PARLIAMENT.

Mataura Ensign, 6 November 1912, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

LEGJSLATiVE COUNCIL. FEB UNITED X'BESS ASSOCIATION. WELLINGTON, Nov. 5. The Legislative Council resumed at 2.30 p.m. The Eliosmero Lands Drainage Amendment, State I'ire Insurance and Military Pensions Bills'passed all their I stages. GOVERNMENT RAILWAYS. 1 In committee on the Government Railways Bill the following amendment was introduced by Governor's message, "No solicitor, counsel or agent other than a member of the Department will be recognised by the' Minister for the purpose of this section and shall appear to be heard on any appeal, but the appellant shall appear in person, or by another member, or by the secretary of anv such society authorised, and the Department shall appear by some member appointed by the Minister in that behalf."' This clause was agreed to ana the clause passed. FINAL STAGES. The Public Reserves and Domains Amendment Bill and the Government Life Insurance Bill also passed their final stages, and the Council adjourned. The Council resumed at 8 p.m. EVENING SITTING. The Ellesmcre Land Drainage Bill was read a third time by 13 votes to 4. The Public Reserves and Domains Amendmeut Bill was taken in committee and on the motion of the Minister an amendment was agreed to remodelling the manner in which county coun-j cils may acquire reserves and hold them in trust until a Domain Board is formed. The Bill was put through all itsj stages. The Barmaids' Registration Amendment Act Bill was reported unamended and finally passed. The Council rose at 9.45 p.m. till 11.30 a.m. to-morrow.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House resumed at 2.30 p.m. VITAL STATISTICS. The report on Public Health was presented by Hon. R. H. Rhodes (Minister for Public Health 1 ). He stated that the death rate for the Dominion for the year was 9.39 compared with 9.71 for 1910. The lowest rate on record was in 1896, when the figures were 9.10. The birth rate for the year was 25,97 per 1000.

NORTH MOUNT LYELL DISASTER

Mr G. W. Russell (Avon) asked the Prime Minister what steps the Government intended to take in connection with relief for relatives of those killed in the North Mount Lyell mine disaster The Prime Minister (Hon., W. F. Massey) replied that the Government would consider the matter to-morrow. They had to remember that £IOOO had had'to be transferred to the miners' relief fund, which was in a bankrupt state, also that the Government had practically to take over the maintenance of the Waihi Hospital since the strike commenced. BARMAIDS. The House went into committee on the Barmaids' Registration Bill. A new clause was added on the motion of the Prime Minister providing that every person who was, on the passing of the Licensing Amendment Act of 1910, entitled on application to be registered as a- barmaid, but who failed to make application within the time limited, shall be entitled to be registered as a barmaid if application is made by her in the prescribed manner on or before the first of June next. LAND AGENTS. The committee considered the Land Agents Registration Bill. The Prime Minister accepted an amendment proposed by Mr Statham (Dunedin Central), which provided that licensed auctioneers carrying on private business as land agents should b© brought within the scope of the Bill, and extended the period within which a land agents shall render an account or a sale to a vendor from 14 to 28 days. A clause providing that land agents shall pay a fee of 10s every time they change their address was struck out.

BILLS PASSED. The Barmaids Registration Bill and] the Land Agents Registration Bill were read a third time and passed. PLUMBERS REGISTRATION. The Plumbers Registration Bill was committed and the House adjourned. The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. The Plumbers Regisrtation Bill was reported with minor amendments from committee. RAILWAYS. Hon. W. Eraser (Minister for Public Works) moved the second reading of the Railways Authorisation Bill. The idea of tihe' Bill was to enable the Department to make surveys and estimate the probable cost of contemplated lines. On most of the lines proposed he thought light lines would be found suitable. . , Sir Joseph Ward (Awarua) said that the Bill was to be commended because it did not authorise any expenditure on the proposed railways. If light lines were to be adopted the present gauge would have to be adhered to, and the whole matter would have to be gone into carefully. The experience of New Zealand was that light lines were ultimately the most expensive system of construction. If private people were to be allowed to construct light lines there would be a great deal of political jobbery. The Estimates this year provided for £600,000 more than was spent on public works last year 2 yet it was rumored that work was to be stopped on several lines. Mr Buchanan (Wairarapa) declared tli.at there were three lines—Picton, Nelson . and Kawakawa—on which -£1,000,000 had been lost. Mr G. J". Anderson (Mataura) advocated the betterment system on light lines. Hon. R. McKenzie (Motueka) said that some of the lines were political lines of the worst description. The Railway Bill was read a second time. >

AGRICULTURAL LABORERS. The Prime Minister moved the second reading of the Shearers' and Agricultural Laborers' Accommodation Amendment Bill, which was agreed to on the voices. BILLS REPORTED. The Public Service Classification Superannuation Amendment Bill and the Education Amendment Bill were reported with amendments. THIRD READINGS. After 2 a.m. the. Railways Authorisation Bill was passed through the committee stage and read 1 a third time, also the Shearers' Agricultural, Laborers' Accommodation Amendment and Education Amendment Bills. SHOPS AND OFFICES. The Prime Minister intimated that he intended to postpone the Shops and Offices Bill till next session. The House adjourned at 2.40 a.m. till 10.30 a.m. this morning.