PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 12696, 26 October 1904, Page 3

PARLIAMENT.

. [BT TELEGBAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.] LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. ■'■■V'' .Tuesday. | ' The Legislative Council met at half-past two p.m. • NATIVE LAND BATING BILL. The Native Land Rating Bill was read at second time pro forma, and referred to the Native Affairs Committee. BILLS PASSED. The Public Officers' Appointment and Powers Bill was ommitted, and reported with certain amendment: relative to the functions and statutory duties of the Commissioner for Taxes. The Bill was read a ' third time and passed. Tin Payment of Members Bill was put through, ftp final stages without amendment. NEW ZEALAND LOANS BILL. The ATTOttNEY-GENERAL moved the second reading of the New Zealand Loans Bill. It was, he said, a purely machinery Bill, and there was power under the Act to raise money without an authorising Act. Replying to an objection raised by Mr. LeeSmith and Mr. McLean, tho Attorney-Gene-ral denied that the Government could, under the Bill, take money from a Department at a lower rate than it would have to pay for a foreign or outside loan. The second reading was agreed to, and the Bill passed through' its remaining stages. Tho Council rose at ten p.m. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Tuesday. ■• The House met at half-past two p.m. FIRST READING. The Convicts' Forfeitures Act Amendment j Bill (Mr. McGowan) was read a first time. RAILWAY ACCIDENTS. Sir J. WARD presented a return, which, showed that of the 1952 accidents recorded in connection with the New Zealand Railway Department during the last five years 1891 were of a minor character, and the total covered all branches of the service, including the workshops. TEACHERS' SUPERANNUATION SCHEME. Mr. Bourne brought up the following report of the education Committee on the subject of a superannuation scheme for ; teachers:—"That in the opinion of this committee the efficiency and permanence' of , our primary system of education is con-, tingent on the improvement of the conditions . under which our teachers labour, and they j regard fc superannuation scheme as the : means best calculated to ensure at once en- j ■couragement to teachers and a vigorous staff to cany on this important work." The report was ordered to bo laid on the j i table, and be referred to the Government. BARMAIDS. • I Petitions praying th« jj-ouso to make, the ; occupation of barmaids legal were re- • ferred by the Labour Bills Committee to the ' Government for consideration. AMMUNITION SUPPLY BILL. The Public Accounts Committee, reporting on the Ammunition Supply Bill, recom- I mended that a clause be inserted in the Bill to provide for the purchase of the machinery, buildings, and plant suitable for the manufacture of ammunition of the kind required j for military purposes. • LAND AND INCOME TAX. ! The Laud and Income Tax Bill was read j a first time. In reply to Mr. Massey, the PREMIER said the Bill was the annual machinery measure. It was then put through all its stages on the voices. THE LOAN BILL. The Aid to Public Works and Land Set-; tlement Bill was introduced by Governor's Message. . •:"> The PREMIER, in reply to Mi. Massey, said the Public Works Statement and Estimates were in a very forward state, and the present desire of the Government was to bring them down in Thursday. In going through the Public Works Estimates during the last few days he regretted to notice that there were not very much in them beyond what had already been voted. In> "fact, there was very little new money in them. The Government intended to cue'down public works expenditure, but it was very difficult to economise in a small country like this. However, the Government would do its best. As to the business on the Order Paper, Mr. Seddon remarked that the country would not suffer much if a great many of the Bills were allowed to stand over till next session.

Mr. MASSEY said he was sorry to hear that the public works expenditure was to be reduced, and contended it would have been better to reduce expenditure in other directions. '

The PREMIER said as to economising in other directions the tendency had been to increase the votes on the Consolidated Estimates, and the Leader of the Opposition had supported those increases. Mr. MASSEY: No. I supported many decreases. .

The BE' was read a first time on the voices.

REFERENDUM BILL.

The Referendum Bill was further considered in committee.

_ The Premier said he was surprised at the time the Bill had already token up, and he urged members to come to some definite conclusion with regard to it. At Clause 3, " When a Bill is to be deemed rejected by either House," Mr. Eraser moved an amendment in sub-section 3, to provide that managers to a conference shall be " selected bv ballot," instead of being " appointed." Mr. Seddon opposed the amendment on the ground that its effect would be to destroy the whole Bill. After considerable discussion Mr. Eraser's amendment was carried by 38 votes to 28. Mr. J. C. Thomson moved to further amend the clause in the direction of fixing the number of managers to a conference at seven for the Legislative Council, and ten for the House of Representatives, instead of ten from each Chamber. The committee decided, by 40 votes to 31, that each branch of the Legislature should be represented at a conference by seven members. Sub-clause 3, as amended, was carried by 37 votes to 34, and. the whole clause as amended was retained by 36 to 29. Clause 4 was agreed to, and progress was reported. The House rose at ten minutes to two a.m.