Parliamentary Notes.

Hastings Standard, Issue 491, 2 December 1897, Page 3

Parliamentary Notes.

IN THE HOUSE AND COUNCIL. [By Telegraph." [From ocr Special Repokter.] Wellington, This day. WELLINGTON EMPOWERING BILL. By 19 to 14 the Legislative Council, at the Hon Mr Rigg's instance, agreed to (feesuspension of t?-o ' :l g p of thy WtfpFgtou City Empowering Bill. THE press association: The Premier adnjits that the supply of cable news sent from this colony to the Australian Press is altogether too meagre besides being unreliable. However, whether the Government can interfere is another matter. j STATE FIRE INSURANCE. \ The recent fires in London and Melbourne show the absolute necessity for a State fire insurauce scheme, so Ibe Premier informed Mr Larnach yesterday afternoon. THE HAWKF.'s BAY FLOODS A Bill is to be introduced permitting Local Bodies affected by the ilawke's Bay floods in the early part of the present year to borrow three times the amount allowed under the Loans to Local Bodies Act. LOCAL AUTHORITIES BILL. The Local Authorities Bill was introduced in the House this afternoon by Governor's message and read the first time. It is not intended to proceed jvith the Bill this session, but it is to be sent to the various local bodies for their perusal. THE HOLIDAYS. With a view to encouraging traffic during the Christmas holidays the Railway Department intend issuing excursion tickets on all lines from December 20th to February Ist. THE BANKING 13ILL. The Banking Bill introduced yesterday afternoon provides that the Board of Directors shall consist of nine members, five of whom shall be appointed by the Governor in Council ond four elected by the shareholders of the bank. Of the five to be appointed by the Governor in Council three will be resident in-the North and two in the South Island, and of these five one is to be chairman. Of the four to be elected by the shareholders two are to be resident in each island. The new Board takes office on March 11th, next. The office of President is to be abolished, and one year's salary is to be paid as compensation to the present holder, and if not accepted he may sue for wrongful dismissal. The salary of the chairman is not to exceed £IOOO a year, and that of the other members not to exceed £350. A balance-sheet of the Assets Board is to be made up once a 1 year and laid before Parliament. The bank is to keep an amount equal to its assets in the colony. In introducing the Bill the Premier explained that in abolishing the office of president, e remedy is provided in accordance with the Act of 1896 for setting up a standing committee of four members of the Board of Directors drawn from different parts of the colony. The salaries of the directors are not to exceed £350, and if they were members of the standing committee not to exceed £SOO. He intimated that Mr Brett had resigned his position as Government Auditor in order tore-enter the service of the Bank of New Zealand. The Leader of the Opposition asked if it were intended to take evidence as to the expediency of altering the management of the Board of Directors, and the Premier replied that he would consult his colleagues as to whether the measure should be referred to the Public Accounts Committee. SECOND READINGS. The following bills were read a second time in the House pro forma and referred to the Waste Lands Committee :—Lands for Settlement Amendment Bill,, Kapiti Island reserve Bill, and Joseph Houston Land Grant Bill. IN COMMITTEE. At the evening sitting Mr Seddon moved that the Wages Protection Bill, securing to workers payment of their wages in full, and provided that contractors to local authorities shall furnish such authorities with a wages statement, be committed. After discussion the motion was agreed tc. The Eight Hours' Bill was committed, and it was carried thai the permanent head of each department of the Government be included as an employer, including the Government Printer, officer in charge of the Prisons Department and the Minister of Railways; when progress was reported. The House went into Committee on the Young Persons Protection Bill, and after a short discussion progress was reported, the Premier promising to have the evidence printed for the private information of members. THE END AFPKOCHING. All idea of sitting after 'Xmas has been abandoned owing to the decided hostility shown to such proposal by members on both sides of the House. An effort is to be inar'e to prorogue on Saturday, the 18th inst., but the session may go into the following