PARLIAMENT.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLVII, Issue XLVII, 7 November 1912, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. (United Press Association.) ( WE'DLIN&TON, Nov. . 6._ The Legislative Council met at 2.50 p.m-. The Land Agei»ts-.Registration Bill was put through committee with a new clause 'proposed iby the Alinister, that a. land agent should not be entitled to recover commission under the Bill unless (1) he was the holder of a. license, or (2) Ills engagement in the sale or~d:sposition of land was in the>- writing of person, to be charged with such commission, tt was further provided that the Bill should come into operation oil Jftiiuary 31st, 1913. The Bill was passed., The Council did not insist on its amendment- to the Taieri Land Drainage Bill. The following Bills were passed : The Shearers' and Agricultural Workers' Accommodation Amendments Westport Harbour Amendment, Education Amendment, and the Opunake Harbour Amendment. In committee on the. Plumbers' Registration Bill the Minister inserted an amendment in clause 22 to permit- inspectors who are not registered. or the holders of Royal Sanitary Institute cer tificates employed by local .'bodies, to remain in such employment- after the expiration. of one year from the date of ■passing o£ the Bill. The Council then adjourneil, and resumed at, 7.30 ; p.m. The Railways Authorisation Bill, Public Service Classification and Superannuation; Amendment Bill, and the Napier .'Harbour Boaid Amendment Bill were read the second time. The Napier Harbour Board, Railway Authorisation and Public Service Classification -Bills . were 'passed through all stages, and.the Council rose at 10.30 till 11 a.nr.' to-rrorrow.i ' / HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House of Representatives met at 2.30 p. nr. Tihe Hon.. A. Al. flyers asked the Premier if the Defence Minister .Would be present at the proposed conference at Vancouver, mentioned in (the- morning ■pa.pers. The Hon. Air. Alassey replied that it was imnossible for him- to state- whether Air. Allen could : be present o.r not. Air Allen would represent the Government on defence matters while in England, as well as other matters. It was quite impossible for him- to make public the policy of the Government with regard to defence matters.. Tire, chairman of the Labour; Bills ■Committee reported that the Committee had recommenced that the Shops and Offices Act Amendment Bill should he allowed to proceed. Air. H. G. Ell urged - that the. House should iproceed with the Bill this session. Some 10.000 people were affected by the proposed Bill, a.nd these would look .to the Prinye iMinister for a n explanation. :Alr. W. A. Veitch appealed for consideration. for the workers. Air. G.. W. Russell spoke in a similar view. He'knew the' Premier was in sympathy with the proposals, and should put j them through. It would only . take half an hour. Air H. J. H. Okev said the Committee had received telegrams from all.over •the country asking for an opportunity to give evidence in regard. to the Bill. Mr. H." Atmore declared that ' the Labour Bills Committee was practically unanimously in favour of the Bill.. Parliament' should stand for the principle that every man and woman in New Zealand was -entitled to one day's rest rweek. Air. A. H. Hindmarsh moved that the committal' of 'the Bill should >be m:;do an order of the day for 5 -p.m. The Hon. F. Al. B. Fisher said he I first- intrcduced the Bill in 1907. and it. had ibeen broupi'it jn during every ses sion- since.; but it had been kept under by the previous. Administration. The Hon. J. A. Millar- had described, it as a piece of class • legislation. . The Prime 'Alinister had ■ given his pledge to allow objectors sufficient time to give evidence, and 'that was a ..fair attitude. The .Pre mier 'had promised to -have the Bill passed next year. He asked if tiherewas any possibility of getting the,Bill through this session. Air. Massey denied .that ho had over civ-su his pledge to pass the Bill thi? vear, and had suggested to a deputation a doubt that -he would ibe able to d-enl witih_ it "in; any, way this, session. ,TW Bill included private hotels and boarding houses... Next" 1 session- he would bring- - down a- comprehensiye Sho,ps and Offices. Bill,, and full provision; would be made for r th£.' takinc of evidence. Sir-J... G. Ward ; said as- Air. Alassey had given his '.pledge ,about the hearing of evidence, it vyquld -only; be! honourable for the House-, to keep his ' promise.. The question was talked out," arid the Hous. e adjourned till 7:30 p.m ; . The House went into committee on the Reserves and. Other Lands. Disposal and the Puiblic Bodies Empowering Bills, which were reported, and read the third time. * The chairman of/the- Public Accounts Committee brought'tip t& rejgort of . the c-on:,mibtee of -inquiry into the workings of the. State Guaranteed Advances Department. Air. Allen moved .the second, reading, of it-lie. New. „ Zea-land ■ State Guaranteed Advances Amendment Bill; which provided that loans to local bodies would have to be ..paid for at the rate which the money cost to raise, pliis administrative expenses. The Department, he said/ was .in a . 'bad- state, having made commitments for vear's ahead at per cent., .irrespective. the money coflt. the "country. When he assumed office he foui.Kj -commitments .to 1914, at 3i per -It had -beeni said that the Post j'Office :bad -promised £1.500,000 next year •j for loans :to local 'bodies, .but he could 'tind no recoi'd of such a.-promise. He :could not s-se where t'he money was comfrom.. The previous Administration had brought the Department -to.a stand <st,ill by reckless, .me-thpds,. the cut-ting .'down of maximum loans to £SOOO liad /been occasioned by, the wild' commitments of his predecessors in office. They proposed next session to ; bring down a Local Goyernme-nt Bill which would providfv for the proper .classification of local (bodies, according" to their needs, and requirements. They' intended to do away with the roads and bridges ivote. Sir Joseph Ward contended that the