PARLIAMENTARY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXXIII, Issue 16074, 31 October 1912, Page 9

PARLIAMENTARY.

(Abridged from Press Association.) LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Wednesday, October 30. AFTERNOON SITTING. The Council met at 2.30 p.m. LAND BILL. The Hon F. H. D. Bell moved the committal of tho Land Laws Amendment Bill. • The debate was interrupted by tho dinner adjournment. EVENING SITTING. Tho Council resumed at 8 p.m. Tlie motion for the committal of tho Land Laws Amendment Bill wa3 carried. Progress was reported, and the Council rose at 11.15 p.m. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Wednesday, October 30. AFTERNOON SITTING Tho House met at 2.30 p.m. MOUNT LYELL DISASTER, Tho Prime Minister, replying to Sir Arthur Guinness, said that inquiries wero being made as to the position of tho widows and orphans of miners who lost their lives in the Mount Lyell disaster, and if necessary a vote wou’d bo placed on the supplementary estimates for their relief. PUBLIC TRUST OFFICE. The Hon A. L. Herdman, replying to .Mr Esoott, said that in accordance with a promise made the Government would arrange to hold an inquiry into tlie affairs of tho Public Trust Office as soon as the session was over. THIRD READINGS. The Kaiapoi Reserve Bill and East Coast Native Trust Lands Amendment Bill wero read a third time and passed. RAILWAY BILL. On the motion to agree to amendments made to tho Government Railways Act Amendment Bill, Mr Isitt moved an amendment recommending, that tho increase of pay for the first division should tako effect immediately instead of on April 1, 1913. Mr Anderson said that the carrying of tho amendment would kill, the Bill. Tho House divided on the amendment, which was lost by 41 to 20. The House adjourned at 5.30 p.m. EVENING SITTING. The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. Tho discussion on tho third reading of the Railway Bill was continued by Mr Poland, who moved an amendment recommending recommittal of the Bill for tho purposo of inserting a clause providing for tho carrying of children under five years of ago free of charge. The Minister of. Railways, replying to tho debate, said ho regarded the amendments that had been moved when he was doing the best he could in tho interests of the railway servants as an attempt on tho part of tho movers to gain cheap notoriety. In regard to the selection of a general manager, tho High Commissioner was a shrewd judge of men, and ho believed he was capable of recommondiug a really good man. Mr Herries went on to say that even if tho profits of tho railways went down he would still see that officers got their promotion. If members did not want tho Bill and tho increases proposed, let them vote against it and show the railway servants who wore their true friends. The late Government, he added, had not oven given the employees what ho was now proposing to give them. The third reading was carried on the voices, and the Bill passed. EDUCATION. The Education Act Amendment Bill was brought down by Governor’s message, rend a second time pro forma, and referred to tho Education Committee. DEFENCE. Amendments to tho Defence Bill were brought down by Governor’s message. The amendments were agreed to. SAVINGS BANKS. Tho Savings Banks Act Amendment Bill was committed. Tho Minister of Finance moved a new clause enabling the bank to invest nine-tenths of its total funds. This was agreed to on the voices, and tho Bill was reported.

IN COMMITTEE. Tho Local Bodies Loans Act Amendment Bill was reported with minor amendments. The Cemeteries Act Amendment Bill passed through committee with minor amendments. When tile Marriago Act Amendment Bill got into committee Mr M'Callum moved an amendment similar in effect to tho Marriage Validation Bill which was defeated on the third reading thi3 session. On a division the amendment was negatived by 32 to 23. The Bill then passed through the coinmitteo stage. The Aged and Infirm Persons Protection Bill was reported with an amendment providing that any person addicted to excessive use of stimulants may bo mode tho subject of a protection order. THIRD READINGS. The Bills which passed their committee stages during the evening were put through their third readings. Tho House rc.se at 12.20 a.m.