HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Northern Advocate, 22 September 1906, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Wellington, September 21. The House met at 2.30 p.m. The Unclassified Societies Registration Amendment, the New Zealand International Exhibition, the Police Offences, the Martinobrough Town Board, etc., the Eltham County, the Registration of Plumbers, the Jubilee Home Trustees (Auckland), and Inspection and Registration of Private Hospitals Bills were read a first time. Mr Massey pointed out that unauthorised reports of the proceedings of the Waste Lands Committee in re the Land Bill were getting out. H» contended that the .standing order including the press ought either to be observed or suspended. The Premier, agreeing, promised consideration. The Estimates were then taken. Class X., Native Department, £18,---86*7, passed unaltered. Class XI., coming on the departmental vote, £2970, and the vote for the Supreme Court, £8431, also passed unaltered. Wellington, September 22. The House mimed at 7.30 p.m. The Justice Department estimates were further discussed. A motion to reduce the magistracy vote was lost by 44 to 18. A motion to reduce Coroners' fees, as an indication that Coroners' juries should be abolished, was rejected by 47 to 14. During the debate on the Cook Islands administration, Mr Mills, exMinister for Customs, said that the loss on the vessel Countess of Ranfurly had been reduced from £1000 to £187 per year. Criticising the " miscellaneous service " of the Justice Department, Messrs Massey, Fisher, and Laurenson urged the adoption of the Canadian system of keeping public accounts, so that members might know exactly who received the money, and how it was spent. Mr Lauren.son urged a superannuation fund for gaol warders. Mr Ell moved to reduce the item for prisoners' barracks by £1, as an indication that prisons should not be situated in the centre of population, but in the country. This was lost by 37 votes to 23. The. Minister for Justice said he was in favour of warders coming under the Civil Service classification scheme. The vote for the Department passed unaltered, and the House rose at 11.20 p.m.