PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 16025, 17 September 1915, Page 4

PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

CONSIDERATION OF ESTIMATES.

[BY TELEGRAPH. TRESS ASSOCIATION.] Wellington, Thursday. The House continued consideration of the Estimates this morning. The Customs and Marine vote, £180,920, was passed in a few minutes, and the House proceeded to discuss the Mines Department. The vote of £36,485 was passed after the Minister had promised to consider every application for assistance towards prospecting and water races. The vote for the Labour Department, £31,377, passed without discussion.

On the vote, Lands and Survey, £239,357, Mr. Anstey asked for an explanation of the item, remissions of rent. The Prime Minister gave an assurance that no rent was remitted except in cases of hardship. The vote then passed. The vote for the Agricultural Department, £213,946, was discussed until 1.30 a.m., when it was passed. Progress was then reported, and the House rose. / The House met at 2.50 p.m. The Prime Minister received a cablegram from 'the Imperial Press Bureau, outlining Lord Kitchener's review of the war, the reading of which was received with applause. The second reading of the Land Transfer Acts Compilation Bill was moved by the Hon. A. L. Herdman, and carried without discussion. The Minuter claimed urgency and the Committee stage was taken at once, the Bill passing without amendment. The Committee stage of the Births and Deaths Registration Amendment Bill was also taken. The Minister in charge, the Hon. G. W.- Russell, moved a new clause providing that in the case of an illegitimate child adopted by other parents the names of its natural parents should not be disclosed, and to that end should be removed from the original register. The clause was passed, and the Bill reported as amended. The Hutt Road Bill (No. 2) was taken in Committee. Mr. Wilford contended that the contributing local bodies had been misled by a statement of the cost made by the then Attorney-General, the Hon. Colonel Pitt, and that the allocation of the cost was unfair. He was supported in this view by Messrs. Wright and Field maintaining a protracted discussion in support of their view. At 11.30 p-m. the first clause was passed, and at clause 3 Mr. Wilford again interrupted the progress of the measure with "a demand that the rate of interest charged to the local bodies be 3$ per cent., as originally intended, raid not 4 per cent., as provided in the Bill. The Minister could not accept an amendment in that direction. [Left sitting.]

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. [bt TELEGRAPH.PRESS ASSOCIATION-] Wellington, Thursday. The Council met at 2.30 p.m., and there being no business to transact, adjourned until to-morrow.