PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 11200, 21 October 1899, Page 3

PARLIAMENT.

[BT telegraph.—press association.]

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Friday. The Council met at half-past tiro p.m. PHARMACY BILL. The Pharmacy Bill was passed through its final stages without amendment. POLICE PROVIDENT BILL. When the Police Provident Fund Bill was in committee on Wednesday a new clause was inserted on the motion of the Minister for Education, providing that the measure should come into force oil January 1. On the Bill being returned to the House of Representatives, that Chamber, on the motion of the Premier, disagreed with the proviso, and a message was transmitted to the Council to that effect. On the suggestion of the Minister for Education, the Council decided to adhere to the clause, and reasons for this were drawn up. When these were remitted to the Representative Chamber, the question was regarded as one of privilege, and it was resolved not to argue the point with the Council, but to promote a, new Bill, fixing the coming into operation of the Bill as November 1. When this came up to the Council this afternoon, Mr. Bowen said the matter was one of very great importance, as the privileges of the Council seemed to him to have been invaded. He could not understand why a question of privilege had been raised by the House. No one in the Council was opposed to the principle of the Bill, nor were they concerned as to when it came into operation. The Council had merely passed the machinery clause at the suggestion of the Minister. He thought the Council had been treated with scant courtesy in not having had its message replied to. Mr. T. Kelly thought; the thing to do would be to pass the new Bill, with a resolution, " That by having inserted the clause in the first Bill, the Council did not admit that it had invaded the privileges of the Lower House." Messrs. McLean and Bonar urged that a conference should be held with the Lower House. On the Council going into committee on the Bill, the Minister for Education said he thought the difficulty would be overcome by acting in the manner suggested by Mi'. Kelly. Mr. Ormond was of opinion that if the Council acted so tamely it would altogether barter away its position, and become an object of ridicule. Mi'. A. L. Smith pointed out that the Bill was a new one. The first one had been laid on one side, and another brought forward, in accordance with precedent as between the Houses of Lords and Commons. Mr. W. C. Smith replied to this that the first measure had been laid aside without the consent of the Council, and if this were done in one case, it could be done at any time. It was eventually decided by 16 votes to 8 to pass the new clause, making the alteration in date. The rest of the Bill was passed in globo, and read a third time. The Council rose at a-quarter past five p.m. HOUSE OP REPRESENTATIVES. Friday. LOANS TO LOCAL BODIES. After the telegraph office closed at two o'clock this morning, the discussion on the second reading of the Government Loans to Local Bodies Act Amendment Bill was continued. The motion for the second reading was carried on the voices, after a short discussion. Clauses 2 and 3, as to voting, were struck out, the Local Bodies Voting Act providing for voting. Other minor amendments were made, and a new clause added including Town Boards. The Premier intimated that he would, by Governor's message, bring down at next sitting a proposal to reduce the rate of interest one-half per cent., and at a subsequent stage this was approved, and the Bill reported with amendments. LOCAL BILLS. The Dunedin Town Belt Roads Closing Bill was read a second time. The amendments made by the Council on the Melrose" Gas Bill were agreed to. ' MUNICIPAL FRANCHISE. The Municipal Franchise Reform Extension Act, 1899, Amendment Bill v>as committed. Objection was taken to the piovision enabling residential voters to be nominated to the office of Mayor or couiwi'.br. Mr. Herries moved to report progress, but this was lost on the voices. The Bill passed through committee with slight amendment. The House adjourned at a quarter to five till eleven a.m. The House resumed at eleven a.m. The Premier moved the recommittal of the Municipal Franchise Reform Extension Act Amendment Bill, conferring the right on residential burgesses to become members of municipal corporations and Mayors. He did this, because Mr. Crowther was absent from the Chamber during the previous sitting, and it was understood that Mr. Crowther had received communications from Auckland, asking him to oppose the provision in question. After a long discussion the motion was carried by 36 votes to 15. In committee on the Bill, Mr. Wason moved an amendment to clause 4, in the direction of making the Mayoral office an elective one at the hands of the councillors, instead of the burgesses. The debate was interrupted by the luncheon adjournment. The House resumed at half-past two p.m., in committee on the Municipal Franchise Reform Extension Act, discussion proceeding on the amendment by Mr, Wason, that the Mayor be elected by borough councillors. Mr. G. Hutchison moved to report progress. The Premier said it was apparent that a few members had made up their minds to obstruct business and prevent the session closing to-morrow. Personally, he would make no further effort to wiud up the business this week. After discussion Mr. Wason and Mr. Hutchison withdrew their amendments. Strong opposition was displayed to clause 4, conferring upon residential voters the right to be elected mayor or councillor. On a division the clause was retained by 31 votes to 23, and the Bill reported with amendments, read a third time, and passed. LIFE INSURANCE. The Government Life Insurance Acts Amendment Bill was passed through committee with slight amendment, and at a later stage was read a third time. TRUSTEE ACT. The Trustee Act Amendment Bill was further considered in committee, and progress reported. The House adjourned at half-past five. ANIMALS' PROTECTION ACT. The House resumed at half-past seven, in committee, on the Animals' Protection Act Amendment Bill. Clause 2, that the season begin on May 1 and end on July 31, evoked discussion. Mr. McGowan contended that the only way to protect game was to declare a close season at intervals. Mr. O'Regan thought the question of preserving native birds was of much greater importance than the date of opening the season. Mr. Rolleston thought the question was one of ducks versus ecclesiasfcicism ter)and he did not think that the House should be engaged in discussing such a question at this stage of the session. It was merely making game of the question. (Renewed laughter.) Mr. Carroll moved tc report progress, as it was apparent that the House was not in a humour to consider the Bill. His intention i was to declare a close season for native game. The motion to report progress was carried on the voices. RAILWAYS AUTHORISATION BILL. In committee on the Railways Authorisation Bill, 1 Mr. Taylor said, the mere fact of the House authorising the railway, Waitara to Cheviot, would increase the value of the properties through which the line passed, equal to the amount of the cost of the railway. He advocated the State endeavouring to secure the advantage of that expenditure, moved,an amendment, "That the Act., do not come into force until the BettermentAct is passed." JJ . Mr. Duthie moved an amendment to clause two, to omit the words "undertake-.

