PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15747, 23 October 1914, Page 7

PARLIAMENT.

AMENDMENT BILLS.

LENGTHY CONSIDERATION.

1.3Y TELEGRAPH.— ASSOCIATION.)

Wei.lixcto.v, Thursday. Consideration of the Legislative Council Reform Bill was continued after the telegraph office closed last night. Sir Joseph Ward moved that the Maori members be elected, two for the North Island and one for the South. The amendment was lost on the casting vote of the chairman.

Sir Joseph Ward further moved that all the councillors, except life members, should retire in 1917. The Premier characterised the amendment as a gross breach of faith with members who were appointed for seven years. Further, it was hopeless to expect the members of the Council to accept such an amendment. The amendment was lost by 26 to 24.

The remaining 20 clauses were passed in a few minutes, without amendments. Mr. McCombs moved a new clause, the effect of which is that the Council will be fully elective in 1920. The Premier accepted the amendment, which was carried. The schedules were then passed and the Bill was reported. A loan Bill authorising the raising of £3,000,000 in aid of public works and land settlement was introduced by Governor's Message and read a first time. The House rose at 1.24 a.m. When the House met at 2.30 p.m. the Premier read a lengthy statement to the House on the subject of war risks. The Hon. Mr. Fraser moved that the amendments made in the Local Railways Bill by the Legislative Council be agreed to. The motion was carried. The House went into Committee on the Legislature Amendment Bill No. 2. The Hon. Mr. Fisher issued an Order Paper containing a number of amendments, the chief one of which was an alteration in the voting of seamen. The seaman, it is now proposed, shall vote in the electorate in which, he signed his articles. There was a lengthy debate upon the proposals. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. MANY BILLS PASSED. far TELEGRAPH.— ASSOCIATION/} Wellington-, Thursday. . The Council met at 2.30 p.m. The Road Boards Amendment, Municipal Corporations Amendment, and Workers' Dwellings Act Amendment Bills were read a first time. The Hon. H. D. Bell gave notice to move that the Standing Orders be suspended, to enable local Bills to be put through all stages in one day. The Hon. H. D. Bell moved the third reading of the National Provident Fund Amendment Bill. The Bill had no relation whatever to the proposal to provide for the subvention of friendly societies. The debate was adjourned upon the motion of the Hon. R. Moore.

The Education Reserves Amendment Bill was taken in Committee. Progress was reported and leave asked to sit again. The Hon. H D. Bell moved the second reading of the Road Boards Amendment Bill. The measure proposes to confer upon road boards power to obtain money for the construction of drainage works. The Bill was put through Committee without amendment, read a third time and possed. The Hon. H. D. Bell moved the second reading of the Municipal Corporations Amendment Bill, which makes provision for a poll to be taken upon the inclusion or exclusion of an area in a borough. The Bill was put through Committee without amendment, read a third time, and passed. The Council rose at 4.40 p.m.