HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 12291, 7 September 1905, Page 9

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Wedn-esd.vt, September 6,

AFTERNOON SITTING

Tho House met at 2.30. ALLEGED PAYMENT IX) CAPTAIN SEDDON. Mr TAYLOR presented a petition from Messrs Willis, Larcombe, West, and Lundon, praying for a full public enquiry into the alleged payment to Captain Seddon. Tho motion by Mr Taylor that- the petition be received was carried by 45 to 17, and, after some the petition itself wa6 referred to the "M to Z" Committee.. REPLIES TO QUESTIOxXS. In reply to questions, Ministers stated:—That it is not the intention of tho Government to bring down a Licensing Act Amendment Bill this session; That the Government are not iiware that four different parsons are at the present time in England trying to form companies to work tho iron-sand and iron ores of New Zealand, with largo capital and on modern plans. That the Civil Service Superannuation Bill is ready, and it is hoped to get the opportunity to-circulate it at an early date. That the railway superannuation scheme is in a sound financial position, as is evidenced by tho fact Chat* the credit balanoe of the fund-is being ; largely augmented each succeeding year. > The contributors to the scheme are quito j satisfied that it will pay its way, and is thoroughly sound. Tho present position or the fund is satisfactory, and in view of the fact that an actuarial report could only, as in the case of the London and North-wostern and Midland railways, be misleading and unreliable at , this period of its existence, it is" not considered necessary that such a report should bo obtained. That a special Boaid of ; Appeal for attendants at mental hospitals is not necessary. That it is not considered necessary to increase the poll tax on Chinamen at present, the total number of departures of Chinese from the colony for the first , half of this year having exceeded tho total number of arrivals by fifteen. During the last six years there was an excess of departures over orrivals of 287. The usual two hours' disoUssion took plaice on the replies to questions. LINCOLN COLLEGE RESERVE BILL. The Lincoln Collego Reserve Bill was introduced, by Governor's message and read a first time. In the course of the discussion the Minister for Mines stated ! that when the balance-sheet of the State coal mines was presented to Parliament, it would be found that the State mines showed a profit of £11,000, in spite of the fact that, on one of the mines, there was a loss. ■■■••.'• j The House rose at 5.30 p.m.