THE HOUSE

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 695, 21 December 1909, Page 3

THE HOUSE

■■ THE ESTIMATES FINISHED. The Estimates-were resumed at 10 a.m. yesterday. •■. - '.- ■. - ■ The Public Trustee's Account (.£46,537) was passed after four and a half minuses' discussion. ;■ ' ■ ; ,' ■ : ; The Government Insurance Department (.£87,734) occupied four minutes,, and the GovernmentAcoidont Account two minutes. (\ "'; STATE FIRE INSURANCE. , 'I. When the State! Fire Insurance vote (£14,197) . was dealt with, '.-•'.. . ' ' ■ Mr. THOMSON (Dunedin North) moved to reduce tho vote by XI, as an indication that mortgagors in connection with the State: Advances Department should not bo compelled to insure in the State Office. ': The PRIME MINISTER said if the State 'Fire Office allowed, the business of the Advances Department to bo divided among tho iprivate companies, as the result brought to bear by tho companies in refusing reinsurances, it would mean the stranding of (he State Office. It was significant that not one of the A.M.P. Society's clionts was insured in the State Office. : Mr.'BUCHANAN said clients of the A.M.P. were loft perfectly free 60 long. as. they , insured in a reputable office. . r Mr. HERDMAN (Wellington North) objected that those who camo to the Advances Department, should have to.cancel their existing insurances. Hβ condemned tho attempt to divert the whole bnsiness of tho country into the channels of the State', l'ire Department. The loss mado last year showed how tho State Department mismanaged its' business. Mr. FIELD (Otaki). said that there was a provision in all mortgages that the insurance should be in an office-selected by the mortgagee. He admitted that in' practice the provision was not always enforced. ■'. The PRIME MINISTFjR 1 said that while the 'private companies refused reinsurances to the State Office, the latter could, not ,bo expected to give them an important-portion of its business. The Government would never let the State Fire Office go. Up to now tho taxpayers had not lost a penny over tho office, whioh had.saved them hundreds and thousands of pounds. Tho office hod received over 15 pot cent, of'.new business already this- year. ■ ■ The amendment was negatived by M votes to %\, -■:'- ■ '■-.. ■' '.'■■' "'• '. '■ '■■.■'- ' ■ '.■■•■■ • .The .yote.was possed at Ilia:

The votes for tlio Advances to Settlers Office (.£167,842) and Advances to Workers Account (,£ls,792)—forming the last of the Estimates—were disposed of in six-minutes. The Chairman of Committee then .reported progress, and asked leave to sit again. .'

■' NEW BILLS. . THE SURTAX ON-TOBACCO.. In tho afternoon the Customs Duties Amendment Bill, Old Ago Pensions Amendment Bill, Regulation of Race. Meetings Bill, and amendments by the Government to tho Internal Defence, Stamp Duties' and Death Duties Bills were introduced. The PRIME MINISTER moved that tho amendments to tho Death Duties Bill bo agreed to. He explained that it was proposed to omit the following clauses:—Clause' 8 (k), which states that shares in a company engaged in. mining for gold, coal, or any other mineral in New Zealand, or engaged in cutting timber in New Zealand, shall in all cases be deemed to bo proporty situated in Now Zealand, and Clauso HO, which refers to tho same point. . It was also proposed to substitute for Clauso 31 (1) the. following amended clause:—"There shall be deducted from tho death duty payable in respect of any property'situated out of New Zealand at the death of the deceased tho amount of nny duty which by reason of his death is payablo in Nspeot of that property in the, country in ■which it is situated at his death." ■ The motion was agreed to. ■' In reply to Mr. Massey, ' Tho PRIME MINISTER stated : that' the amendment to tho Customs Duties Bill proposed to reduce the surtax on tobacco from 21 per cent, to 1 per cent. . The new Bills were road a first time, and their second readings fixed foi next sitting day. ' . . .' ' \ ... The Rotoiti Validation Bill was read a second time pro forma, and referred to tho Native Affairs Committee. . BREACH OF PRIVILEGE. ■■ The SPEAKER ruled that the amendments made by the Legislative Council to Clauses 3 and 5 of the Land for Settlement Administration Bill, which deal with financial matters, were an infringement and breach of the financial privileges of the House. The ruling was given at the request of Mr. Massey. ' Tho PRIME MINISTER moved that Uio alterations wero an infringement of privilege. Hβ agreed with the Speaker's ruling, and proposed to bring down other alterations by Governor's "Messagei . ■'..'■■ ... ■Mr. MASSEY urged that tho amendments made to Clause 24, which deals with tho acquirement of land for workers' homes, was a wotse infringement , ■ ■It was resolved that tue Prime Minister, Mr. Carroll, and Mr.. Massey be a. Committee to show canse why the amendments o£ the Council, including that to Clause 24, should riot be agreed to.' . ■ .-'•:.■ The SPEAKER- also ruled that an 'amend, ment made by the Council to Clauso, 18 of tho Guaranteed Advances Bill, which deals with limitations,-was a breach of privilege.: This clause was also refcrredto the Special Committee set up. ...

