PARLIAMENTARY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXIV, Issue 13891, 27 October 1905, Page 5

PARLIAMENTARY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Thursday, October 26. AFTERNOON SITTING. The Council met nifc 2.30 p.m. THE LOAN BILL. , In the conl-so of the debate on the Aid to Public Works mid Land Settlement Bill, the Horns W. M. 8011, J. Marshall and W. C. F. Carncross said that they desired to see half-completed railway lines finished before any new linos were undertaken, because they would then be rendered productive to the colony. The .Hon F. H. Fraser skid that he was plea&ed to note that goodly sums wore put down, in the Bill for backblock roads. Replying to criticisms, the AttorneyGeneral said that the Government was pushing forward with every expedition, such lines as the Midland, North Island Trunk and Otago Central. The Bill was put-through committee without amendment and passed its final stages. THIRD READING. The Horowhenua Block Act Amendment Bill was read a second time, put through committee and read a third time. The Council at 3.35 p.m. adjourned till 7.30 p.m. EVENING SITTING. The Council resumed at 7.80 p.m. EDUCATION. The Education Act Amendment Bill was read a second time. MAORI LAND SETTLEMENT. The Hon A. Pitt moved the second reading of the Maori Land Settlement Bill. The Hon Mahuta said that he appreciated the measure which would groatly benefit his people. The Hon J. D. Ormond said that he regarded the Bill as a good one, and. he trusted that the nest Parliament would further improve legislation in the direction of dealing with Native lands in a similar fashion to that being done with the lands of Europeans. The provisions as to leasing or selling Native lands might also be improved by bringing Native lands under the Native Land for Settlements Act. Perhaps the best part of the Bill was con-/ tained in Clause 16, which'/removed restrictions against alienation by lease, and, whilst holding that waste Native lands might have to be dealt with similarly to those under European control, yet he agreed to accept the present Bill without amendment. The Hon T. Kennedy Macdonald strongly condemned the Bill as one quite unfair to Europeans, and_ condemned the Government for bringing such an important measure down during the dying hours of the session. SHOPS AND OFFICES. On it being reported' that the conference bad failed to agree o'n the Council's amendments in the Shops and Offices Bill, the Hon A. Pitt moved luxat another set of managers should be appointed, to consist of the Hons F. Tirask, T. K. M'DoawiM, B. Bairtris and A. Pitt. Thio Hon J. Bigg said tffaiat he objected to the personnel of tibia manager®, as they did mat include am[y Labour representatives. He moved, as an amendment, th'aib on thje Council's conference the mamo of Rigg should ho substituted for M'Domald, Jenkinsm for Tr-atsk, Jones fox Harris aaud Feldwick for Pitt. After a, lengthy discussilotn the Hon A. Pitt's motion was agreed to. The Council rose at 1.10 a.m. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. ' Thttesdat, Octobee 26. MORNING SITTING. LOCAL BILLS. The morning's sitting was devoted to the consideration of local Bills, Kut little progress was madia. A lengthy debate took place on the Wfiirnate Hospital District Bill, which was interrupted by the luncheon adjournment. AFTERNOON SITTING. The House resumed at 2.30 p.m, • WORKERS' DWELLINGS. Consideration of the amendments made by the Legislative Council in the Workers Dwellings, Bill was postponed. _ The Premier urged that it was outside the province of tie Council to amend the Bill as it had done, making these dwellings liable to rates. The Council's- amendment was a grave infringement of the privileges of the House, and on© that should be resisted by the House. QUESTIONS. In replv to questions, Ministers stated that two inspectors are to be appointed to inquire into the affairs of the North Island District Grand Lodge of Druids. That up to the present no notice has been received from the Imperial Government that the Colonial Conference is to be held nest year, and the 'colony will not he involved or be committed definitely to any undertaking involving large public polioy or financial obligation without the' representatives of the people being consulted. Everything involving pubiio tfolicy and finance passed at the previous conference by Prime Ministers was subject to confirmation by the respective Parliarments. That pubiio offers will be invited, and all shipping companies will be given the opportunity of providing a suitable service to South. Africa on reasonable terms. . PETITION. The Pubiio Petitions Committee' reported that it had no recommendation to mafeo on the petition of ex-Constable Juriss, of Dunedin, who complained of having been compelled to resign from the Police Force under the threat that otherwise he would be dismissed.'. The case arose out of the Dunedin police scandals. Mr Reid moved that the report should be referred to the Government for favourable consideration, aaid after a lengthy discussion this was carried by 4:0 votes to 6. The House rose at 5.30 p.m. v l EVENING SITTING. The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. SHOPS AND OFFICES: A message was received, stating that the Legislative Council insisted on ita amendments in tho and Offices Bill. It was decided to ask for a conference*. / HOROWHENUA BLOCK. The Horowhenua Block Act Amend- j ment Bill was received from the Legislative Council. The Speaker said that in his opinion tho Bill was an infringement of the privileges of the House, in that it contained an appropriation clause. On the motion of the' Premier, tho Bill was laid aside. BILLS OF EXCHANGE. The Premier moved the second reading of the Bills of Exchange Act Amendment Bill, which has already passed the Legislative Council. Mr Taylor and others strongly objected to Clause 4, which provides for the destruction of cheques, etc., after ten years. The second reading was carried by forty-six votes to eight. TEACHERS' SUPERANNUATION. By Governor's message new clauses, were' brought down in t'ho Teachers' Superannuation Bill,, preserving the. ex-. | isting rights under the Bill of cdntribu- j i -tors who .were members of the Civil Ser-

vice- up to the time of the coming into operation of the Act. SECOND READINGS. Tii© Sentry Hill-Now Plymouth Railway Deviation Sill was read a second time. Sir Joseph Ward moved the second reading of the Town Districts Bill, wliich provides for the formation of town districts in counties whore at present they are not allowed to-be foximed. Several members urged on the Ministor the desirableness of leaving this measure until next session, with a view to embodying it in a general Local Government Bill. Sir Joseph-Ward asked that the second reading should be taken, aaid if in committee there were strong objections to its passage, the feeling of the House could them be tested. The Bill was read a second time on the voices. MISCELLANEOUS. The Premier reported that the conference on the Legislative Oommoii's amendments in the Shops and Offices Bill had failed to agree. ' It was decided to sxsk the Council for another conference. The Horowhenua Lake Ball was tread a second time. The _ Queenstown Reseirves Bill, Sentry Hill-New Plymouth Railway Deviation Bill and Horowhonua Lake Bill wcire put through committee. In committee on the Bills of Exchange Act Amendment Bill, clause 4 was, on the Premier's motion, struck out. The Epuni Leases Surrender Bill was put through committee. In committee on the Land for Settlements Extension Bill, Mr Banme's new clause, to provide that in future lands for settlement shall not be disposed of under lease-in-perpetuity, was added to the Bill by 40 votes to 20. Mr Baume moved a new clause, providing that all land for settlement shall be open oh the occupation, with right of purchase tenure. This was road a second time by thirty-eight to twenty-two. Mr Laurenson thereupon moved that the chairman should leave the chair, with the object of killing the Bill. He meant, lie said, to stick the Bill up for all time. A lengthy discussion ensued, and was still proceeding when the telegraph office closed at 2 a.m.