PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XL, Issue 12409, 23 October 1903, Page 6

PARLIAMENT.

[BY lELEGBAFE.— ASSOCIATION.] LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Thursday. MUNICIPAL CORPORATIONS BILL. The Council met i*t half-past two p.m., in committee on the Municipal Corporations Bill. A new clause was inserted, on the motion of the Attorney -General, to prevent councils leasing recreation reserves on building lease. Another new chius* was inserted, giving the councils power to make cycle tracks on any street, and make regulations for the control thereof. The Bill was reported. ANIMALS' PROTECTION BILL. In the Animals' Protection Act Amendment Bill, a new clause was inserted, enabling a boiaa-fide occupier of land or his son, or any one person appointed I by the owner, to kill game on the owner's j land without penalty. This clause is in substitution of section 7 of the principal j Act. The Bill was reported. SAND DRIFT BILL. The Sand Drift Bill was reported unamended. SEA FISHERIES BILL. In committee on the Sea Fisheries Bill, a i-oviso was inserted in clause 6 (fixing the I open season for rock oysters), to the effect . that the Governor may close the season for j any time not exceeding three years. The Bill was reported. The Council rose at five p.m.

?p HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. TUDKSDAT. a ORCHARD PESTS BILL. Daring the ei.rly hours of the morning. Mr. Duncan. moved the committal of the Orchard and Garden Pests Bill. He said l " very strong representations had been made to 16 him during the past two years that this Bill was very necessary. The export of fruit va* . prevented to a great extent oh account of: j the presence of pestsi. ' Mr. Massey said the object of the Bi'l was ie a good one, especially the provisions to prevent the introduction of diseases from other ]' countries; but be objected to the indefinite "'. nature of the clauses imposing a penalty on '* an orchardist who did not do whatever was necessary to eradicate disease. If the Bill "' became law the success of its working would l ' depend on the judgment and tact exercised , a in its administration. ' Mr. McLachlaii did not believe any harm '* would be done by allowing the Bill to go * for another year, and moved that the Bill '•' b9 committed si:c months hence. a After a lengthy discussion Mr. McLaehlan's amendment- was lost by 29 to 13. He a then moved to report progress. This v. as s . lost by 32 to 11. Next he moved that the * chairman leave the chair. This was also b defeated. Mr. Duncan then moved to report pros gress, and this ma carried on the voices, ? and the House rose. * The House met at half-past two p.m. e FIRST READING. The Oamaru Harbour Board Loan Bill - (Mr. Duncan) was introduced, and read a i first time. I TIMBER EXPORT BILL. The Timber Export Act Amendment Bill, r to increase the export duty on timber logs . ' from 3s to 5.5 per 100 ft, was introduced by . Governor's message. Mr. Seddon said lie was- advised that the j extra 2s duty would, prevent kauri logs be- , ing exported* from the colony. The sawp ! millers had asked for the Bill, , I The first reading was agreed to on the j voices. ' I MIDLAND RAILWAY PETITIONS ' j SETTLEMENT BILL. > j In committee on the Midland Railway ! j Petitions Settlement Act Amendment Bill, l Sir W. Russell pointed out that, although 5 j it. was nominally a. 4 per cent, loan, there . j was power to pay a much higher rate of 5 ! interest. » Mr. Seddon said he did not intend to I give more than 4 per cent. > Mr. Jas. Allen said the Premier wanted I j an unlimited power of discount. Mr. Seddoa reiterated that the Bill limi- . ted the interest to 4 per cent., and he had no doubt he could get the money at that . rate. j After considerable discussion, the Bill passed through committee without amendment. , , i LOANS RENEWAL BILL. i In committee on the Public Loans Rel newal Bill, Mr. Massey urged that a sche- > dule should be inserted in the Bill setting . out the Acts to which it shall apply. <■ The House rose at. half-past five p.m. The House resumed at half-past seven p.m. Mr. Seddon said the Bill applied to loans issued, not to those to be issued. Mr. Massey: Loans raised for advances to settlers? Mr. Seddon: No, but lam not so sure that I should not bring down a Bill to extend the present rate of interest to the others '' in certain events. 1 Mr. Massey said he believed this Bill would apply now to.loans for advances to settlers. He moved to insert in clause 2 » the words, "in every case mentioned in the schedule hereto." Mr. Duthie thought the Bill as it stood would apply to land for settlement loans authorised but not issued. Mr. Seddon said he hud hud the matter ; gone very carefully into during the adjournment, and he was advised by the law officers that the Bill only referred to loans , previously issued and for which authorities . had been ' given. , Mr. Massey's amendment was rejected by 45 to 22, and the Bill passed through committee unaltered. s j TREASURY BILLS EXTENSION BILL. In committee on the Treasury Bills Extension Bill, Mr. Seddon stated that to his mind the periodical date of expiry was a mistake. So long as they had a limit to i the amount to be issued from time to time . ! that was all that was necessary. This Bill I did not propose to give power to issue more ; than the £1,476,000 authorised by the Act : of 1893. Mr. Duthie contended that the amount available for genera] purposes was by this Bill increased by £476,000 by reason of the extension of the bills for that amount, which were issued for the express purpose of redeeming Imperial guaranteed debentures. Mr. Jas. Allen thought the Premier wished to raise this year the. whole of his Treasury bills for seven years. Mr. Seddon said" a Colonial Treasurer , would only be landing himself in' trouble by issuing Treasury bills for seven years. On the Premier's motion, clause 2 was amended by the addition of the words, " having a currency not exceeding twelve months from the date of issue or renewal." LOAN BILL. In committee on the Aid to Public Works and Land Settlement Bill, Mr. Massey said ; that as the interest in the Bill was higher ; the term should be shorter, say, 25 years. ', Mr. Seddon replied that as he was getting , money locally he woulft issue debentures . for a shorter term, probably 15 to 20 years, * suiting those from whom he borrowed. • He ' would also include in the debentures a claim giving the Government the right to pay oh" | the loan within a certain period. He re- \ iterated that he felt sure he would be able . to raise the money locally at 4 per cent. The clauses of* the Bill were passed as printed. • At the schedule, Sir W. Russell mov'ec to strike out the Midland railway from the list of railway works to receive a share of tin loan money. He considered it monstrous that the colony should spend money on £ line like that. Mr. Seddon defended the allocation, anc said large commitments had already beer entered into in connection with that line which must be met. Canterbury had nol had its fair share of loan money for many years. He considered the Midland lint would be as good a paying line as any un der construction, not even excepting the North Island Main Trunk line. He was not so sure as to the payable character of tin North Island Main Trunk line. _ Mr. Massey said the Premier had prac tically admitted that the Government hat entered into these contracts before Parliament had sanctioned the outlav. "Mr. Hall-Jones said! it was most ridiculous '° s "Sgfst that the Government should lei (he Midland line become idle after all th< expenditure there had been on it. l Mr. R j McKe},zie said the fact that West land had not gone ahead was due to tin locking up of the Midland railway reserves

