PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 11201, 23 October 1899, Page 6

PARLIAMENT.

[BY telegeaph.—press association.]. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Saturday, The Council met at half-past ten a.m. BILLS PAbtiED. The following Bills were put through their final stages —Government Loans to Local Bodies Amendment, Government Life Insurance Amendment, Railways Authorisation, Land and Incomo Tax. The Council adjourned till evening. The Council met at ten p.m. MINING ACT. The Mining Act Amendment Bill was put through its final stages without amendment. NATIVE LAND LAWS. The Native Land Laws Amendment Bill was slightly amended in committee, end then passed its final stages. At twenty-five minutes past ten p.m. the Council adjourned till half-past ten a.m. on Monday.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Saturday. NATIVE LAND LAWS. After the telegraph office closed at two o'clock this morning, the Native Land Laws Amendment Bill was further considered in committee, reported with amendments, read a third time, and passed. TRUSTEES ACT. The Trustees Act Amendment Bill was committed, reported without amendment, and passed. SUPPLEMENTARY ESTIMATES. Die House went into Committee of Supply on the Supplementary Estimates, amounting to £212,701 A motion to report progress, proposed by Mr. Montgomery as a protest against bringing down the Supplementary Estimates after two a.m., was lost by 29 votes to 22. Considerable discussion followed. The first item, Parliamentary librarian £400, was passed, and at this stage the Premier agreed to report progress. The House rose at ten minutes to four a.m. till eleven a.m. The House met at eleven a.m. THE MINING ACT. A discussion of some length took place as to what business was to be proceeded with. Mr. Guinness urged that the Mining Act Amendment Bill be proceeded with. Mr. Flatman urged that, as a compromise, if the Mining Bill were passed that, in the farming interests, the Culiforiiiau thistle Bill should also be passed. Ultimately it was agreed to take the Mining Act Amendment in committee. A new clause, proposed by Mr. R. McKenzie. to reduce the miners' right fee to £1 ss, was lost by 28 votes to 25. The Bill'was reported with amendment. On a motion for the third reading, Air. Guinness complained of the Uoveruor-in-Council making one set of regulations for the whole colony. He advocated setting up Mining Boards in each of the three principal mining centres, to deal with the special local circumstances. The Hill was read a third time and passed. SUPPLEMENTARY ESTIMATES RESUMED. On a motion to go into Committee of Supply on the Supplementary Estimates, Captain Russell urged that the House should adjourn till Monday instead of rushing through the Estimates, so that proper consideration could be given to them. The House adjourned at one p.m. till half-past seven, an amendment that tho adjournment be till ten a.m. on Monday being lost on the voices. The House resumed at half-past seven p.m. The motion to go into Committee of Supply was further debated. Mr. Rolleston contended that the whole administration of the Government had been of the worst character, and degrading to the whole public service. Mr. Rawlins condemned the general administration of the Government, and particularly their failure to bring forward a Technical Education Bill. The reform of the Legislative Council was another question that ought to be considered. If the present Ministrv were returned at the next election it would be the worst thing that ever happened to New Zealand. Mr. Hogg contended that there was not the remotest chance of the present Government being disturbed at the ensuing elections. Air. Wason condemned the system by which men were placed upon ton small areas of land. The Government did not understand the position of the settlers in small blocks, and co-operative labourers in back blocks. He condemned the provision made for railway extension, and the power of patronage invested in the Government. Mr. "Duthie complained that the rate of expenditure of borrowed money during the last. 10 years was greater than at any period since Sir Julius \ogel was in power. Mr. Taylor moved, "That in the opinion of the House no new railways should be authorised until a Betterment Bill had been brought into operation providing that land which had been increased in value by such railways should bear a proportion of the cost of their construction, or until the land has been acquired by the Slate. The discussion embraced the whole land question and the genoral administration of the Government. No progress was made. and at midnight the Speaker left the chair until eleven a.m on Monday.