GENERAL ASSEMBLE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15915, 7 November 1913, Page 6

GENERAL ASSEMBLE

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

(Per United Peess Association.l WELLINGTON, November 9.

The Council met at 2.30 p.m. CHURCH OF ENGLAND TRUST BILL.

The Hon. Mr SINCLAIR moved the third reading of the Church of England Trust Bill. The Hon. Mr DUTHIE raised a debate on the question as to whether the trust at Wanganui was being observed. The Hon. Mr SINCLAIR, in reply, assured the Council that the trusts were not affected by the Bill, and no powers were asked for that were not granted In the original trust. The Bill was read a third time and passed.

MUNICIPAL CORPORATIONS BILL.

The Municipal Corporations Act Amendment Bill was read a second time pro forma and referred to the Statutes ReVision Committee.

LOCAL AUTHORITIES INDEMNITY

BILL.

The Local Authorities Indemnity Bill was put through all its stages and passed unamended.

BEER DUTY BILL.

The Council further considered the Beer Duty Act Amendment Bill in committee, the following new subsection being added to clause 7, on the motion of the Minister: "Nothing in this section shall -apply to the sale by the holder of a publican's license or of a wholesale license under 'The Licensing Act, 1908, of beer in respect of which the duty has been duly paid, and which is contained in jars or demi-johns not capable of containing more than five gallons, provided that every such receptacle capable of containing two or. more gallons shall be clearly labelled with the name and address of the vendor."

The Bill was then read a third time and passed.

SCIENCE AND ART BILL,

The Science and Art Bill was put; through committee, read a third time, and passed with minor amendments moved by the Minister. The Council rose at 3.55 p.m.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,

The House met at 2.30 p.m'. RAILWAY BILLS.

The Railways Construction Act Amendment Bill and Railways Authorisation Bill, introduced by Governor's Message, were read a first time.

The former Bill provided for the construction of portion of the East Coast railway at Taneatua, for the extension of the North Auckland line to Waima, and for a small extension near Te Puke, which would be used' for handling gravel for Toads and ballasting. The Bill also provides for the construction of lines by private companies and individuals. The principal Act is also amended to provide that the limit of the cost of construction be raised from £5000 per mile to £8000 per mile. AMENDMENTS AGREED TO. The amendments made by the Legislative Council in the Science and Art Bill and the Beer Duty Act Amendment Bill were agreed to. THE LAND BILL. The amendmentsroade by the Council in the Land Bill were agreed to after a short discussion, during which Mr Massey said he was at present in communication with the Valuer-general of Lands respecting the classification of Crown lands. Up to the present he was not able to convey anything to the House on the matter. RAILWAYS BILL. The House went into committee on t/he Government Railways Act Amendment Bill, the discussion covering the whole railways administration. , The' Hon. Mr HERRIES, in reply, said he was going to look into the question of ticket examination by guards, but so long as they continued the present system of tickets frequent inspection during the course of a journey was necessary. Regarding rolling stock, he stated that last year 1032 new trucks were added to the supply,, and this year 1400 new wagons had been built, and he thought these would meet all requirements, as he understood that less grain wa3 being grown in the South Island. He hoped that the information in this respect was not correct, because he was looking with considerable apprehension to the returns from the South Island lines. The northern lines were not losing, but they were not doing as well as he would like. Complaint had been made regarding newspaper vendors on trains annoying passengers. He had endeavoured to restrict this nuisance, but hid not been able to do as much as he wou'id have lilted owing to the pressure brought to bear upon him by the newspaper proprietors. As far as possible the manufacture of tarpaulins had been distributed dominion. Replying to further questions, he stated that lie had been through the question of freights with the General Manager, and he thought that something better than the existing conditions could be evolved. The whol© matter would be gone into during the

recess.

Mr DAVEY called for a division on the clause dealing with offences on the railways. seeking to abolish the law prohibiting the transfer of tickets, but the clause was carried'by 28 votes to 21. The Bill was then reported as amended.

SECOND BALLOT REPEAL. The Hon. Mr FISHER gave notice to introduce the Second Ballot Repeal Bill. The House rose at 0.15 a.m.

— The word month is from the AngloSaxon " monath," and originally meant tho interval between two moons.