AMENDMENTS TO OTHER BILLS. , Mr. DIVE (Egmont) agreed to the alterations made to the Opiinake -Empowering Bill. Tho Hon. J. A. MILLAIt said it was a most' unusual oircurastaucfi that tho amount involved in this Bill had been increased by the Committee by ,£IO,OOO without further advertisement, lie thought that that was a bad precedont, to set'up.... •,'..■■ , : Amendments made by the Council to the Wairoa Empowering Bill were agreed to.

TRIBUTE TO LATE MEMBERS. ~ MR. ALEXANDER SLIGO. { The PRIME .MINISTER said he wished .to ask the House to record its appreciation of tho services rendered by the Into Mr. Alexander Sligo, who was'in Parliament from 1897 t3 1899. tie was a very, estimable gentleman, who took a very great deal'of interest in the public ■ business or tho country—a quiet, .unassuming, vigilant man, who left behind him pleasant memories in the minds of'those who know him, Hβ moved that tho Houso record its high senso of the faithful services rendered to Now Zealand by the lato Mr. Sligo and of the loss which tho. country had sustained, and respectfully ,tender. to'his .family an assuranco or its sincero sympathy in their grief. .. .;■; •. ... , . ■■. . .. '■.. ~ Mr. James .ALLEN (Brace) in seconding the motion, said that tho late -ilr. Sligo had loft b'ehind him a: record of solid public work which ho thought would bear comparison with that of almost any'other man in this , country. Mr. THOMSON (Dunedin North) supported the motion, ■ which was passed -unanimously. Mr; E. G. Alien. : . ' '.The PEIME MINISTER then made refer-, eiico to the death'of Mr. E. G. Allen, who was for some years a member of tho House, representing the Waikouaiti and Port Chalmers constituencies. Ho was, said Sir Joseph Ward, an amiable, courteous gentleman who did'his work quietly, and unostentatiously, but who Kavo very groat consideration and attention to those whom ho represented. ■< Ho moved a similar motion of appreciation .and*.condolence to that I just passed. ■ ■ ' "'" '■' " I': Mr. MASSEY.in seconding thG m'otion, said tho late Mr. Allen never, in, the courso of his Parliamentary career,, by word, or action, hurt tho feelings of.any one of his fellow members.-Ho was a-quiet,; unassuming, selfrespecting, conscientious man, who took a keen interest in everything tending to promote the interests of his constituents and the country. Messrs. Clark (Chalmers) and Wilford supported the motion, which was agreed to unanimously. On tho Prime Minister's motion the Houso then (i p.m.) adjourned till 7.30 as a nisirl: of respect to the memory of the late members.

