PARLIAMENTARY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2221, 26 October 1907, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. WELLINGTON, Oct. 25. Tho Council met at 2.30 p.m. FIRE BRIGADES BILL. The Fire Brigades Bill was reported with amendments from the Joint Statutes Revision Committee. Dr Findlay announced that no would ask the Council to put tins measure through its committee stages before proceedin': with the Land Bill. animals protection bill. Tho Animals Protection Bill was further considered in committee. Olauso 13. sub-section 2, provides for the issuo of licenses to sell imported came on payment of a fee of £y. Mr. Jenkinson moved to reduce the fee to £2. . The Attorney-General accepted the amendment, which was agreed to , , The clause also provides for a minimum ponaltv of £2 for breaches of its provisions. Mr. Jenkinson moved to strike out the provision, leaving the matter of penalty to the. discretion of tho Court.—Agreed to. Mr. ltigg objected to sub-section 3, clauso 13, limiting the issue of game licenses to persons over 16 years of age. The clause was amended by deleting reference to “killing” and making the issuo of a license apply purely to “selling” imported game. A "good deal of discussion took placo on clause 18, which gives tho Governor-in-Council powor to declaro by notification that imported birds (not being game) may bo taken or killed in any district. Mr. Anstey said that the clause would protect such destructive birds as house sparrows. Tho Attornoy-Genoral said farmers can 'kill any bird they like on their own land. Tho clauso was passed without amendment. The Attorney-General intimated he would give it further consideration, and have it re-committed if necessary . ... Clauses 19 to 35 inclusive were passed with unimportant amendments. . Clauses 36 provides for tho infliction of a minimum penalty of £2 for shooting gamo with swivel or punt guns. Mr. Jenkinson again asked that {lie minimum should he struck out. Mr. Rigg moved to have tlio minimum raised to £5. People who used appliances were not sports; they were “pot hunters” out to make money. Mr. Jenkinson moved to strike out clause 38—“ Any person found trespassing on private land with a, gun or dog and gun shall prima, facie be deemed to be in pursuit of imported gamo or native game, and subject, to tlie provisions of tliis Act.” The clause was adopted by 22 votes to 4. Tlie Council adjourned at 5 p.m. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House met at 2.30 p.m. Leave of absence for the remainder of the session was granted to Mr. McLaclilan on account of ill-health, and six davs’ leave of absence to Mr. Fatman owing to illness in his family. LAND AND INCOME TAN. The annual Land Tax and Income Tax Bill was brought down by Governor’s message, and read a first 11 The Imprest Supply Bill was Introduced by Governor’s message. - BIMETALLISM. On the motion to go into Committee of Supply, Mr. Reid spoke on bimetallism, and declared lie could not understand why the House did not take greater interest in the subject. The Premier, in reply said tins country was in the happy position of being sound, and it would not be in danger of the financial in America coming across to New Zealand. He added that the question ot bimetallism was not likely to bo a live question in this country for many years. WAIKATO SANATORIUM.

Mr. Massey, referring to a previous question, asked as to why the meuieai oiheer’s report had not been included in the annual report of tho Waikato Sanatorium for 1906. He had since received a copy of tho report, and he read from it in order that it might be- included in the records of the House. He contended that it was most improper on the part of the head oi any Department to keep back roporis instead ol allowing them to come forward in the proper way. , . . , Mr. Fowids, in replying, referred to the ethics ox officers oi tne Department who had left the service in supplying the Leader oi the Opposition with a copy of his report. Continuing, he quescionetd the wisdom oi the Leader of the Oppositon in bringing the report which he had obtained irregularly before the House. Mr Fowids added that portions ol the report had been published, but it was not incumbent on Departments to publish every report made by officers, as it was not always wise to do so. He contended that the report was an attack on the institution that was not justified, and lie (Mr. Fowids) considered a report of this nature from an officer who was leaving the institution, and wlncli was in direct opposition to his previous reports should not be included in its entirety in the annual report of the institution. Proceeding Mr Fowids said the late officer had taken credit foi ilecreash” the staff, but >TIe "resent officer had reported that it was necesorU 4-<~» incrGasG the muses, v • Government to publish officers icP °Mr" Fowids spoke in reply, and Air! Greeuslade, in whose el ®® t<^ r E !* e tho institution is, justified the Minister s aC puRL<IC WORKS. Mr. Mackenzie complained ot tne public works policy. He urged tliut l nolicv of light, narrow-gauge railways should be adopted for the opening up of tlie back country. AH. Janies Allen urged that tlie Government should institute an inmiky into the Brennan mono-rad-wavVstem. He contended it would be’suitable for opening up country that could not be reached by tlie dual railway system. BREADSTUFFS. Air. Hogg, referring to tho present price of breadstuffs, stated that the price of wheat and flour was higher than at any period of the country s history. Flour had since last year gone up 59 P er cent "; . . that the Premier should bring down inis Bill immediately to remove the duty off flour and wheat and contended that with an excellent climate and soil which was capable ot producing foodstuffs in abundance there was no need to protect the -agricultural or pastoral industries. He regretted we were at war- u|th Australia in regard to the tariff, and urged that there should be a policy of reciprocity between tlie two countries, which were only separated by a comparatively small distance. He contended that the duty on flour and wheat was class legislation for the benefit of a few men who would take £150.000 out of the pockets of the poor people, who were ill able to pay the excessive C °Mr. Wilford pointed out that tlie dirty on wheat was not intended as a protective duty wall, but merely because tho Auckland millers refused to purchase South Island wheat. When the duty was initiated the Auckland millers found that the South Island wheat was .a good article and had used that wheat ever since Consequently the cause of the duty was removed. Ho urged that the duty should bo taken off flour and potatoes. He did not believe in a sliding duty, as it would lead to abuse. Air W. Fraser contended. Hint it J, the iiigli price now being ob--t-aiued for wheat, flour, butter, wool,

etc., which was making this country prosperous. Tho wliolo argument of the member for Mnstcrton appeared to be to rcilueo tlio prico the .producers were receiving. Tho consequence of removing the duty would be to retard prosperity, and tlie workers would not liavo the money to purchase with in that- case. H 0 argued that tho abolition of the duty would not. affect' the prico at all, and added that he had received a telegram from a contain district asking that ho should vote for th 0 Bill as “they (lid not grow wheat in that district.”

The Premier, replying to Mr. Allen, said tho mono-mil system had boon under Government consideration for some time. Tho High Commissioner had been instructed to watch developments. So far ho had not reported thereon. TIo referred ■to the intended introduction of a Flour Bill, which would protect the consumer without destroying the whole industry, which employed a large number of workers. Ho had information which showed that if the duty was removed it would not reduce flour to the extent of lialf-a-crown a ton. This was due to the fact- of, 1 shortage of wheat all over the world, with the result there was an abnormally high price for flour. The Bill would, 110 hoped, bo introduced early nexit week, and would provide for meeting fluctuations dn flour. IMPREST SUPPLY. On the House resuming at 7.30, the Imprest Supply Bill, No. 5, was read a first time. It provides for £656 000 in first schedule and £14,Ono in the second, a total of £670,000. The first schedule includes Consolidated Fund £450.000, Public "Works Fund £150,000, State Coal Alines account £25.000.