PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 12662, 16 September 1904, Page 6

PARLIAMENT.

[B? TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.] LEGISLATIVE ' COUNCIL Thursday. The Legislative Council met at half-past two p.m. ARBITRATION ACT. On the motion of Mr. Bolt, the return made to the order of the Council on August 10, relating to breaches of award under the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act, was ordered to be printed and circulated to the industrial associations, trades councils, and registered unions of employers and workers throughout the colony, CORONERS BILL. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved the third reading of the Coroners Bill. Mi. RIGG moved the recommittal of the Bill, in order to strike out sub-clause 2, of clause 2, providing that any justice may exercise the powers of coroner in the absence of a magistrate, with a view to inserting in lieu thereof a provision that the Governor may from time to time appoint justices to be acting coroners, with the powers of magistrates, in the event of the latter being unable to act as coroners at any time. The amendment was lost by 10 to 20. The third reading was then agreed to, and the Bill passed. BILLS COMMITTED. The Education Acts Compilation Bill, the Divorce and Matrimonial Causes Compilation Bill, and the Marriage Acts Compilation Bill were committed, and progress was reported aftei passing the first clause of each, in order that the Solicitor-General might be consulted before proceeding further. The Council rose at half-past three p.m. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Thursday. The House met at half-past two p.m. A KING COUNTRY PETITION. Mr. LANG presented several petitions from residents in the King Country, praying that they may be granted the same privileges in regard to voting on the licensing question as are enjoyed by persons in other parts of the colony." STERILISING PLANTS. Mr. SEDDON laid papers on the table of the House to show that colonial manufacturers had not been ignored in connection with the bone-sterilising plants to be erected at Bluff and Auckland, Certain special plant would have to be imported, but for other, portions of the plant he intended to give colonial manufacturers an opportunity to compete. QUESTIONS ANSWERED. In reply to questions, Ministers stated— That the case of Kenneth Harper, .who wag refused admission into America, and placed in gaol in Honolulu by the captain of the 'Frisco mail steamer Sonoma, is still under the consideration of the Imperial Government, and every effort is being made to obtain reparation to Mr. Harper, and the New Zealand Government has urged that the matter be referred to The Hague tribunal. That any amendment of the factory law this session is somewhat remote. That no conclusion as yet has been arrived at as to the personnel of the Royal Commission on the land question. That the question of a superannuation scheme for school teachers is still under consideration, and if possible the Government would like to see every person in the colony over a given age granted, on having contributed a given sum and under safe conditions, a superannuation allowance. That in tilling the vacant position of Government geologist preference will be given to candidates resident in the colony if their qualifications are equal to those of applicants from abroad. That the Government intend to look carefully into the petitions presented to the House by old soldiers, with a view of seeing whether there are any special cases that would warrant the question being reopened. That tho output of coal from the State mines is not yet sufficient to meet general demands in addition to the requirements of the railways and other Government Departi ments, but when the properties at Point Elizabeth and Seddonville are fully developed, the question of establishing depots for retailing the coal to consumers will receive the consideration of the Government. COURT OF FINAL APPEAL. In answer to a question, the Government stated that it is evident that any further proposals for the creation of an Imperial Court of final appeal would, undei present circumstances, be futile, and until public opinion in the colonies has arrived at a definite conclusion as to the constitution And functions of the final appellate tribunal of the Empire it only remains to seek a remedy for the imperfections in the procedure of the present Court. It is hoped that before long tho Government will be in a position to offer to the Imperial Government some suggestions towards this desirable end, GOVERNMENT BUSINESS. It was decided by 42 votes to 20 that for tins remainder of the session Government business take precedence on Wednesdays. FIRST READING. The Coroners Act .Amendment Bill was received from the Legislative Council and read a first time. REPLIES DISCUSSED. The rest of the afternoon was taken up with discussion on the Ministerial replies to questions. The House rose at half-past five. [On resuming at half-past seven p.m., the House went into committee on the Licensing Bill. A report of the discussion will be found in another column.]