GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14699, 6 December 1909, Page 3

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

FRIDAY.. DECBMBBR 3. After 2 a.m. the debate on the Valuation Department was continued. In replying to Mr Okcy, Sir J. 6. WARD faid the amount saved by the Government on retrenchment -was £303,603. He could not promise to give the retrenched civil servants employment. The vote was passed without further challenge. 'J'lie vote for the Post and Telegraph Department was passed with the exception of Hi 6 item of £67,700, class 111, for the conveyance of mails by sen, consideration of which was postponed. On _ the Public Buildings vote, Mr MAISSEY said a very serious mistake bad been made in not rebuilding tho portion of the old Parliament Buildings which was burned down. He hoped tills would yet bo done. Sir J. 0. WARD said that if the old buildings had been rebuilt they would probably have cost twice what had been expended owing to the necessity for providing accommodation for members. Mr JLASSEY eaid that the Prime Minister ■ had been talking nonsense. If a contract had been pushed on for an addition to Parliament Buildings it would have been ready for the following session. The vote was passed. HOSPITALS BILL, At 3.20 a.m. tho Hospitals Bill was brought down from tho Legislative Council with amendments, which the Hon. Mr Fowlds moved be agreed to. Several member.'; strongly opposed the deletion of clause 72. Mr FOWLDS said the House would have an opportunity to consider tho matter aijain when the Friendly Societies Bill came before t'he House. On tho motion o[ Mr MASSEY, the House adjourned at 3.35 a.m. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 4. Tiie House met at 10 a.m. A DISPUTED POINT. When the inangahiia County Council Bill was called for its second readme; the PRIME MLVISTBR objected to the provision, for (he extension of the railway, and contended that the bill was not « local bill. Tho SI'UAKER ruled that it was The PRIME MINISTER said tho matter was bo important that he would later on move to question the Speaker's ruling, and tokc tho view of the House Tho Hon. R. M'KE-NZIE moved tho adjournment of tho debate. Sir J. G. WAED seconded the motion, which was carried by 27 votes to 23. LOCAL BILLS. The following local bills were read a second timo:—Kaitoke County (Mr Okey), Wairoa Harbour Board Empowering and Loan (Hon. Mr Carroll), Wellington City Streets Empowering (Mr Luke), Opunako Harbour Amendment (.Mr Dive), Wa.ipukurat Reserve (Mr Hall), Taranalri Agricultural Society Empowering (Mr Okcy), Otago Dock Trust Lands Reclamation and Street Widening (Mr Clark), Gisborno High School Amendment (Mr Cairo) I), Otago District Hospital Board, '.Ka.itanga.ta Reserve Vesting (Mr Allen), Now Plymouth Harbour Reclamation (Mr Okey), Beef ton Recreation Reserve (Mr Guinness), Heathcoto Road Board Waterworks (Mr Lairrenson), Auckland City tons Consolidation and Empowering (Mr Banme), Otago Harbour Board Empowering (Hon Mr Millar), Otago Dock Trust Merger Act (1908) Amendment (Mr Clark), Otaki County (Mr Luke). HOSPITALS BILL. The Hon. Mr FOWLDS threw out a suggestion than, an amending bill could be introduced to meet the position caused by the throwing.out of clause 72 by tho legislative Council. He might have to abandon the bill if the amendmente were not agreed to,

Tho Hon. Mr BUDDO said tho clause did not a-ffeet the main buy as existing. At present there was nothing to prevent a hospital authority entering into an agreement with other bodies such as friendly societies for payment in respect of maintenance- of members of such, sociotits. A short amending bill might be introduced to meet the difficulty, and ho suggested that an agreement be come to with tie Council that this bo done At 11.55 tho Hon. Mr FOWLDS replied, f «d he was proceeding when the iiouso rose fit 1 p.m.