PARLIAMENT.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVI, Issue 44, 20 August 1908, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

YESTERDAY'S SITTING.

HOUSE OF, REPRESENTATIVES. The House of Representatives spent practically the whole of the afternoon discussing Ministerial answers to questions. The most interesting subjects touched upon will be found in another part of this issue. EVENING SITTING. Tho Quackery Prevention Bill was put through its 'final stages and passed. DESTITUTE PERSONS. 1 The Destitute Persons Bill (Me Fisher) was committed. Mr. Herries said the Bill proposed radical changes in existing law, and required careful consideration. Sir. Fisher replied that the Bill was devised to meet cases which had occurred in the Dominion. It sought to prevent a grandparent or grandchild being successfully proceeded against when nearer relatives were at hand and able to pay. Mr. Herries said it was useless to proceed against a relative who had no means. The House did not appear to be anxious to prolong the discussion, and the Bill was reported with the amendment made by the Joint Statutes Revision i Committee. COUNTIES ACT. Mr. James Allen's Bill amending the Counties Act, and providing simply for the right of tho Bruce Comity Council, if it saw fit, to increase its membership to eleven, was committed. The Premier moved to have the vital clause of the Bill amended in the direction of giving any council authority, by Order-in-Council, to increase its membership to any number not exceeding twelve. This was agreed to. Mr. Poland moved a new clause amending section 41 of the existing law to the "one man one vote principle" at county elections. The second reading of the clause was defeated by 30 votes to 23. The Bill was reported with amend-, ments. MUNICIPALITIES. The Municipal Corporations 'Act Amendment Bill (Mr. Fisher) was committed. Mr. Herries pointed out that the Bill extended the Parliamentary franchise to municipalities. There should be an expression of opinion from the Government on ihe measure. He intended to call for a division on the first clause. It was noticeable that the principle of the Bill had been negatived by the Municipal Conference. Mr. Ell : By how many votes : by two ! Mr. Herries : The hon. gentleman is invariably a supporter of the absolnte majority. Why not in this case? Mr. Ell : We do not take our direc-. tions from a Municipal Conference. " Sir Joseph Ward said he would support the proposal, because the existing franchise went very near the Parliamentary franchise. There was the reservation that electors who vrere not ratepayer would be unable to vote on a proposal to raise loans. He would have preferred to have seen the amendment brought down in a Government measure, with a view to its being thoroughly understood by the people as a whole. With the reservation he had referred to he would support the Bill. Mr. Barber supported tho Bill. He said that anyone who was entitled to vote for a member of Parliament should be entitled to vote for the election of a city councillor. Mr. Fisher said- the present law kept honest people off the roll and dishonest people on it. Mr. Lewis announced that he would oppose the Bill. He saw the danger of the irresponsible vote. Mr. Symes deprecated the practice of private members amending public acts. Mr. Okey could not see his way to support the Bill. Mr. Malcolm hoped the House would not be hobby-ridden. Mr. Laurenson warmly supported the Bill. Clause I. was passed without the threatened division. Clause 11. was passed by 30 to 23 votes, and the Bill was reported .with amendments. PUBLIC STREETS. Th© Public Works Act Amendment Bill (Mr. Izard), amending the law requiring all streets to be 66 feet wide, under certain conditions was committed. The Premier said the Bill required careful consideration. Ifc would be possible under it to have a street 20 feet wide. Mr. Izard pointed out that the Bill only applied to cases "where the configuration of any district is such that within any particular area t or areas thereof, it is difficult or inexpedient to construct a street or road of a width of not less than 66 feet," " and then only on condition "that no building shall be erected wjthin thirty-three feet from the .centre of such street." n The Premier moved to add that the words "no fence, enclose or other erection" after "building." This would preserve the width so that the corporations could alter such streets at a later period if they so desired. Mr. Fisher pointed out the clause, with the amendment proposed by the Premier would simply be a re-enactment of existing law. » After the supper adjournment the Premier said he would withdraw his amendment if the promoter of the Bill would make the minimum street 40 feet wide. Mr. Izard intimated hia willingness to accept this suggestion, and the clause was amended in the direction indicated. Clause 7 giving local authorities the power to cut down trees "where they obscure or partially obscure the view of any bend, corner, or junction, so as to render such road or street dangerous for traffic," was negatived by 40 votes to 15. Sir Wm. Steward moved an amend•ment to clause 4, mainly of a technical character, which was defeated by 28 votes to 21. The hon. gentleman had several other clauses which he stated were better drafted than those in the Bill, but he decided not to move them after his first reverse. The Bill was reported with amendments. The House adjourned at 0.5 a.m.

In tho Magistrate's Court yesterday before Dr. M* Arthur, Joseph Donnelly appeared charged with assaulting one, Henry Scoones, at South Wellington, on 18th August. On the application of Mr. Weston, who appeared for defendant, a remand was granted to Friday next. Bail was allowed in self £10, and one surety of £10. Of four first offenders charged with undue indulgence in intoxicants three were convicted and discharged, and the fourth was convicted and fined 10s, with costs, 7s, with the option of 48 hours' imprisonment' Walter Alister Lindsay, boatswain on the steamer Kaituna, was charged with attempting to commit a criminal assault xm a Maori boy. Accused, who reserved his defence, was committed to the Supreme Court for trial. Bail was allowed—self in £50, and two sureties of £25.