PARLIAMENT

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLVIII, Issue 8921, 9 September 1905, Page 8

PARLIAMENT

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

WELLINGTON, September 8. The Council, met at 2.30. The Marriages Validation Bill was further considered in committee.

The Hon. Carncross moved an addition to clause 3 (which validates marriages with deceased's wife's niece or deceased husband's nephew contracted prior to this Act) the following words : "Nor shall the passing of this Act deprive or be held to have deprived any person of any property which such person may have lawfully inherited, acquired, or become entitled to prior to the coming into operation of this Act. or affect any Us pendens."

-The Hon. Mahuta said he regarded the Bill as equal to .permitting marriage between brother and sister. He did not approve of its morality. He quite agreed with the deceased wife's sister or deceased husband's brother marriage law, but -this measure was too close. The Bill as amended was reported. The Council rose- at 3.20 p.m.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

— The House met at 2.30. - "THAT VOUCHER" AGAIN. Mr Taylor presented a petition signed by"B. F. Rogers and 13 others, praying for' a judicial enquiry into the voucher which. Willis, West and Larcombe swear they saw at Christchurch. which they claimed represented a payment to Cap_tain Seddon. The Hon. Mr Seddon moved that the petition be referred direct to the M to Z Committee. - Mr Taylor said he had received several largely signed petitions from Christchurch to the same effect, and lie urged it was only, reasonable that a full public judicial enquiry should be held. The "Premier's motion was agreed to on the voices. A similar petition was presented by Mr Fisher, and was also referred direct to the M to Z Petitions Committee. PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT. In reply to Mr Massey. Mr Seddon said the Public Works Statement was ready, and it would be brought down as soon as Mr'Massey's amendment on the land question was disposed of. ~ THE ESTIMATES.

"' At-3.50 p.m. the House went into Committee of Supply for the further consideration of the Estimates. Stamps and Deeds Department.. £30,535: Mr Baume moved a reduction of £1 as an ..expression of opinion that a change should be made in the method of taxation of deceased persons's estates. The Chairman of Committees ruled tfiat 'a question of policy could not be discussed on the Estimates. The vote for the class passed unaltered. ' ' - Mines Department, £25,140 : In reply to questions. Sir McGowan said that Professor Bell was engaged in making ~a geological survey of the colony, which would be of service- for all time. 'Objection was taken by several members to the item "Grants to libraries in mining townships, £100." on the ground that it was unfair to favor one particular industry. Mr Fowlds movpcl that the item 1« struck- out. ~ The Hon. McGowan explained that the item "Grants to libraries in mining townships" was for the miners working at the State coal mines." and Mr Fowlds therefore did not press his motion. -~ TKe total vote passed unaltered. _ Labor Department. £11.024: - Mr James Allen asked the Premier what -he "was going to do about the delays in the work of the Arbitration Court. Mr Scddon said the Government was bringing in a bill to provide that certain cases should be taken by magistrates. The Judge of the Arbitration Court hini assured him that an. effort would be mndit<7 bring t-he work up to date and keep it up to date.. The question was whether .another Judge for the Arbitration Court should lie appointed, or whether the present Judge should be relieved of Appeal Court work. In his opinion, the Arbitration Court work should lw paramount, aiul lie would communicate with the Chief Justice us soon us possible. The totaJ vote poised unaltered. Department of l.nds and Surwy,

£169,109. Mr Massey moved a reduction of £1 in the item "Auditor of Land Revenue. £400," ius nn indication that the auditing of the Lands Department ami other Departments should he made by the AuditorGeneral, and not by departmental officers. The Hon. Duncan pointed out that it was tmly the revenue of the Lands Department*, that whs not audited by the Audit Department. Every shilling of expendi-U-ie was audited by the Auditor-General. _ Mr Massev'h .motion was lost by 27 to 21.

Mr l'ishw complained of tlie extravagant expense on posters in connection with "land which was never let, and the rent of Avhioh was innnitesimn.l. -Mr Hawkins protested against the unbusinesslike method pursued by t.lie Lands Department in connection with, it<s advertising. Mr Fisher moved t hut 'the item "Toni--porary assistance, £20,000," be reduced by £1 as an indication th=it temporary clerks with lengthy service should lie placed on (Ife permanent staff of the department. Mr"Hogg pointed out thnt alt.liough -these -.large sums were being voted great'areas of la.nd iv the colony were still inaccessible to would-be settlers. The money was of no honefit to the people, who were eager to get on the land. Mr Fisher's motion was lost by 35 to 23. . Mr Hogg moved to reduce the contingency vote by £1 as an indication that the fee of £1 Is charged to Crown lessees on. transfer should be reduced. — Lo6t- by 32 to' 21. r ~JS,\r Kirkhride urged that the proposed vote of £3000 for the eradication of noxious weeds on. Crown lands should bo incrajised to JQSOOO. The same amount was, he pointed out, voted last year, and only £811- was expended, and he moved to reduce the vote for this year by £1 by way of protest. The 'vote ,for the Department of Lands and Survey was further considered and eventually the total vote passed unaltered. The House rose at 3 a.m.