PARLIAMENT

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLVIII, Issue 8098, 29 September 1904, Page 3

PARLIAMENT

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

The Divorce and Matrimonial Causes Act Compilation Bill was read a third timo and passed.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

QUESTIONS.

In reply to questions, Ministers stated : That the daily steamer service between Ooshunga and New Plymouth, which is to be resumed on November 1, is likely to

• be permanent. That the Government cannot see its , way to extend the privileges of work- . men's tickets to shop girls, junior clerks, and otliers under 21 years of age. That in future peas, beans, oats, and wheat will be included in the market \ quotations cabled from London by the Agent-General, That the amending Public Works Bill 1 will be brought down this session. > That it is hoped to introduce legislation this session to place the Waitati i Inebriates Homo on a better footing. WAIPORI FALLS BILL. Further lengthy debate took place on ' the Waipori. Electrical Falls Bill. On the 1 motion of Mr M'llar, tha bill was, by 33 votes to 22. referred back to the Private Bills Committee, with instructions 1 to excise the city of Dunedin from it* nrovis'ons. < PUBLIw WORKS ACT AMENDMENT. The Public Works Act Amendment Bill (Hon. Hall-Jones) was read a first 1 time * LOCAL ELECTIONS BILL. Sir Joseph Ward moved the second reading of the Local Elections Bill, which he explained was to consolidate and amend the law relating to local elections, and to the taking of polls on proposals sub I mitted to the vote of local electors. He ' stated that it was hia intention to bring the bill fully into line with the provisions of tho Licensing Bill so far as they re- , ferred to disputed polls. 1 Mr Massey said it appeared that tho Government were satisfied this session to confine their efforts to consolidating legislation, "aud in this he believed they ware doing really good work. While this class of legislation was under review the Government were not doing any harm, and the public could, for a time at any rate breathe freely. He thought the bill would be improved in committee. Mr Aitken said the bill would be an improvement on the present state of things. l He thought, however, that there should be a universal system of voting, and that voting at local- elections should be conducted on the same lwas as at Parliamentary elect'ons. . Mr Ell urged that .a comprehensive Local Government Bill should be brought down next session. Sir William Russell considered that a lartror deposit than £10 should be made by petitioners for an enquiry into an el< Sir oJoseph0 Joseph Ward, in replying, said he thought there was a great deal to ba Ba : d for the suggestion of a universal system for taking votes, and he believed Sir Joseph Ward moved th* second reading of the Marriage Acts Compilation X winch has already passed the LegisACT Sir Joseph Ward moved the ««» n jj "•»" ins of tho Maori Antiquities Act Amendment Bill, which is designed to prevent lie exportation of Maori antiquities from tho colony without the permission of tho °$MS?*d the bill as too djj tic and hoped it would not be allowed complained of the Government's inaction in tho matter of assistin R public bodies and others who endeavored to make collections of Maori curios for tho benefit of the people The Hon. McGowan said if any Museum was entitled to assistance it was Auckland, which had the finest Maori collection in the colony. Mr EH urged the establishment of a Colonial Museum. ' Sir Joseph Ward, in replying.^said a Colonial Museum would cost £50,000, and was unnecessary when there wore excellent museums in various parts of the coi00^iie second reading was agreed to on the VolC COOK AND OTHER ISLANDS. The Hon. Mr Mills moved the second reading of the Cook and Other Islands , Government Act Amendment Bill, which ' makes the principal Act permanent and , provides for the abolition of the Arikis Courts on the appointment of a Euro- « pean Resident Agent. In moving the motion, the Hon. Mills said what the islands required was a more regular steamship ( service. He had made Inquiries on tho , matter, and the Union Steam Ship Company had stated that the subsidy for a fortnightly service between the colony and the islands would be very heavy. Howover, they would willlingly establish a service wnen the trade would Justify it. The bill was read a second time on tho VOiCM 'rOOD AND DRUGS BILL. The Sale of Food and Drugs Bill (Sir J. G. Ward) was read a second time, pro forma, and referred to the Industries and Commerce Committee. The House rose at 12.30 a.m.