PARLIAMENT

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLVIII, Issue 8100, 1 October 1904, Page 3

PARLIAMENT

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

The Hon. Macdonald moved the appointment of a committee to enquire whether the privileges of the Council had been infringed by the publication of certain evidence taken by the committee on the Wellington City Leasing Bill; but after some discussion he withdrew the motion, but expressed the hope that while the Standing Orders existed the Council would in future rigidly enforce them. The Counties Act Amendment Bill, No. 2, was read a third time and passed. The adjourned debate on the Wellington City Leasing Bill was resumed, and the second reading carried on the voices.

HOUSE OF KEPBESENTATIVES.

COUNTIES ACT AMENDMENT.

The Counties Act Amendment Bill No. 2. was received from the Legislative Council and read a first time.

THE COOK ISLANDS.

The Cook and Other Islands Government Act Amendment Bill was committed.

' Mr James Allen objected to the provision which gave the Government power by Order-in-Council to modify tho Customs tariff in its application to the islands, and he urged that the House, by making that power permanent, would be losing all control of a very important matter. He moved to amend tne clause so us to provide that the operation of the Act shall only bo extended for two years. The Hon Mills moved an amendment to the clause, providing that the principal Act should be deemed to have continued in force, an amendment rendered necessary by the fact- that the Act relating to the Cook Islands expired on September 30 (to-day). The Minister's Amendment was agreed to on tho voices, and Mr James Allen's waß rejected by tho casting vote of tho Chairman of Committees.

The clause as amended was agreed to. Considerable objection was taken to clause 3, which provides thai all unappropriated landß within the Cook and other islands are Crown lands subject only to the rightful and necessary occupation thereof, by the original inhabitants, with the exception of land the title to which has been determined by the Native Land Court. Mr Massey said that the clause should be modified. In its present form it would cause trouble. Nine-tenths of the lands of the inlands could be declared to be unappropriated. Eventually the elauie was, on Mr Mills' sneticn, struck out. CW*> 4, which proposed to confirm the Order-in-Council establishing the Cook' and Other Islands land Titles Court, wa» »lso strongly opposed, and, after lengthy discussion, the Minister agreed to strike ii out. The remaining clauses were agreed to, and the bill wai reported. THE ESTIMATES. At 10.30 the House went into Committee of Supply for further consideration of the Estimates. Th© first clasa taken was (ho Department of Agriculture, the total *»te for which was £111,213. A motion by Mr Harding, to reduce the salary Qt the Government Viticulturist by £1 M an indication that the House does not approva of the Government enteasing in the wine industry, was lost by S to 26, and tho total vote for the Dep»rtm«nfc of Agriculture was passed un- * The vote for public buildings and domains was also agreed to witnout altoraThe Home rose at 2.25.