PARLIAMENT.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 8197, 26 September 1906, Page 6

PARLIAMENT.

Legislative Council.

Per Press Association. WELLINGTON. Sept. 25

The Council met at 2.30,

The Hon T. 3L Macdonald moved | that a bust of each Premier of the colony should be placed m a -prominent position within, the walls of Parliament, . and that it is desirable to exhibit at the -J International Exhibition portraits, busts j and - photographs of eaciv of the Pre-. miers who have held office since the introduction of responsible government in 1856. His object was to educate the people to a more complete knowledge of tke political leaders of the colony. The Hon J. Bigg said he was absolutely astounded that a proposition should be made involving the colony in the expense of procuring busts of our public men. That should be left for their admirers. The Hon Mr Trust said that while not objecting to the motion, he doubted if the appropriation would be passed for giving effect to it. The question having been raised, the public might be induced to take the matter up. The Hon Mr Louisson considered, with the Hon Mr Jtligg, that it was more a matter for the public than for Parliament to take up. The Attorney-General objected to the principle involved in the motion that everyone who had been Premier should .have a bust erected simply because he had been a Premier. On" that ground he could not see his way to vote for the motion, and suggested that the mover should withdraw it and briug it forward in some other form. The Hon Mr Scotland faiied to see that anyone would derive much benefit from the erection of a bust. The Hon T. Kelly objected on several grounds, including the cost, and he thought it ultra vires of Council to pass the resolution. The Hon Mr Jeukinson moved the previous question, which, being carried, closed the discussion. The Attorney-General moved the second reading of the Motor .Regulation Bill No. 2, which, he explained, was a consolidating measure, embodying the provisions of the Bill recently before the Oouncil and the existing law. The second reading was agreed to. On the motion to go into Committee on the Fire Brigades Bill, the Hon. Mr Wigram moved that the Bill be referred to a Select Committee. The Attorney-General strongly opposed the amendment on the ground that the measure would be so remodelled in Committee to be unacceptable in " another place " and it might be sacrificed. • After considerable discussion tho amendment was lost by 13 to 6 and the Bill was committed. At clause 2 " interpretation " the Hon. Mr Jenkinson moved an amendment tfhich would make the Bili apply to the whole colony. The amendment was negatived, the clause was passed and progress reported. The Council adjourned at 4 55.