IN PARLIAMENT.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1268, 25 October 1911, Page 5

IN PARLIAMENT.

DAILY SUMMARY. THE TAUPO-TOTARA PETITION. The Legislative Council dealt with local Bills yesterday, and put t'ho Local Elections Amendment Bill and Legislature Amendment Bill through their final stages. Tho .New Plymouth High School Bill and tho Auckland University Collego Amendment Hill wero discharged from tho. Order Paper. In tho llouso of Kepresenta lives the frrratcT part of the afternoon was spent in a discussion upon tho adverse report of the Special Committee set up to inquire into tho petition of tho 'laupo Totara Timber Company covering nn application for a railway and other con- ■ cessions including tho right' to purchaso 200,000 acres of Native land. As the discussion was still in progress when the 5.30 p.m. adjournment arrived no motion was passed. Tho Primo Minister, however, promised that tho Government would not do anything in tho matter without the authority of Parliament. In tho evening, tho llouso agreed to the amendments made by the Council in several local Bills, including, tho Tramways Amendment Bill, with its modified "Davey clause." Tho Native Land Claims Adjustment Bill was discussed on tho motion to go into Committee, anil the debate on committal of the Mining Amendment Bill was chiefly notablo for tho uneasiness expressed in connection with tho largo powers proposed to bo conferred upon tho Government for the regulation of the oil industry. The, Public Reserves and Domains Amendment Bill and the Post and Tolegraph Amendment Bill wero read a second time in. quick succession. Tho second reading of tho Government •Railways Amendment Bill, though it did not arouso any opposition, gave Tise to an extended discusi sion on tho position and pay of railwayi men. Tho second reading was eventually agreed to, and tho House went into Committee on the Bills, which had been read ,9, second timo.