RACE CLUBS AND BANKS. \-. A NEW TAXING BILL. In moving tho second reading ortho Stamp Duties Amendment'Bill , last evening The PRIME MINISTER said tho Bill proposed to increase tlio amount of '1J per cent, on totalisator receipts to 2J per cent, and in addition to charge 2J per cent, on the gross takings of racing clubs. This did not apply to stakes or anything excepting fees. It was also proposed to increase the note duty from 10s. to 15s. per cent. . Ho had received no protest of any kind against either of tho proposals. ' '■■• ; , ' Mr.".Massey": Oh! :I : ' Tho Prime Minister: No I have not, so,far as I have 'any knowledge. .Mr, Massey's; Views,, ' ■ Mr.:MASSEY said he did'not; think''there would be much opposition, to. the Bill as first circulated. If the rovenuq was required there was probably, less objection to raising it by a tax on the totalisator than in any other way, but he objected to the State sharing in the proceeds of gambling, and though the totalisator was perhaps tho least objection-, able form ol gambling, instead of paying tho proceeds into the Consolidated Fund ho would sooner see them paid into some fund for charitable purposes. There was a very good reason why the Prime Jiad received no protests,' for while the racing- clubs had been qnitc prepared, ho understood, to , pay an additional 1 per cent, on tho totalisator, the additional 2J per cent, on tho gross pro'cecds, provided for now by a;, supplementary., order paper; was a tremendous tax on nearly every racing club in this. country. Though th 3 tax was only per cent, on tho gross proceeds, ' it might amount to if) per cent, or 50 per cent, on the net profits. There were racing clubs in,the country that mado a loss.' They went in for'a day's racing for the amusement of people in the locality, and found there was generally a loss on it, which those responsible for the meeting had to mako up out of their own pockets. In nearly every case this provision would kill those outside race meetings. He had the strongest objection to gambling, but sport should be encouraged, and the Prime Minister. was taxing sport just tho same as he was taxing gambling. Defence Bill to be Passed. The tax.on bank notes seemed at first sight to bo a small matter, but the peoplo who would ,have.to pay it were not the bank shareholders or tho .banking institutions. The'banks would pass it on to tho merchants and others who (lid business with them, and they would pass it on to the public. Ho was not quito certain'that tho Prime Minister intended to go on with the Defence Bill. He hoped ho did. If ho did not, there was ho need for tho money he proposed to raise by this Bill. i The Trimo Minister: I , intend to go on !.ivith it. . ■• ■ ' ■•■:■ ■ :■:.■ ,: ■'• .Mr. Massey: I am very glad to hear it.•. Mr. JAMES ALLEN (Bruce) feared'that.tho Prime Minister would be defeating his own objett by increasing the tax on notes. . The present tax was not per year, but per quarter, and the increase would bo per quarter.- The banks had to pay, in addition, 1J per cent, oil tho. actual issue of the notes, so that tho total tax would be ij ,per cent.. per annum'. If they were going to tax notes to that extent, it would not.be worth whiloissuiuß thoiii. The banks would issue gold instead, and the Prime 'objegt would be dofeated, .--■■ ; ■;