or," with a view to prevent works being tarried out on the co-operative system, which he condemned as costly and' ineffective, in which view he was supported by Mr. J. Allen. Mr. Hogg defended the co-operative system of carrying out works, and urged the extension of the system. Mr. Taylor believed in the co-operative system of carrying out public works, but ; said the manner in which the system was administered was to blame. He did not want to abolish the system, but the party manner in which the system was adminis- , tered. , Mr. Lawry submitted that the works car- . ried out under the co-operative system were ( less than under contract. t Mr. Lewis complained that information ; respecting the cost of works carried out , under the co-operative system could not be obtained. , Mr. Wilson said there was a great deal ! of dissatisfaction with the co-operative I system, whether with reason or not ho could . not say, but he thought inquiry should be ( made into the matter. Mr. O'Regan ventured to say that no system had proved so popular as the co- , operative. Failure could be traced in a great degree to people carrying out the work ' who were not in sympathv'with the Govern- ( ment. , Mr. Duthie's was lost on the voices, as was also Mr. Taylor's amendment. [ The Bill was reported without amendment, , read a third time and passed. ; LAND AND INCOME TAX. Mr. Cadman moved the second reading of : the Land and Income Tax Bill. Mr. Duthie said, looking at the large surplus last year, it was a question whether it was necessary to levy the full amount of i the tax this year. The Premier replied that the whole of ; the revenue would be required to supply the wants of the country. ' The Bill was committed, reported without amendment, read a third time, and passed. 1 FACTORIES ACT. | The Premier moved that the amendment made by the Council in the Factories Act Amendment Bill be agreed to. A clause ' passed by the House exempted factories from the Act where only one person besides the owner was employed. The Council's amendt ment exempted a factory where, in addition | to tl(e employer, his wife, or one member of his family is employed. » The motion was lost by 35 votes to 23. , NATIVE LAND LAWS. The Native Land Laws Amendment Bill : recommitted, and new clauses moved, stipulating that no mortgage or lien to se--1 cure the payment of the costs of survey of native land can be enforced by sale or . alienation of the land; this to apply to morti gages or liens created either before or after the passing of the Act. i This was lost by 30 votes to 26. , A new clause was added prohibiting the , sale of land held by natives, either to Crown ■ or any person. 1 The Premier proposed a new clause, pro- . vtding that native land cannot be sold by the holder of a surveyor's lien without the consent of the Governor, and that the Crown should have the first offer 01 the land. , This was carried by 40 to 13. A proposal to add a new clause that no smveyors liens take effect after the passing of the Act, was lost by 30 to 22. Left sitting at two a.m.