MUTUAL FIRE INSURANCE.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1648, 30 September 1903, Page 50

MUTUAL FIRE INSURANCE.

DEPUTATION TO THE PREMIER. PRIVATE MEMBERS’ BILLS. The Premier on Monday morning received a largo deputation of members of Parliament, who urged that the Mututal Fire Insurance Bill should be placed upon the statute book _ this session. The deputation comprised Messrs Kirkbride, McNab, Buchanan, Mander, W. Fraser, Bonnet,, T. Mackenzie, Major, Colvin, Alison, Houston, Rutherford, Herries, J. W. Thomson: J. C. Thomson, McLachlan, Lang, Rhodes Tanner, Moss, Davey, Eleid, Kidd, Massey, Lawry, Hardy, R. McKenzie and Sir W. J. Steward. Apologies for non-attendance were tendered for Messrs Symes, Jennings, Hogg, Lethbridge, Witty, Remington, Willis, Vile, Smith, and Hall. Mr Kirkbride hoped the Government would afford facilities for the passing

of the measure that he had had th® honour of introducing some weeks ag°* He pointed out that the seoond reading of the Bill was carried by 62 votes to 2, so that the Hon so was practically unanimous. The Bill was an earnest endeavour on the part of the country people to obtain cheap rates of insur-. ance. The country settlers al,l New Zealand were asking that the Bill should be placed upon the statute book. It was not a question of party; it was for the good of the people, and if passed into law would he tor the good of the Government itself.

Messrs McNab, T. Mackenzie,.' Tanner, R. MoKeuzie, Bennet, Rutherford, W. Fraser Major, Buchanan Moss, Kidd, 1 and Sir W. J. Steward supported Mr Kirkbrido’s view. _ The Premier said the decision in this matter rested with members themselves. If the Government business progressed satisfactorily, then it would give some time for one. or two Bills now in the hands of private members. As things wero going, however, it was impossible in the limited time to deal with any private Bilis, for members had made up their minds as to how long they would remain. He did not think they would step there after the Canterbury sho-w. It had never been done before, and he did not think it would be done now. The work of the session had been very slow; and he enumerated the following Bills which had been passed and assented to: —Rotokare Domain, Road and Town District Rating, Weights and Measures, First Offenders’ Probation, Inebriates Institution, Supreme Court Judges, Arbitration Court .Emergency, Wireless Telegraphy, Inspection of Machinery, Dairy Industry, and Counties. Two private Bil,ls had been passed. The State Fire Insurance and Single City Electorates were before the Legislative Council. About twenty local Bills were on the order paper, in addition to about 62 Government Bills, A very large proportion of these measures would not take long to pass if members made up their minds to go on with them. The present progress they were making was at the rate of one Bill in two nights. That being so, it looked as if they had a long time before them in Wellington this session, or else a lot of. these Bills would have to be sacrificed. He did hot intend to sacrifice any Government Bills to make way for private members’ Bills. If good progress was made, however, he would recommend that certain private Bills be proceeded with. Amongst the Bills the Government had been requested to take up were the Marriage Restriction Removal (Sir William- J. Steward), Coal Mines Amendment (Mr Colvin), Mutual Fire Insurance (Mr_ Kirkbride), School Committees Election Bill (Mr Ell), School Committees Funds Bill (Mr Buddo). and Mining Act Amendment (Mr R. McKenzie). Ho did not wish to coerce members, but he saw no signs yet of members making up their minds to put such Bills through as were necessary. He did not wish to be forced to the com elusion that there was a deliberate attempt being made to keep back Government business, but whatever was the matter, it was quite evident that they were not getting on with the work, and when it took up a day to put through an Imprest Supply Bill, his experience of last Friday night did not encourage the Government to take up private members’ Bills. In regard t‘o the Mutual Fire Insurance Bill, it was a measure that had the full concurrence of the Government, and lift believed it was a Bill that would meet the requirements of the farming community. He had had representations made to him from all parts of the colony asking the Government; to assist in getting the Bill placed upon the statute book. He had not known any Bill that had come before Parliament where there was such unanimity as there was upon this Bill, and as leader of the House it was his desire to give effect to the wishes of Parliament. It was his desire also to remove the reproach that had been made, in regard to no business having so far been done this session. He thought they ought to look upon matters in a broad * light, realise their responsibilities, and place upon the statute book such Biljs as were necessary in the interests of the country. As he had said, if he could got satisfactory progress made with the business, he would ask Cabinet to agree to take up some of these measures as Government Bills. Mr T. Mackenzie explained that in voting against the MutuaJ. Fire Insurance Bill, he did not do so because he was opposed to it, but simply to get a division on the measure.