iffect on Small Meetings.- ■•, ■ :•.'- -• ■'-• *■ Mr. HERKIES (Tauranga) said the race :lubs admitted that it was-a-proper tbiug to ;ax the totalisator recoipts, though the in--irenso would mean .£1401) a year to the Weiingtoii Racing Club. He understood that the iMier receipts which the Prime.Minister wantjd to tax were the receipts from bookmakers' icenses, which would KRA, in the case of tho Wellington Club, another,.€7oo a your. Many )f the smaller clubs ■ were compelled by the owe of racing to bo heavily mortgaged in order :o improve their courses,- and though they night be practically racing at n loss they would Be tnxed heavily on their nominal profits. A lisciimination should have been made between jlubs. The result of the Bill would be that :lubs in a poor way would reduce their stakos, irhieh would give more inducement to gambling on,tho machine. Also, a number of clubs liad already issued their programmes up to February, and an unexpected taxation' would mean a serious loss to" them. The Manawatu Club had issued programmes for three days in December,, and tho Taranaki Club for two toys. It would bo unfair to tax these clubs, since they could not withdraw their pro;ramraes. Ho. hoped that an arrangement n'ould-be made in Committee to bring the Bill into effect .at a time so fixed that these clnbs should' not.be injured. .' '..■■■, Mr. WJLFORD (Hiitt) said the troublb was that the Bill would become, operative at once, l'he states for classic races wero fixed for two or three years ahead. , There was no doubt that tho bigger the stake.,, the straighter tho running, and this Bill .would have the effect of reducing stake?. - ... Mr. ERASER (WakatipnV thought it was not fair, in the case of smaller clubs, to put a tax on gate money, the sale of , booth privileges, and so forth. '".""■ ' ' Mr. THOMSON (Dunedin North) said he hoped soon to sco tho ■ totalisator wiped ont. He thought that one of the groat.faults of tho totalisator had been that-, it had increased sinall race meetings all over tho conntry, (A member: No fear.) If mencould not go'in for racing without drairing on the public, and on what ho might call the immoral tendencies of tho public, let them do withoat race meetings. At' present the Government' JC28.000 a 'year'in-the form of,.taxation! .from,tho totalisator, and this would be increased now to .£40,000. He asked the Prime ■Minister if ho intended to submit..the question '\ of the totalisator to a referendum. He had been informed to that effect by> a Government momber, he could not say now seriously. He regretted that the worst form-of gambling— tho bookmaker —was not. touched by the Bill.The Bill would'moan a penalty o! ■ J2300 or X4OO on a moderate-sized club ■ which, had already .issued its programme. The operation of -the'Bill-'.should bo deferred' \mt\l, s&5, March 1. • •;*.'. ■".•■'''. A Strange Amendment'";,.' ■■'' Mr. Colyin (BuUer) askei if he would bo in order in moving an amendment, to put a tax of 10 per cent, on all-bachelors. i ..'■.' The Speaker: The hon. ; gentleman does not mean that seriously, and I will ask him not to trifle with the House. - . . . ■ ... Mr. Colvin: I do mean it seriously. ' Tho-Speaker;, Then , it is out, of , order, (Laughter.) ■ ■!• ... ....'. , ~' . Mr. Herdman's Protest., -Mr.' HERDMAN (Wellington NorthVregretted that the Prime Minister had delayed this Bill till members were worn out with late sittings.There had been no statement made by''the l'rimo' Minister to justify the" necd'for increased taxation: Not ono Bill had been previously brought down which imposed fresh taxation. The race clubs had spent largo sums of money ou their. courses' and buildings, race meetings being sanctioned by the Government, and now without warning it was proposed to tax them in a most serious : way by a new impost on gate receipts and license fees; In justice to those interested in raco meetings, the Bill should have been brought down sooner, in order that, they might have considered it. The Prime Minister would not stop gambling by any Act that ; could be passed. He could regulate gambling, aud the best way to do that was by way of the totalisator', but the present proposals'were unjust. : ' ■ ■-" Mr. BUCHANAN .'(Wairarapa) thought, that the Bill was a moderate one, but objected to the amendment in the Order Paper to put a tax on the gross proceeds. . Atr. BUICIC (Palmerston-North);said the rea-. son why the: racing clubs had not protested wns that they had only seen the'Bill as it was originally introduced, providing for a tax of i\ per cent, on the totalisator. Nine; out of' every ten country. clubs had.no tbtalisatpr. Mr. EUSSELL (Avon) stated th'at-'olubs which had no totalisator were exempted'from the provisions of the Bill. ■ The PRIME MINISTER, in. replying, said, thoso proposals had been before, the country since' November 10. Hβ was prepared in Committee, if the House agreed, to strike out the. tax on. gross receipts, and ■ increase tbo. totalisator tax to i per cent,. The revenue from tho totalisator last y«ar was .£1,834,333, and i per cent, on that would give J573,849 18s. ■ Mr'. MasseyV-Will you-make it,3' per, cent.'., and knook out the bookmakers? '.•'.'■. , In reply to MK' Thomson'; tho Prime Minister said he w.ould give; members., an opportunity before the session ended to vote on both the totalisator and the bookmaker. He would move an amendment in' Committee to make the date for the coming into operation of the Bill—which, he pointed, out, dealt only with thoso clubs which received permits—March 1. As regards the banks,'.ho : was quite satisfied that they had not been l paying a fair amount compared with other institutions. v If his proposals were unfair, the banks would have been the first,; and rightly so, to make. represonta-, tions to him. It would .be /rery > liard to analyse how much of the extra.charge .would bo passed on. Ho did not agrco that the batiks would store sovereigns up in their institutions all over the country in order to avoid a so-calkd 41 per cent, tax on, notes. It .was.not a tax of 4J per cent., A banknote'might l>o in circulation for'ton or twenty years. If they were to have an improved system of defence they must raise the necessary money to pay for it, and this he was proposing to--do in a fair and rational way. ■ The second reading was'agreed to. X , :

