PARLIAMENT.

Manawatu Times, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 12931, 30 October 1914, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

. LEGISLATIVE- COUNCIL, « Press Association.—By Telegraph. WELLINGTON,. Oct, 2Jt The Inspection of Machinery Act r Taumarunui Hospital District Bill, N.Z. Loans Amendment AVt, West Coast Settlement Reserves Amendment Act, War Contribution Validation Bill (No. 2), Friendly fcfbcieties Amendment Act, Mortgage' Extension Amendment Act (No. 2), Patents, Designs and Trade Marks Amendment Bills were all read first and second times without discussion:

The Legislative Council'Bill was received from the Lower House with amendments.

On the motion of Hon,. Bell, the Council disagreed with thr amendments.

The House reported that it disagreed with the amendments made in the Education Amendment Act.

On the motion of Hon. Bell, the Council resolved to insist on its amendment.

The Wages Protection and Contractors Liens Amendment Bill was furthei considered in committee. The Hon. Duthie moved the addition of the following new clause:—Section 4S of the principal Act is hereby amended by inserting after the word "sub-contractor" at the end of the definition of '' contractor,'' the words "and includes any person who supplies any material used for or brought upOn premises to be used in connection with the work."'

Hon. Bell opposed the amendment, holding that the Bill was intended to be for the benefit of the worker while the proposed amendment had for its object the placing of all sub-contrac-tors in a better position than anybody else. Hon. Duthie intimated that in view of the opposition of the Leader of the Council he would not press his amendment.

The Bill was reported with a slight amendment to the definition in: section 7, moved by Hon. Barr, read a third time and passed. The Land Laws Amendment Bill, the Roman Catholic Bishop of Auckland Empowering Bill, Taum'arunui Hospital District Bill, West Coast Settlement Reserves Amendment Act, Friendl\ Societies Amendment Act, Patents, i'esigns and Trade Marks Bill all passed their final stages. The Wellington Milk Supply Bill was read a first time, and at 5 o'clock the Council adjourned until 11 o'clock to-morrow.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House met at 2.30. /

Mr Hindmarsh presented a petition containing 6700 names protesting against the Religious Instruction in Schools Bill. In reply to Mr Isitt, the iPremier promised to make enquiries into the conditions under which liquor is sold to troops in Apia. The Hon. Herdman, in reply to Mr Sykes, said there was no foundation for the rumour that Government intended to reduce the salaries of all Civil Servants by 10 per cent. Sir Joseph Ward made a strong protest against the condition of the rolls. He was confident that the system, would result in the disfranchisement of thousands of people. Mr Massey said everything possible had been done and would be done to bring the rolls up to date. The Hon. Fraser hoped to be able to lay the report of Huntly Commission upon the table to-morrow, and the debate on the Coal Mines Bill would be -taken on Friday instead of to-day. Sir Joseph Ward urged that a reasonable amount of time should be given to read the report. He did not think it wise to take the two debates simultaneously. Upon the Hon Mr Rhodes moving for leave to introduce the Mental Defectives Bill Sir Joseph Ward asked : if the Premier would say when he proposed to bring the session to a close. After the first reading of the Bill Mr Massey said he proposed to bring ( the session to a close on Saturday if members would assist. He proposed to deal with the Public Works Estimates that night and would consult ths Leader of the Opposition as to what time to go into committee of supply. The supplementary estimates will be taken on Saturday. The Hon Allen made a statement regarding the rumour that there had been 152 desertions from the expeditionary forces. The force wqts short of one officer and 152 men and of these the greater number were sent ashore from illness and 17 were left behind, but he did not think any one of those was a deserter. He also stated that it was quite untrue that any German spy had escaped from Soames Island. •• t The House decided to insist on its amendments in the Legislative Council Bill, and a committee was appointed to consider reasons.

The Pensions Amendment Bill was put through all stages without amendment. The Public Works Amendment and Ccok Islands Bill were read a second time.

The House resumed at 7.30. The Public Works Amendment Bill was considered in committee.

On clause 2 dealing with restriction of the right to compensation in cases where land is taken for purposes of public works, Mr Russell took exception to it being made retrospective and moved an amendment to make it deal only with future cases. ;• The Hon Fraser intimated that he was willing to drop the clause altogether, and this course was adopted, and the Bill reported as amended. The Cook Islands Bill was ta&en into committee. Mr Glover made an appeal for better political representation for residents of Cook Islands.

Discussing a proposal to- take the Bill through committee in sections Mr Forbes protested against a Bill of such magnitude being pushed forward in the dying hours of the session. Mr Russell objected to trying to push the Bill through," and moved to report progress, so thai the Bill could stand over till next session. The Prime Minister protested against insinuations that Government wap trying to drive the House. If members were prepared to stay another fortnight he would be quite ihappy. He asked Mr Russell to withdraw his motion beeause the Bill was urgently needed.

The motion to report progress was defeated by 35 to 24. Very slow progress was made, and at supper adjournment the discussion had not gone beyond the title, when the Prime Minister moved to report progress and ask leave to sit again. This was done.