PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XL, Issue 12400, 13 October 1903, Page 6

PARLIAMENT.

[BX TF.Lr.GBAIPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.] : MOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. > Monday. The House met at half-past seven p.m. FIRST READINGS. The Property Law Bill was received from the Legislative Council • and read a first •time.. £''■'"■. . ■ . A Bill to extend the currency and time for payment of Treasury bills, and a Bill to /facilitate the renewal of certain public loans were introduced by Governor's message and read a first time. STATE FIRE INSURANCE BILL. Mr. Seddon moved that the amendments made by the Legislative Council in the State Fire Insurance Hill be agreed to. Mr. Massey was afraid the Premier had not thoroughly studied the amendments. He . raised the point that two of the amendments were really alterations of money clauses, and therefore constituted an infringement of the privileges of the House! Mr. Guinness i|the Speaker) ruled that the amendment made by the Council in clause 24 (making the approval of the board necessary before the general manager can apply to the Treasury for supplementary capital) was an infringement of the privileges of the House. Mr. Seddon thereupon omitted that clause from his motion, and it was decided also to disagree with a, technical amendment in another clause. _ Messrs. Seddon, Massey, and Baume were appointed a committee to draw up reasons for disagreeing. MILITARY PENSIONS BILL. The Military Pensions Act Amendment Bill passed its final stages on the voices without discussion. COOK ISLANDS GOVERNMENT BILL. The Cook and Other Islands Government Act Amendment Bill was committed. Messrs. Hemes and Massey strongly objected at clause 3 to the dangerous power being placed in the hands of the Governor of raising or lowering the Customs tariff in Cook Islands. The power should only be exercisable subject to nhe approval of the House. Mr. Mills said there need be no fear of any great reduction o:r increase in the tariff. Mr. Seddon said the excessive duty on tobacco was one of the points the natives complained of, and the Government wished to relieve them of it, but not altogether. Mr. Massey objected to the power the Governor would iaave of imposing a 10 per cent, duty on New Zealand produced articles imported* at the Islands. Mr. Seddon said the Government would not put any import on New Zealand manufactured goods that would place them at a disadvantage with goods from other places, or even place them on equality with others. After considerable discussion Mr. Seddon moved to amend the clause by explicitly preventing the Governor-in-Council from levying duties on New Zealand manufactured goods. ' ■'

This was agreed to on the- voices. Mr. Seddon moved Another amendment, providing that the Governor may, by Order-in-Council, impose a duty not exceeding 10 per cent, on goods shipped in New Zealand, and providing for the payment of drawback in New Zealand.

Mr. Hemes urged that the power of levying duties should not lie vested in the Governor, but in the House, and he moved a proviso that such Order-in-Council shall not Have effect unless confirmed by the House before the close of the ensuing session. ■

After considerable discussion Mr. Seduon added to his amendment . a provision that all Orders-in-Council shall be laid before Parliament within 20 days after the commencement of each session.

Mr. Hemes' amendment was lost by 28 to 24, and Mr. Seddon's amendment, as altered, was agreed to on the voices. Mr. Massey moved a new clause to provide that it shall not be lawful to impose any Customs duty in the Cook or other islands, with the exception of Nine, on goods the produce of or manufactured in New Zealand. • This was lost by 32 to 24. : HUTT ROAD BH.L. v / ... The Hutfc Road Bill passed through committee with amendments. SANDDRIFr BILL. In committee oh, the Sand-Drift Bill, clause 2 was amended to provide that the Act shall only come into force upon the application of a majority of the ratepayers. An amendment, proposed by the Lands Committee, making the Act apply to Crown lands, was agreed to with modifications. The House rose at twenty minutes to two a.m.