providing that the trustees should again consider and deal with any claims against the Fund. The second reading was agreed to on the voices. COUNTIES ACT AMENDMENT. The Counties Act Amendment Bill was committed. At Clause 3, Mr ALISON moved to reduce from threepence t*> twopence the maximum general rate leviable in outlying districts. 'Mr SEDDON said this was the crux of the Bill. A maximum of twopence would mean only an increase of half-penny, which would not be of much use. It would be inconsistent to vote for increased rating in road or town districts, as the House had done, aud not do the same in counties. After a lengthy discussion Mr ALISON'S amendment was lost by 34 votes to 24. Mr HOUSTON proposed a new clause to enable a County Council to pass by-laws providing for the licensing 'of public billiard rooms other than those connected with hotels or clubs, and for prohibiting unlicensed billiard rooms. Mr SEDDON accepted the amendment. He agreed that unlicensed billiard rooms were becoming a source of danger, and thought that the local bodies should be given power to control them. He called attention to the remarks in the police report on this subject. On the motion of Mr RAUME, an amendment was carried by 33 votes to 22, to provide that the power proposed in this clause shall apply _nly to "public" unlicensed billiard rooms.

Mr SEIDDON moved an addition to the clause to the effect that no public billiard room shall be kept open after 11 p.m. This was agreed to, and the whole clause as amended was added to the Bill.

Mr FIELD moved a new clause to enable a Comity Council to • light streets, roads, bridges, and other public places and public buildings within the county. Considerable opposition was shown to the clause, principally ou the ground that it also proposed to enable County Councils to enter into contracts with companies or corporations for lighting purposes. It was also urged that the powers of County Councils should not be extended.

Mr SEDDON suggested that tiie last portion of the new clause enabling county councils to enter into contracts with corporations for lighting purposes be struck out.

Thus amendment was accepted by Mr Field, and the first portion of the clause was adopted on the voices. 'ilie Bill was then reported.

The House rose at 12.20 a.m.