PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 15131, 23 October 1912, Page 8

PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,

THE IRON INDUSTRY. >1

A COMMITTEE TO INQUIRE.

iBT telegraph.—press association X Wellington", Tuesday. The House of Representatives met at 230 this afternoon. The Prime Minister (the Hon. W. v Massey) moved to set up a Select Committee to consider the petition of F. W Haybittle and others Hoarding the' iron and steel industry in the Dominion, the committee to consist, of Messrs. Oraigie Eraser, Lee, Malcolm, Nosworthv, McKenzie, Sidey, Veitch, 0. M. Thompson, Wilkinson, Davey, and the mover, and to have power to call for persons and papers the committee to report to lie Ho US I within seven days. Mr. Massey said the V ernment had no intention of introducing legislation on the matter this session, but he understood that some important evidence was avail, able and would he put before the committee. Tho motion was carried. The Hon. J. Allen (.Minister for Finance) presented a return showing tho payments of land tax, and a generai discussion on the land tax resulted. A long debate followed on the report of the Public Accounts' Committee. The Births and Deaths Registration Bill was read a third time ana parsed.

The amendments made in the Hauraki Plains Amendment Bill were agreed to'. The House rose at 12.50 a.m.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

CIVIL SERVICE BILL.

I IBY TFXICGRAri;.—PRESS ASSOCIATION*.] Wellington, Tuesday. ! The Legislative Council met at 2.30 this afternoon. On the motion of the Leader of the Council (the Hod. H. D. Bell), the Public Service Bill was recommitted lor the purpose of considering amendments. These were all of a technical character except, that in clause 12 it was thought- desirable to provide that the Government should inspect the departments before the Commissioner entered upon his duties. The old' clause provided that the Commissioner should himself inspect. It was also provided that clauses 3 aid 4 and 6 to 11, inclusive, and sub-section 1 of clause 12 and clauses 13 and 14,' shouldcome into operation immediately 'on the passage of the Bill, while the rest of the Bill should come into operation on April 1, 1913. The clauses include those bear, ing upon the repression of political influence and all the clauses dealing wife the appointment of the commissioners-and assistant-commissioners and their powers.. with the exception of the sub-section, which was altered to permit of inspection being carried out "by "Government- before the appointment of the commissioner. The effect of the changes is to bring the administrative part of the Bill into immediate operation on the passage of the Bill. - Clause 37. requiring separate^■-. examinations to be held for the professional and. clerical divisions, was deleted from. t!i» Bill. It was stated that the Junior Civil Service examinations covered the ground,. and the Education Department considered that the proposal would seriously interfere; ■with the present system of examination*. . ; The Bill was reported with amendments.,; The Defence Act Amendment Bill and the Widows' Pensions Amendment"-BillJ were read a second time on .the voices. ' • The Council- then adjourned. : . _•-