PARLIAMENT.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1193, 31 July 1911, Page 8

PARLIAMENT.

THE COUNCIL.

IMPREST SUPPLY BILL. Tho Legislative Council sat from 11 to 11.20 on Saturday morning, passed the Imprest .Supply Bill through all its stages without ('iscus-iou, carricd a resolution regarding tho death of Mr. E. T. Taylor, M.P. (as reported elsewhere), and " adjourned until 7.311 p.m. to-morrow, as a further mark of respect for the deceased.

NEWS AND NOTES. TOTALISATOn PERMITS. Sir. Jer.aings's Gaming Amendment Bill proposes to empower tho Minister for Internal Affairs to giant totalisator permits for one day to racing clubs which have been deprived of that privilege by the report of the recent Commission. It is stated tlut tho extreme anti-gambling section of tho House may move an amendment with the object of wiping out the totalisator altogether Tho Government, on tho other hand, may facilitate the passage of tho Bill. DUTIES ON FOOD. When Mr. Hogg endeavoured during the session of 1908, and then not for the first time, to get tho duty on Hour removed, his Bill was rejected on the second reading by 33 votes t,> 21. no declared that ho would try again and keep on trying. He is fulfilling his promise, and is going somewhat further, as tho measure ho has now introdt ce.-l is callcd the Abolition of Duties on Food Bill. Butter and apples, as well as flour, arc certain to figure prominently in the measure, and the member for Masterton will no doubt endeavou' to persuade the House to lcduce the duties on the necossaries of life as much as possible. A GREYTOWN BILL, Tho Greytown Town Lands and Hospital Lands Exchange Bill, which has been introduced by Mr Buchanan, is to enable tluo Wairarapa Hospital and Charitablo Aid Board and tho Greytown Town Lands Trustees to effect an exchange of certain lands at that place— namely, 2 roods fronting Kurawhiti Street, now vested in tho board, and 1 aero 1 rood 38.7 perches of Town Belt land, adjoining tha Hospital reserve, and now held by tho Town Lands Trust. "KICKED OVER THE TRACES." In reference to tho fact that Mr. W. T. Jennings is to move the Addrcss-in-Reply, the Christchurch "Spectator" recalls that "Mr. Jennings was one of the members who kicked over the traces last year, and voted with tho Opposition on the question of freehold versus lease-hold." ADDRESS-IN-REPLY DEBATE, Somo of the people who are watching Parliament with more interest than ever before may be supposing that whatever might ha>-,; occurred by way of general debate in connection with the imprest Supply Bill, if tho House had not decided to forego tho opportunity, may now take placo in the discussion on tho Ad-dress-in-Ueply. It is, of course, the fact that any grievance may ba ventilated on either occasion, and any motion may be moved, but there is this difference—any amendment to the Audrcss-in-Reply must bs treated according to the forms of the House, as a niotbn of want of confidence in the Government, but this is not so in tho ease of a del ate on imprest. Tho Reform party, it is understood, will not move a want-of-coniidenee motion of any kind in the absence of the Prime Minister, provided, of course., lhat the Act-ing-Ministry does not attempt anything that appea-s to be contrary to the general will of tho House. Sir James Carroll and his colleagues are evidently desirous of proceeding cautiously and avoiding strife. The Address-in-Reply debate, therefore, promise* t<> be, as umal, simph it ventilation of whatever subject members wish to talk about. 1*: is possible that the Moknu land dealings, for instance,. may; 1)8 discnssdil frim every point' of view, but it is very unlikely that any motion will be moved other than the formal resolution to present a respectful address to his Excellency. Both House.s arc to begin their Address-in-Reply debates at 7.30 to-morrow evening. Tho mover and seconder in the Lower House will be Messrs. Jennings an i Witty, and in the Council the Hon. J. R. Sinclair and the Hon. Thorno George.

HEREDITARY TITLES. It -is understood that Mr. Newman's Hereditary Titles Bill is not to apply to politicians alone,. but is intended to prevent any resident of the Dominion frcrn accepting a title which can be handed down from father to son. Mr. Newman has boon careful to hnvo the second reading fixed to take placo not earlier than August 23, when it is expected that Sir Joseph Ward will bo in his placo iu the House.