THE COUNCIL.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 304, 17 September 1908, Page 9

THE COUNCIL.

HESICNS FOR BUILDINGS. The Council met at 2.30 p.m. yesterday. The Hon.. T. K. -MAODONALD gave ;notico to move -in favour'of competitive designs being invited for all buildings required . by the Government over £3000 in; .value. , FIRST REApiNCS. The Wellington and .-Manawatu Railway Purchase Bill; the Public Bodies' Leases Bill, the Inspection'of Machiflefy Amendment Bill, , and tlio Impounding Act' Amendment Bill were received "from .the Lower House, and 'read-a; first'time. ■.. • . ; ' The Fire Brigades 'Amendment Bill (Hon. ; Dr, .Findlay) was read' a: first time. ' Tho order for the second reading of the Justices of the Peace; Amendment Bill was discharged, and the Bill was referred; to the. ' Joint Statutes Revision 'Committee. 1 The Committee Act Amendment Bill was , ■: discharged-, to/lie recommitted, on the motion of the Hon. J. R. Sinclair.' ! '■ BILL PASSED. ; The Destitute ■ Persons Act • Amendment " Bill (Hon. J. R. Sinclair) was read a third i time,'and 'passed;. ■ SECOND READINCS. • Tho Auckland Harbour Board Empowering Bill (Hon/ T ,Thompson), and tho ; Whaka- .' tane County Act Amendment. ■ Bill . (Hon. Major.'Harris) were,read a second , time. , i ' CANTERBURY COLLECE..... •, The Canterbury College Empowering Bill (Hon. C. Louisson) was recommitted. In. clause '7, empowering the board : to reimburse. its members' atcual travelling expenses, the Local Bills Commit-, , tee had struck'out the. word' "actual." This ,was-objected to. by the Horn Dr. Findlay and others, and after some discussion the word "reasonable" was.inserted. • Considerable discussion " took place on Clauso p, 'givjng,;,the,.,.Board of "Governors ; power to appbirit'a re'etor' affu, define' his I duties;; which:;are „tp! include ;watching over ; the individual welfare of" the students.'. :. , , Tlio appointment of ,&. i-ector was objected j to by-some members as an undesirable innovation. ■ - ■ The clauso was finally adopted, after a ■ division (17.t0-.10), haying first been amended so as to'.provide that only a member, of the ' Professorial Board may be appointed rector ; and shall; be ex officio chairman of the Pro- ' fessorial Board. \ ;• Payment of Chairman. : The Local Bills Committee had reinstated the clauso-struck out by; the House: empowering the college to'pay .the chairman of the Board of Governors an allowance not exceeding £200 a year.The ATTORNEY-GENERAL opposed the clause. ' ' " "• ■ • The Hon. J. RIGG, in - supporting the clause, said that other positions- also should . be paid, such as the"chairmahship of Select , Committees of /Parliament. All 'public work 1 should be paid for.' . " ■ The ATTORNEY-GENERAL'asked whero they ; could stop if that, principle were endorsed. Tho Council should recognise tho distinction between public work that took up a man's whole time, aiid that which occupied only part of his leisure: • ' , The clauso was struck out by 17 votes to 10. ... ■ . ■ , The Bill was , afterwards reported as amended: ;. ':.-, :•••,. : ! - .. . OTHER LOCAL BILLS. The Christchurch City Betterment Bill, ',ho Lincoln Road Board' Empowering Bill, and the New Plymouth Harbour Board Empowering Bill were put through committee without material amendmont, read a third timo, and passed. ■ . - - The Opunake ■ Harbour Bill was amended to give tlie voting power to ratepayers only, 'instead of electors under tho Local Elections • ind Polls Act. The Bill was then reported. Tho Council rose at's p.m.. , .