As soon as these were thrown open there would be a very large increase of population. After considerable discussion, Sir Win. Russell withdrew his amendment, and the schedule passed unaltered. .* FISHERIES ENCOURAGEMENT BILL. In committee on the Fisheries Encouragement Bill, several members urged that the Bill should be withdrawn, as the progress made ' by the fish-canning industry had not justified" the bonus paid. The Bill passed through committee unaltered. SCENERY PRESERVATION BILL. Mr. Seddon moved the second reading of the Scenery Preservation Biii. He said he thought all would concur in the desirability of reserving the beauty spots which were now being destroyed. It was necessary that something should be done to preserve these spots of scenic and historic interest. The Bill proposed to set apart £25,000 a year for four years for the purpose of purchasing these spots. Mr. Massey thought the Bill was intended to serve a very commendable purpose. He . urged that there were many parts of j historic interest which ought to be reserved, but he thought it was too much to ask for £100,000 for the purpose. The information as to spots suitable for reservation could be got from members of the House without going to the expense of setting up a com mission. Sir J. Ward complimented Mr. Ell on I his efforts in this direction. Our scenery, i he said, was one of our most valuable assets, and it was our duty to preserve it. After considerable debate, in which members generally expressed approval of the Bill, the second reading was agreed to on the voices. The House rose at twenty-five minutes to one a.m.