HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 102, 27 October 1914, Page 4

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

The House met at 7.30 p.ttf. NEW BILLS. The Prime Minister gave notice to introduce the Shops and Offices Amendment Bill. The West Codsfc Settlement Reserves Amendment Bill (Hon. Mr. Herries) and - the 'J'aumar unui Hospital District Bill (Hon. R. H. Rhodes) were introduced and raid a first time. KAUPI GUM. The Prime Minister moved the second reading of the Kauri Gum Industry Amendment Bill, which proposes to advance up to £50,000 on gum won from the northern fields and kept until the market improves. It was not, however, he said, expected that the market will materially improve until the conclusion of the war The Government in> tended to put men on to develop gumbearing land, putting on men at wages for that purpose. He was certain that the Crown would not lose over the proposed transaction, and that it would, on the other hand, prevent a good many people joining the ranks of the unemployed. The Leader of the Opposition, Sir Joseph Ward, supported the Bill, which, after a brief discussion, was read, a second iime on the voices, and put through Committee and final stages. TAIBRI DRAINAGE. The Taieri Land Drainage Amendment Bill was read a second tim» on the voices and put through final stages. ROAD BOARDS 1 POWERS. Jn moving the second reading of the Road Boards Amendment Bill the Prime Minister said it was urgently requiredto enable Road Boards to carry out drainage schemes which, in some cases, were badly needed. The second reading was agreed to on the voices, and the Bill was subsequently read a third time and passed. WAGES PROTECTION. The Right Hon. W. F. Massey moved the second reading of the Wages Protection and Contractors' Lien Amendment Bill, which 5s designed to protect contractors' deposits on building contracts. Mr. Hindmarsh strongly contended that sufficient consideration was not paid to the claims of the employees, and that too much consideration was given to the claims of the employers. The second reading was agreed toon the voices. In Committee the Prime Minister informed Mr. Hindmarsh that he would have a clause drafted for presentation to the Legislative Council putting the matter on a proper footing! The Bill was read a third time and passed. STATE ADVANCES. The second reading of the, State Advances Amendment Bill was moved by the Hon. J. Allen, who said it was merely of a technical nature. The Bill was jrafc through final stages with machinery amendments. LAND BILL. The Land Laws. Amendment Bill was considered in Committee. Mr. Forbes moved a new clause to provide that the members of Land Boards shall be elected by the House instead of being appointed by the Administration, as at present. After a brief debate the proposed new clause was lost on the voices, and the Bill was reported with amendments, read a third time, and passed. TRADING WITH THE ENEMY. The amendments made by the Legislative Council in the Trading With the Enemy Bill were, on the motion of the Minister of Justice (Hon. A. L. Herdman) agreed to. The House, at 11.55 p.m., adjourned till 2.30 this afternoon.