PARLIAMENT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20256, 15 November 1927, Page 10

PARLIAMENT.

YESTERDAY’S PROCEEDINGS. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. (Feb United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, November 14. The House met at 7.30 p.m. BATHURST BURR. Mr D. Jones (Ellesmere) asked the Minister of Agriculture (Mr O. J. Hawkeu) if he would give instructions to have the merino sheep from Australia, to be exhibited at the Canterbury A. and P. Show, shorn before they leave Christchurch on account of being badly infested with Bathurst burr, an extremely dangerous weed. Mr Hawkcn said he had already give instructions to prevent the spread of Bathurst burr. GISBORNE HARBOUR WORKS, The A to L Public Petitions Committee reported on a petition of some 600 Gisborne residents praying that a commission be set up to inquire into the expenditure in connection with the Gisborne harbour works, that the petition be referred to the Government for consideration :.nd inquiry. QUESTION OF PRIVILEGE. On the motion of Mr E. P. Lee (Oamaru) the Special Committee considering the question of privilege was granted three extra days in which to report.. LOCAL BILLS. The House then proceeded to deal with Local Bills. , . The amendments made by the Legislative Council in the Wellington City and Suburban Highways Construction and Hutt Road Amendment Bill were, on the motion of Sir John Luke (Wellington North), agreed to. The following local Bills were put through all their stages and passed The Newmarket Borough Council Vesting Empowering Bill (Mr J. S. Dickson (Parnell), the Lower Hutt Borough Council Empowering Bill (Mr T. M. Wilfor , Hutt), the Napier Foreshore Bill (Mr J. Mason, Napier). Mr D. G Sullivan (Avon) moved the second reading of the Christchurch Tramway District Amendment Bill, which met with considerable opposition. At n m. the second reading was agreed to. The Wellington City and Suburban Water Supply Bill was read a second time ■without debate, and the House went into committee on the Christchurch Tramway Bill. When Mr D. Jones (Ellesmere) moved to report progress the Prime Minister suggested that the member in charge of the Bill should report progress with a view to holding a conference with the opponents of the measure on the disputed points. This course waa agreed to, and progress was reported. INTERMEDIATE CREDITS. The House then proceeded to consider an amendment to the Rural Intermediate Credit Bill proposed by the GovernorGeneral. The Prime Minister explained that the amendments were of a machinery nature, and had been agreed to by the departments concerned. - Considerable opposition was made by the Labour members to the proposal to make it possible to deposit rural intermediate credit funds in other financial institutions other than the Public Trust Office. They contended that this step was being taken in the interests of the associated banks. Sir- Joseph Ward .said it would be a pity to allow the scheme to start with a suspicion that any change was made in the interests of the associated banks. Ho knew this was not the case, because only one bank could handle Government moneys. Labour members challenged the adoption of the amendments, which, on r division, were adopted by 34 votes to 8. The whole of the amendments were then adopted. ' . The House rose at 1 a.m. till 2.30 p.m. to-morrow.