PARLIAMENTARY.

Clutha Leader, Volume XXIV, Issue 1223, 10 December 1897, Page 5

PARLIAMENTARY.

Wellington, Thursday evening. Ministers have been answering questions most of the afternoon. Attention is at present directed more to the Council tnan to the House, because the council is busy debating the Old Age Pensions Bill and is going into the subject more minutely thau the House did. It is understood that the members of the Council are about equally divided regarding the bill, and that the division on the second reading will be very close. Business in the House is advaucing more smoothly these last two days and it is generally believed that the session will close a day or two before Christmas.

In the House of Representatives on Thursday the Wages Protection Bill was read a third time and passed. . The Mining Companies_ Bill was read a second time. The Technical Education and Alien Immigration Bills were read a second time, and a number of minor measures were advanced a stage. On Friday, on the motion that the amendments made on the Old Ago Pensions Bill be agreed to, a debate ensued and was continued throughout the afternoon and evening sittings and till 4.45 on Saturday morning when the third reading was agreed to by 30 to 15. The bill then passed its final stages. The Hoase met on Monday evening, when on the motion of the Premier a committee was appointed to consider the Technical Education Bill. The Premier moved the committal of the Master and Apprentice Bill. In the debate that ensued very strong opposition was shown to the bill, but the motion was ultimately agreed to by 30 to 20. The bill was then committed but progress was immediately reported on the motion of the Premier and the House adjourned at 1 a.m. On Tuesday the Horowhenua Bill waa in. troclucocl and was severely criticised even I before it was allowed to be read a first time. — Tho Premier introduced an Imprest Supply Bill for L 290.000, and the greater part of the afternoon sitting and the whole of the evening sitting till 1 a.m. was occupied with statements of grievances o£ members, the \ principal grievance being on the ground of the Premier's refusal to bring down the Public Works Statement notwithstanding hi? repeated promises to do so and his refusal to say when the statement would be brought down. On Wednesday the Premier moved the second reading of the Aid to Public Works and Land Settlement Act Amendment Bill— an Aot to anthosise the borrowing of L.200,000 for railway, L-50,000 for sohool buildings and the establishment of technical sohoois. — After a long debate the motion was carried, and the bill was partly considered in Committee. — The Premier also moved the second reading of the Government Emergency Loans to Local Bodies Bill to iucrease the borrowing powers of local authorities in cases of emergency. The motion was agreed to and the bill passed all its stages. The Public School Teachers Incorporation and Court of Appeal Act Amendmeut Bill was put through all its stages. In the Legislative Council during the week the Coroners' Bill was passed through all its stages, as also were the Municipal Corporation and Napier Harbour Board Exchange of Land Temporary Bill. On Friday the Wages Protection Bill, Westport Harbour Board Loan Bill, and Lytoelton Harbour Board Loan Bill were received from the Lower House and read a first time. — On Tuesday the Old Age Pensions Bill was introduced. It was immediately met by a notice of motion by the Hon. Mr Bonar that it be laid aside. The Wages Protection Bill was read a second time and other unimportant bills were advanced a stage.— On Wednesday the Imprest Supply Bill was received aad put through all its stages. The Speaker ruled that the Old Age Pensions Bill was a money bill and that the Council could not amend it. — It was decided to take the second reading next clay.