YESTERDAY’S PARLIAMENT

Evening Star, Issue 19352, 11 September 1926, Page 10

YESTERDAY’S PARLIAMENT

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL The Council passed the Stamp Duties Amendment Bill. The Valuation of Land Bill was read a second time, put through its final stages, and passed. Three main clauses in tho Motor Omnibus Traffic Bill were opposed on the second reading by Sir Frederick Lang, who was the only speaker. In committee on the Bill, the Hou. J. B Gow moved an amendment to make the twopence excess fare permissive, instead of compulsory, and this was defeated ou the voices. The Bill was passed with minor amendments made by the Loader of tho Council (Sir R, Heaton Rhodes). The New Zealand University Amendment Bill, tho Agricultural College Amendment Bill, the Forests Amendment Bill, the Westland and Nelson Coal P’ields Amendment Bill, and the Valuation of Land Amendment Bill were passed. After a further short adjournment the Forests Amendment Bill was passed, with tho addition of a clause empowering the Commissioner of Forests to delegate tho authority conferred upon him under the Bill to wardens. At 11.30 the Council adjourned. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES The Hon. O. J. Hawken moved the second reading of the Forests Amendment Bill. Ho explained that the measure was intended to restore to certain saw-millers rights wlhch were taken from them by a recent decision of tho Supreme Court. For many years leases had been granted to millers by wardens, and these leases had been discovered to be illegal. The Government proposed ,to validate these titles.—Mr T. E. Y. Seddon said the leases had been granted under the Mining Act instead of under tho Lana Act, and the Government had promised that tho original leases would he validated. The Government was not validating the old title, but substituting a new title, which was quite a different thing, because certain vested rights were not restored.—Mr T. W. Rhodes objected that tho Bill vitally affected mining interests in his district, and there had been no time to let those concerncd know the details of whni was proposed. Ha thought clauses 6 and 9,’ at any rate (empowering the State Forest Commissioner to grant licenses to cut timber for mining purposes and repealing sections 147-152 of the Mining Act, 1908) should be held over.—The Minister of Mines (the Hon G. J. Anderson) assured Mr Rhodes that the mining interests would be conserved. So far as the West Coast wa r concerned, every right possessed by the saw-millers under the Mining Act was preserved to thorn under this Bill, but it was not desired to have dual administration, so these leases would be dealt with by the Forestry Department Mr W. H. Field commended the Bi! as protecting the interests of the sawmillers while at the same time tending to sccuro conservation of the forests.— Tho Bill was rend a second time, reported from committee with minor amendments, and passed. A compromise was agreed to on tho Agricultural College Bill after a free discussion, and the Bill was read a third timo and passed. In Committee of Supply, tho Supplementary Estimates totalling £423,506. were passed unaltered after monger' had voiced their opinions that the parliamentary staff should be better paid Tho Appropriation Bill, the final measure of tho session, w r as introduced and put through all stages, tho House adjourning at 2.45 a.m.