KING COUNTRY LICENSES,;, .'"* SECOND READING DEBATE. ;, Iu moving'tho second reading of the/King Country Licenses Bill, which provides that present licenses in the-King- Country shall continue till December 81, 1910,, and that no other licenses shall be granted. . ■■'■'" : .-.-■.. Tho PEIM!) MlNlSTElt.said the King, Country would bo put back-by legislation to be brought forward next year,.into the-sanio position as it was in before tho wholesale licenses were issued. , •.-.'■ '. Mr. MASSEY'supported the: Bill, and urged, further, that-tho people, of tho King; Country should have tho same opportunities of voting at a local option poll as of. other, parti of tho dominion. The Natives in the King. Country were now only a, small proportion of tho population. . ' • -.'■-.'.".. ' . ' , Mr. .IENNINGS (Tauraarunni)'also supported tho Bill.' In many respects, ho said, tho people of tho King Country might as well bo living in Siberia from the point of view of privileges enjoyed.' ".''. :,..:,;/. .; ■. , . -..-, Mrv WRIGHT (Wellington Sonth) congratu-, lated the Government ontho Bill, which to a certain extent was in the right direction, but he regretted the proposal to introduce a local .option poll in the King Country. Settlors had gone thero knowing that it was a prohibited area, and that a promise had boon inado to the Maoris that no liquor would bo introduced. That promise ought to be observed.' Thero was ; no reason why tho license?,-which-were only granted to June' 30, should be : oxtcnded Mo December 31. Ho would, like_..tp sep a clause introduced to deal drastically ' with sly grogsellers. ■ ' ',■ '•! Mr. POOLE (Auckland West) spoke to similar effect. ■"■'■■.■ ■•■: ' - ; •.!;• ■ ■ •" Mr. T. E. TAYLOE (Christchurcb North) said that the secret history of the granting of j the wholesalo licenses would startle members if they had access to it. Ho thought that the licenses should lapse on Juno 30. < He read a letter from a man in the King Country who stated that the inhabitants of his village had recently mtnessed n drunken orgy that' beggared description. To grant licenses in such places as that, Mr. Taylor's corresponded declared, was criminal folly. Other letters stated that sly grog-selling had increased ; out- , of mcasuro sinco tho licenses wero granted. These license-holders could not claim that they had put up palatial buildings or sunk a lot of money.'' :: , Mr. OKEY (Taranaki) spoko against the granting of licenses in the King Country. At least' tho Natives shonldhave a voice in eaying whether lioenMS should be granted. Tho second reading was agreed to at 9.30 p.m. ' INDUSTRIAL SCHOOLS BILL. In moving the Industrial Schools Bill, which provides, inter alia, that certain .occupants of industrial schools inay bo kept there after the Hon. G. FOWLDS eaid ho regarded this as a very important measure of reform. Tho Minister outliied tho other , provisions of tho Bill briefly. ' • -.' ■ : v , .: Mr. EUSSI3LL (Avon) expressed surprise that so important a Bill ehould ; bo brought down at this stage of tho session, ' Ho thought the Government should hold it : over, eo'that it' might be referred to a Committee. Under the Bill.a young person might bo condoianed to perpetual imprisonment. That might' be k desirably but very, strong causj.

