PARLIAMENT.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 11 September 1926, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

(BY TELEGRAPH PRESS ASSOCIATION.)

WELLINGTON, Sept. 10. The House of Representatives resumed' at 2 p.m., going into committee on* the Valuation of Land Amendment Bill.

The Hon. A. D. McLeod 1 said lie.had had conferences with the .members who originally were opposed to the! Bill, and he had decided to move into the Bill amendments which he 'believed would overcome the objections. This was done, and the Bill was amended without objection. On, resuming the Bill! was read a third time and passed. The Hon. O. J. Hawken moved the second reading of the Forests Amendment Bill. He explained that the measure was intended to restore to certain sawmillers rights which were taken from them hv the recent decision of the Suroreme Court. For many years leases had been granted to the milieus by the wardens, which leases had l been discovered to he illegal. The* Government proposed' to validate these titles. The Bill was read a second time.

The Hon. G. J. Anderson, moved the second reading of the Westland and Nelson Coalfields Administration Amendment Bill, which placed certain leasehold lands in Westport on a better .footing so far- a.s the tenure was concerned.

The Bill was read a. second- time. The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. in committee on the Forests Amendment Bill, which was reported' with minor a.mendfments, read a- third time, and passed. The, Westland and Nelson Coalfields Administration Amendment Bill was also put through the final stages and passed without amendment. In committee of .supply the Supplementary Estimates, totalling £423.506. were na'ssed unaltered,, after members had voiced opinion's that the Parliamentarv staff should be better oaid. Sir Joseph Ward (Invercargill) also nressed for steps to he taken to secure fbe reinstatement of the old Bluffy to Hob ait and Melbourne steamer service.

The Postmaster-General stated that negotiations were ini progress, but he could not make any statement upon these.

Replving to various suggestions that the Duke and Duchess of York’s itinerary should include an, extended visit to the southern portion of the South' Island, the Minister of Internal Affairs stated that the itinerary would be completed shortly. It was indicated that the Royal visitors would 1 be at Bluff, but the Minister declined' to he draiwn into any further divulgence at present. The Appropriation Bill, the final

measure of the session, was* introduced and read a first* time at* 1.45 a.m.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

WELLINGTON, Sept. 10. The Legislative Council resumed Its sitting at 2.30 p.m. It passed tire Stamp Duties Amendment- Bill, and then road the first time the Mbftcr Omnibus Traffic Bid 1 ., which: was introduced from the House. The Valuation of Land 1 Bill was .read a second put through the final stages .and. passed. The three main clauses in the Motor Omnibus Traffic Bill were opposed on the second .reading by the Hon. Sir F. Lang, who was the only speaker in committee on the Bill. The Hon. J. B. Gow moved an amendment to make the twopence excess fare permissive instead of compulsory, and this was defeated on the .voices, and the Bill was passed with minor amendents made by the Leader of the Council. The local Bills referred to above were put through the final stages .and passed . The New Zealand University Amendment Bill, the Agricultural College Amendment Bill, the Forests Amendent Bil. the Westland and NeTison Coalfields Amendment Bill, and the Valuation of Land Amendment BilF weie all passed. . After a, further short adjournment, the Forests Amendment Bill was {♦mended with the addition of a. clause empowering the Commissioner of Forests to delegate the authority conferred upon him under the Bid to the warders.

At 11.30 p.m. the Council adjourned until 10 a.m. to-mordaw.