PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15823, 23 July 1913, Page 6

PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

NOTES FROM THE PRESS | GALLERY. i (From Ode Own Cobrespondeni.) \ WELLINGTON, July 22. " Mr Ngata, M.P. lor the Eastern Maori district, took his scat in the House to-day lor the first time this session. THE COUNCIL RESUMES. The Legislative Cou/icil resumed its sittings this aiternoon with a good attendance of members. The tenure, oi uie oiraiig wastne exposition of the Legislative Council Bill by the leader of the Chamber (the Hon. H. 'D. Bell). Mr Bell spoke lor over an hour, giving a clear and complete exposition ot tlie Bill. He stated thai it was because the Council had aliirmed the principle of an elective chamber and had asked lor a postponement that this measure was introduced in the Council and not in the House of Representatives, 'liie Bill will be very fully discussed by the members of the Council, awl the debate will last probably for about 10 days.

QUIET DAY IN THE HOUSE. To-<lay was not an exciting day in the House. The principal discussion was on tho Police Offences Act Amendment Bill, which passed its second reading at halfpast 10 by 37 votes to 22. After the Amendments Incorporations Bill, the first Bill to pass the House this session, had been put through its committee and third-reading stages the House adjourned, the time of rising being 10.40 p.m. The early adjournment was, it is stated, partly due to a number of members being still somewhat indisposed as the result of vaccination. PENSIONERS' HOMES. The Hon. F. M. B. Fisher staled to-night that lie intends to bring down an amendment to the Pensions Bill dealing with tlie clause relating to the pensioners' homes. At present this is liable to revaluation, and in the event of an increase of value the pension may be correspondingly reduced. Tho amendment will provide that a pensioner's homo will be assessed always at its original valuation when the pension was first granted, so that if a pensioner continues to reside in the same house his pension will not be reduced' bccause the valuation of the lilace is increased.

BLACKBERRY PEST. Novice of two questions to tile Government regarding that arch-pest, tlia blackberry, were placed on the Order Paper today.* Sir Walter Buchanan wishes to know .whether tile Government will endeavour to 'discover some effective means to arrest the alarming rate of the increase of the noxious weed. Mr Wilkinson is asking the Minister of Agriculture whether he will laic steps to stop the sale of blackberry plants by seedsmen who advertise the same lor public sale by catalogue? THE BUTTER KINGS. Mr Wilford has given notice to ask the Prime Minister whether he does not consider that the time has arrived for a Koyal Commission to bo set up to investigate the operations of tho ''butter kings, and'whether he docs not think that tiie people of New Zealand have been exploited?