ihould havo to bo shownr Hc"<«iw no provision. oy which tho parents o£ a child charged with »mg a degenerate would bo able to tako jhargo of their ollspniig. When Iho Mimeter was asking for such enormous jjowors as ivoro hero.proposed to bo given tho Bill should l» referred to a Committee, nnd police and medical ovidence taken. Ho-saw. no reason uhyvtho Bill should .bo pushed at tho present stago. Mr. ALLEN .(Brnco) said that tho MinistorV power would bo \cry limited. An inquiry »ould bo held in each case by a magistrate, mid thore was provision that counsel must bo found for tho person detained. He thought that tho Bill was a good Bill,(.hough an. amendment to Clause 17 should be made in. Committee. . The clause. provided that-, any LUild 111 the street "not under proper control" might bo taken beforo a magistrate by • (Hutt) suggested the institution in the chiof centres at least of a publio defender in criminal cases. It would' probably bo a billet not worth having, but in fairness such officers should bo appointed; A man who'woe not defended by counsel wns at a great disadvantage in putting hit ciso before a jury. _ Mr BUICK (Palmorsion) thought that, trie inmates of industrial schools would not be impro\ed by contact wit|i degenerates An- ' Dthcr place should be found for the degencr-f itos. Mr. WITTT (Riccarton) supported tno BiTl. Mr. FOWLDS t-a d tho provisions in regard to ppcmatient restraint would npplj to very few cases They voro gradual]} getting an improved «\stem of classification in tho schools, and degenerates would bo kept separate from the othors. The polico know of children who wero neglected b> their parents and gmnß' to destruction, but 'hoy could not interfere until the children' caino. within the. clutches of the law. It would bo to the interest of the children to pet tlinni sooner, and put them , in an industrial school beforo they developed criminal tendoiKHs Tho second raiding was agreed to at 10 20 p.m. INFERIOR COURTS PROCEDURE. Tho Hon. G. IWVLDii moved the second reading of tho Inferior Courts Procedure Bill, tbo provisions of which ho briefly explained. Tho object of fhe Bill, hp raid, was to securo the smooth and efficient working of the inferior) courts. The second reading was agreed to vittoni discussion. TRAMWAYS .AMENDMENT BILL. Tlvo Hot\ E IVKHNKIE asfced lcavo to move the second reading of the Traiowayj Amendment Bill pro forma, m ordct that \\ might be referred to a Select Committee. iho proposal was ngreed to Mr M/Kensne then mo\ed that the Bill bo referred to the following Sekct .Committee —Messrs Arnold, G. V. Thomson, Davoy, Luko, Herdman, Poole, Glover, Vigor Brown, Hassey, Hogan, Colvin, and the mover, tho Committee 10 report on Wednesday next Mr MASSEY said he had moro "than he could do without seTvmg on tho committee. Tho name of Mr. Lang was substituted for tliafc of Hi Ifassoy, The motion was then adopted. BILLS IN COMMITTEE. STAMP DUTIES AMENDMENT. Tho Stamp Duties Amendment Bill woe then considered in Committee. . Tho PRIME MINISTER movod an amendment to provido that the increased tolalisator duty should como into force from March, t 1, instead of from tho passing of the Act. This was agreed to. Tho following new clauso was moved toy till Prime Minister —"2a (1) The duty of two .. and a half per contum imposed by Section 142 of the principal Act as amended by this Act , on tho gross takings of totahsators is hcrobT also imposed on the gross amount received, at any race-meeting by any horse-racing club, racing committee, or racing association au- " .. thoribcd to uso tho totalisator, b> way of payments for admission, to tho racecouiso or to any part thereof, or by nay of fees payable on any licenses granted to any person in respoct of that race-mooting. (2) This section, shall apply to overy race-meolmg hold on or after March 1 or in progress on that date. (3) All tho provisions of Sections 142, 113, and I*4, of the principal Act (including tho penal provisions thereof) shall, 60 fanai applicable, extend and apply to the duty imposed by thii section, and to the revenues on which that duty is imposed, m tho samo manner as m /„ the case of tho duty and revenues referred to in those sections" \ , V suggestion by Mr. Homes to exempt , trainers and jockevs' licenses was agreed to by Sir Joseph Ward. ( Mr Homes then called for a division on Part I of tho now clanßO. Tho sub-elaose T\as retained by 50 vobes t) 23 Mr. DAVEY (Christchurch East) moved that on and after August 31 the number of raoiiro days in any racing jear nhonld bo reduced bv 40 days, as compared with the number for which permits were granted in 1909. Thejmovor stated that the number of race day* last year was 300—ono for overy week-day, which was too many. The CHAIRMAN ruled that tho clause Wke out of order.. It ehonld be m-aved in con- ■ nection. with the Gaming Bill or Eace Meetings Bill. ' , King Country Liconscs Bill. When tho King Country Bill was in imtteo, Mr. POOLE (Auckland West) moved an amendment to make Clauso 3 read as follows — "All licenses *.'," .in force , on tho' passing of this A.ct shall, on the expiry of tiro period) for Yihicli they were granted, coiise and doter-'i mine, and shall not 00 capable of renewal" . Mi. TAYLOR North) «-- plained that tho rieriod would expire on June 30. 1 The PEIME MINISTER said ho i> a? satis, fied to tnke it on tho voices The amendment was carried on tho voices. , Mr. WRIGHT (Wellington South) moved 1 new clause to provide that sly grog-selling m tho King Country should be subject to a penalty of three months' imprisonment for the first offenco and six months' for a subsequent, O TIuTPRIME MINISTER said if they wore going to ha.\o any clauses introduced on licensing matters, which were going to l>o introduced next se»s(on, ho would drop the Bill. There \\m n proper timo to do this, and the present was not tho time. Air MASSEY stated that while he was not supporting tho motion it woe quite in order. Mr. TAYLOR (Chnstchurch $orth) advised Mr. Wright to withdraw the clanso. Tho clauso was withdrawn b> tho mover. Industrial Schools Bill. Tho Industrial' Sohools • Amendment BilU was nc\t taken in Committee. A prolonged discussion took placo on the proposed amendment of Clause. 17 of tho pnn--cipal Act. The clauso was finally nltored by the Minister to provide that a child held to be not under proper control should only bo ap» prehended after a warrant had been obtained; from a magistrate, Tho Inferior Courts Procedure Bill, of 15 clauses, was put through Committee in thro* minutes. THIRD READINGS. Tho third leadings of tho above four BilU were agreed to without discussion, and tho Bills passed. • Tho Primo Minister moved at 12.10 a.m. thag tho Houso adjourn, and tho motion was ogroefit, to with applause. '