PARLIAMENTARY.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 160, 18 July 1901, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY.

House of Representatives. AFTERNOON SITTING. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) Wellington, last night. Tho House met at 2.30 p.m. FIRST READINGS. The Presbyterian Church of New Zealand, Wellington City Recreation Ground, and Wesleyan Church Reserves Vesting Bills were introduced and read a first time. REPLIES TO QUESTIONS. Replying to questions, Ministers said that certificates of service would bo issued to returned troopers, and that the question of the presentation of medals was under consideration. That the recommendation of the Land Purchase Board to acquire 37,000 acres in Hawke’s Bay was under consideration. That the Noxious Weeds Bill passed last session would be enforced, settlors so far having been allowed to prepare to carry out the Act.

That a Bill would be introduced extending the time for improvements under tho Land Act. The House adjourned at 5.30. EVENING SITTING. The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. ELECTIVE EXECUTIVE. Major Steward moved the second reading of tho Elective Executive Bill, and contended that if the Bill could he sent to the people under tho referendum clause which it was proposed to insert in Committee, it would bo adopted by a largo majority. There would always bo party Government, and the Rill made no violent change in that regard. Sir Joseph Ward and Mr Seddon strongly opposed the Bill on the ground that the system would lead to chaos and intrigue. The debate occupied the whole of the evening. Messrs Monk, Fowlds, G. W. Russell, and Pirani supported tho Bill, while Messrs Willis, Barclay, Witheford, Fisher, K. McKenzie, Napier, and Ilogg opposed it.