GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14284, 5 August 1908, Page 5

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TUESDAY, AUGUST 4. The House met at 2.30 p.m. ' The Roman Catholic Archbishop of Wellington Empowering Bill wns rend a third lime, and passed. NEW BILLS. Tho following bills were introduced and road a first time:-Otago Dock Trust ' Merger Bill (Mr E. G. Allen), Foxton Harbour Board Rill (Mr Stevens), and Ma(amata County Rill (Mr Oreenslado). BREACH OP'THE STANDING- " ORDERS. Tlio PRIME MINISTER drew attention ! to the fact that some person unknown had circulated on members desks in the Houso a leaflet issued by the anti-vaccina-tionists. Ho strongly objected to such a practice, and eaid ho, hoped it would not continue. The -SPEAKER said he understood that ' Mr Greenslade was responsible. He must point out- that by doing so the member . had been guilty of a breach of tho Standing Orders. ■ No documents could ao circulated without" the .Speaker's consent Mr GREENSLADE apologised, and'said ' he had aeled in ignorance of the rule • referred to. He was proceeding to make a speech on- tho subject, of the leaflet, but the House refused to listen to him. MARRIAGES VALIDATION. On the motion of Sir WM. STEWARD the Marriages Validation Bill was dis- ' charged. PETITION FOR A RAILWAY. , On'the report of the Public' Petitions Committee upon the petition for a Waiukti branch railway, stating that- as tho petition involved a question of policy, the com- - inittee had no recommendation to make. •Mr MASSEY, speaking on a motion that ' the report do lie upon the table, asked whether this meant that the petition would ' go to the Government or into the waste paper basket. The SPEAKER said the petition would ! not go further-than the table. Mr MASSEY objected to the report on tho ground that the-public had a right to petition Parliament, and Parliament had , a right to .refer the matter to the Government. ■■ . .The PRIME MINISTER .said this poti- , tion was similar to, the one ho had referred to. last week, asking for expenditure on publio works. The Government ; alone bad ' the power to place a sum on the Estimates for such works, and Govern- ' ment should be petitioned direct. Mr MASSEY and several others strongly protested against tho doctrine enunciated . by the Prime Minister holding that Par- ' liament had a perfect right to sav whether , a work in respect -of which expenditure . was asked!for was a proper one for publio '. expenditure or not.. Whilst the Govern- - ment alone could initiate expenditure Parliament had the right to control it. ! : Ultimately, M was resolved that tho re- • port lie upon tho table, and be referred to the; Government. ' ADJOURNMENT. ' | The PRIME MINISTER gave notice to ; move on the next sitting day that the • House do adjourn at 6.30 p.m. on Friday ' next until 2.30 p.m. on tho 18th inst, THE LATE HON. MR FELDWICK. ! The PRIME MINISTER referred with , regret to tho death of tho Hon. Mr Feldwick, who had filled positions in both Houses since 1878 in a manner redounding to tho' best interest, of all concerned. In tho south; ho was highly respected as a man of kindly disposition, ready to do a 1 good tunr to'anybody. 'Ho had taken- j a prominent part ;,in volunteering, accli- , matisation, and educational matters in Southland, and deep regret would be uni- • vcreally felt at bis 'death. ' ' Mr MASSEY said Mr Feldwick was a ' kindly and genial man, and a personal . friend. He never did anything to hurt i the feelings of anybody. He was a man of high ideals and one of the most popu- j lar men in the. Legislature. It was right i tl]at they should do honour to his memo'ry. : Mr HANAN paid an eloquent tribute to ' the momory. of tlio late Mr Feldwiclt. n Sir Win, Steward, Mr Hornsby, Mr ' Thomson, Mr Rutherford, the Hon. Air ' M Nab, the Hon. Mr Duncan, and Mr ' ilatman also spoke. J THV PRIME MINISTER moved-".That J this House do place'on record its high ' sense of the services rendered to the Lorn's- ! laturo by-tho late Mr Feldwick, and do respectfully tender to his widqw and ' family an assurance of the sympathy of the J House in their, bereavement." The was carried in silence. ! Dr CHAPPLE here craved tho indul-' j genoe of the Speakor to present a petition, ' but the House' oxoressexl its strong disap- ' urova.l of 6uch an' interjection, several mom- ■ born crying-!' Shame!'* ''- I The PRIME MINISTER moved that < the Houso do adjourn until 2.30 p.ro. ! to-morrow as a mark of respect to tho ' memory of the late Mr Feldwick. l . Tho motion wa6 agreed to, and the ' House rose at 4.13 p.m. I