PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14767, 24 August 1911, Page 6

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

PENSIONER SETTLEMENTS.

SIR MAURICE O'RORKE'S SCHEME.

fBT TEIJEGRAI'H.— ASSOCIATION.!, Wellington*, Wednesday. Tire Legislative Council met at 2.30 p.m. and adjourned to present the Address-in-Reply to the Governor. Upon resuming, the chairman read the Governor's formal message of thanks. Replying to Sir Maurice O'Rorke (Auckland) the Hon. J. McGowan (Auckland), representing the Ministry, said that the question of complying with the request of the University Senate for a Bill to enable the Senate to grant divinity degrees was under the consideration of the Government. ,

Sir Maurice O'llorke moved, "That in the opinion of the Council it is desirable to establish a few pensioner settlements along the Main Trunk line between le Awamutu and Marton, each pensioner to receive a cottage and an acre of land in the settlement.' and 20 acres within live miles of the settlement three years after arrival; each pensioner to be married and accompanied by his family." The mover strongly urged* the importance of putting such persons on the unsettled lands of the country." He pointed out what Sir George Grey liad done to establish settlements of the "kind in the vicinity of Auckland in 1847. The Hon. S. T. George (Auckland) who supported the motion, said that the original settlements were more for the pur-' pose of defence than anything else. He would like to see the motion taking the direction of small farms rather than village settlements for these men. The debate was adjourned and the Council rose.

HOUSE OP REPRESENTATIVES.

ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS.

The House of Representatives sat at 2.30 p.m. In reply to.questions Ministers stated that, following the usual practice electors whose names have been removed from the roll of one electorate to that of another on account of the alteration of boundaries will be notified by the registrar of the name of the electorate to which they have been transferred. It was not intended to introduce legislation this year' to extend the margin of "difference as to population quota, so as to enable the.Representation Commissioners to amend their proposals and adjust the proposed boundaries to preserve community of interests. The Government will duly consider the question of setting up a Commission to investigate the question of the increased cost of living. The question of establishing periodical efficiency tests in connection with certain classes of work in the railway service was already engaging attention. It was proposed to introduce this session an amendment to the Education Act making . it clear that teachers transferred against their will would have the same right of appeal as if they were dismissed. The question of allowing members of the education service who are not at present contributors to the Teachers' Superannuation Fund to have the right to become contributors as original members was now under consideration. The question of the salaries of male secondary assistants in district high schools was under consideration. The Minister did not think that having made the scale the same for men and women, teachers, he could now make any differentiation in favour of men. , LAND AGENTS' REGISTRATION. On the House resuming in the evening Mr. Witty (Riccarton) moved the second reading of the Lands Agents' Registration Bill. This measure, he pointed out, was not so much to safeguard the land agent as to safeguard the public against unscrupulous land agents. Mr. Poole (Auckland West) said that land agents were getting rather bad characters. Seventy-five per cent, 'of them were honest, and these were entitled to consideration. A measure of this description was very necessary, and should be placed on the Statute Book without delay. Hon. D. Buddo said that even if Mr. Witty was unsuccessful with hid measure this session it was no reason why he should not eventually succeed, as had been the case with a large number of other measures introduced by private members. The Hon. Geo. Fowlds was opposed to imposing license fees, as that tended to create a monopoly, or if the fee was imposed, it shoidd be a small one. Mr. Whitty replied, and the Bill was read a second time.

Sir James Carroll moved an adjournment at 11 p.m. • Mr. Fisher (Wellington Central) opEosed the adjournment, " saying that his .egislature Amendment Bill should have been taken. The action of the House, had been an absolute indictment of the party system, as members were obviously, wasting time. He entered a strong objection against that method of killing the Bills of private members. ; The House divided on the amendment by Mr. Fisher that the House should not adjourn. ■■:--. - -.•'-- The motion was carried by 35 votes to 15, and the House rose at 11.20 p.m.

POLITICAL NOTES.

THE PRESS ASSOCIATION. [BY telegraph.—special correspondent.] , .. Wellington, Wednesday. • , The suggestion of Mr. Davey (Christchurch East) that a select committee should be appointed to ascertain the methods of ' the Press' Association in the distribution of news was replied to in the House of Representatives by the ActingPrime Minister % this afternoon. If such a committee • was set up, he stated, an enormous quantity of debatable matter would be brought forward. He promised that the question would be very carefully considered. AUCKLAND PETITIONS. • The Public Petitions Committee have reported that they have no recommendation to make on the petitions of Richard Kearns, of Auckland, for alleged arrears of salary owing by the Postal Department, and of Richard J. Feltus, of Auckland, for an inquiry and compensation for alleged ill-treatment in the Auckland Mentall Hospital. The committee have recommended to the Government for favourable consideration the petition of Eliza Jane Adams, of Auckland, for compassionate allowance on account of her late husband's services in the Customs Department, and that of Sarah E. McCaskill, of Hik'utaia (Auckland), for compensation for loss sustained during the Maori war. When the report on the petition of Mrs. Adams was presented Mr. Poole (Auckland West) strongly supported the recommendation, and Mr. Fisher (Wellington Central) spoke to a similar effect, explaining that the petitioner's late husband had had an irreproachable career in the Government service of 20 years, at- the "end of which he was receiving only a comparatively small salary,