PARLIAMENT.

Evening Post, Volume LIV, Issue 141, 11 December 1897, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Yesterday's Sitting. a monday sitting. On the motion of the Minister for Education, the Council on its rising adjourned till 2.80 p.m. on Monday next. PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS' APPEAL COUBT. The Council disagreed with the amendments made by the Lower House in the Public School Teachers Incorporation and Court of Aopeal Act Ameudtuent Bill, and appointed the Hon. W. Montgomery, Hon. T. Kelly, and the Minister for Education to draw up reasons for its action. , FIRST, READINGS. A number of Bills were received from the Lower House and read a first time. The Leases and Sales of Settled Estates Act Amendment Bill was also read a first time, on the motion of the Hon. D. Pinkerton. SECOND READINGS. The Hawera Gasworks and Electrio Lighting Bill was read a second time on the motion of the Hon. T. Kelly. The Government Emergency Loans to Local Bodies Bill, the Westport-Ngakawau Railway Extepsion Bill, the Westport Harbonr Board Loan Bill, and the Water Supply Act Amendment Bill, were also read a second time on the motion of the Minuter for Education. THE RAILWAYS LOAN. The Minister for Education moved the second reading 1 of the Aid to Public Works and Land Settlement Act Amendment Bill. The Bill, he said, was designed to raise £250,000, which was to be devoted to opening railways, and not to lines which had been running for yean. It was to enable our railway system generally to keep up to the requirements of a constantly increasing traffic, the result of a liberally devised tariff and a proper offer of opportunities for the transport of produce. It was also proposed to apportion sums for school buildings in newly -settled districts and for technical schools. The Hon. R. Oliver, said that it wa» easy to show a profit on the railways if the money was borrowed for expenditure that should have come out of revenue, as would ' happen in a private enterprise. 1: t ly The Hon. E. C. J. Sterns asked if the . ,Rnilway Department was in the habit of making a full and adequate depreciation fund, as otherwise the Railway Department would periodically require further loans to keep up its working. The Hon. Dr. Grace said that the Railway Commissioners when managing the railways ■were always starved. The Hon. W. Montgomery desired to know whether the money required was to repair old plant or for new stock. If for the latter the Council would have no difficulty in voting the money. The Hons. W. T. Jennings, W. C. Smith, and D. Pinkerton strongly upheld the present management of the Railway Department. In reply, the Minister for Education assured hon. members that the expenditure was to be on new business and new stock. The second reading was then agreed to. • THE OLD AGE PENSIONS BILL. The Minister for Education suggested the postponement of the Old Ag« Pensions Bill till after the Hon. T. Kelly's motion affirming the right of the Council to amend Money Bills shall have been disposed of, as such a motion would materially affect the Old Age Pensions Bill. Several hon. members urged the Government to proceed with the debate, but ultimately the adjournment of the debate was agreed to. The Council adjourned at 4.20 p.m.