N.Z. PARLIAMENT.

Otago Witness, Issue 3005, 18 October 1911, Page 36

N.Z. PARLIAMENT.

TUESDAY, OCTOBEE 10. The House met at 2.30 p.m. MINISTERIAL STATEMENTS. The PRIME MINISTER made astatement in connection with the electoral rolls and land settlement a* reported elsewhere. NEW BILLS. The House then went into committee on the drafts of eight bills brought down bv Governor's Message. 'The bills read a first time were New Zealand Notes Bill, New Zealand State Guaranteed Advances' Act Amendment Bill, Old Age Pensions' .Bill, Widows' Pensions' Bill, Public Works' Act, 1908 Amendment. Bill,' Tramways' Act,. 1908 Amendment Bill, Death Duties' Act, 1909 Amendment Bill, Land Tax and Income Tax Amendment Bill.

LOCAL BILLS. The Kaikoura Hospital Site Bill was read a third time and passed. The Auckland University College Act Amendment Bill and the University of Otago Council Bill were read a second time. ... SECOND READINGS. The Tramwavs' Act Amendment and the Methodist Church of New Zealand Bill were read a second time. The House adjourned at 9.40 p.m. DUTY ON GIFTS. A proposal is made in' the Death Duties Amendment Bill, which wa« introduced this afternoon, to exempt from duty gifts not exceeding £IOOO in value; this provision being retrospective. Should such a gift be followed by a second, which makes a total exceeding the exempted amount, duty will be' payable on both sums. Under the present act the exemption is £SOO. Successions not exceeding £2OO in value are, it is proposed, to be exempt from duty. i PUBLIC WORKS ACT AMENDMENT. The provisions of the amending bill introduced by the Minister oi Public Works are principally technical. A proposal is made that all electric lines other than those used to telegraph, telephone, or Wireless telegraphy purposes or for the transmission of power for electric tramway purposes shall be licensed. Any interest in land acquired from the Crown or a: local authority in an exchange of land for roads or any other public purposes is exempted from the limitation clauses of the Land Act. A similar exemption is extended to closed roads and land taken but not required for a public work and afterwards sold. These provisions are 'similar to those of a private bill introduced a few weeks ago by Sir William Steward.

PENSIONERS WITH DEPENDENTS. The bill, to amend the Old-age Pensions Act contains a provision for the. extension of the right to receive pensions in the case of persons having children dependent upon them. Thus a male of 60 years or a female of 55 years who has to maintain two or more children under the age of 14 years will be entitled to a pension as prescribed by the principal act, with the addition of such sum not exceeding £l3 per annum as the magistrate determines. Such increased pension .will, of course, cease to be paid when the children have passed the specified age. . JOTTINGS. Petitions praying that professors and lecturers should be brought under the superannuation scheme have been referred by the Education Committee to the Government for favourable consideration. The Post and Telegraph Department list for the fihancial year 1911-12 was laid on the table of the House this afternoon. HOUSE RISES EARLY. Members were very much surprised when Sir Joseph Ward announced shortly before 9.30 this evening that ho would not ask the Hou6e to take any fresh business, and suggested that they should forgo the usual supper adjournment and continue sitting to complete the matter immediately before them, after which they should adjourn "until to-mor-row. It was a curious sequel to the Prime Minister's notice of motion to sit on Mondays during the remainder of the session. Some supposed that he must have wished to make his first day in the House after his illness a short one, but the more general view was that the Government wished for a little more time before going on with the more important bills, as apart from the jiew bills introduced to-day there is very little on the Order Paper. LOCAL GOVERNMENT BILL. Unless it is being saved up as surprise packet for the last days of the ses sion, the long-promised Local Gov<arnme-nt Bill will not make its before the legislators leave for their homes. This Ministerial promise of a better order of things has become invested with fragile oharms, like those of the rainbow, and, like that phenomenon, it always remains unapproachably distant. The remarks made by the Pnime Minister an hour before the House rose last year have acquired an amusing interest during the last few weeks. " We shall have before us next session a Local Government Bill," he promised, " and I have no hesitation in saying that when the House sees that ball It wild insist that it is one of the

bills that should be pxit before the country before being given effect to, for the reason that it will contain important policy proposals that will affect this country for all time. For that reason the consideration of the bill by Parliament should not be hurried." Apparently with a view to avoiding an undesirable hurry, the Prime Minister is going to postpone the introduction of the bill for another year.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 11. The House met at 2.30 p.m. CIVIL SERVICE CLASSIFICATION. The PRIME MINISTER laid on the table the proposed classification of -the New. Zealand civil service, /-■ NEW BILLS. The Christchurch District Drainage Act Amendment Bill (the Hon. Mr Buddo), the Rating Act Amendment Bill (the Hon. Mr Buddo), the Elingamite Rehearing Bill (the Hon. Mr Millar), and the Dunedin Technical School Site Bill (the Hon. T. Mackenzie) were read 'a first time. REPLIES TO QUESTIONS. In repiying to questions Ministers stated that The Government was very desirous of encouraging horse-breeding on proper lines, but it was probable that any monetary assistance that might be given could with greater advantage to the settlers generally be devoted to the establishing of a system of subsidies for approved sound stallions, on lines similar to those upon which the King's premiums were granted at Home. Tiie whole matter was now being considered by the Government. In regard to the question as to whether the Government would amend the Public Service Act so as to increase the annuity of widows under the teachers' superannuation scheme from £lB to £26 per annum, the matter would receive consideration when the actuarial investigation now being made was completed. Much depended upon the general position of the fund as to whether any concessions could be made. The Minister's attention had been drawn to newspaper articles of the 16th September on the subject of gambling in chocolates by children,- and it was considered desirable that children should, if possible, be prevented from indulging in a practice of the kind referred to. In reference to a statement by Mr Keefer (president of the Tairawhiti Maori Land Board) that he resigned because of interference and dictation from the head of the department in the administration of his official duties, which he resented, the Minister (Sir Jas. Carroll) said there had been no interference or dictation by the Department of Native Affairs in respect to the performance of any judicial duties by the president of the board.

The decision in the case of Sherwood v. the New Zealand Shipping Company, in which the court held that the widow of a man who was killed while in the employ of the company was not a dependent under the act, being separated from her husband, although she had a claim against the hueband under a maintenance order, had been noted, and. the Minister was consulting the Crown law officers on the subject, with a; view, if possible, to giving any persons likely to be similarly affected the protection of the act. The Government understood that certain Norwegian firms proposed to carry on whaling off the New Zealand coast, and to moor .vessels in suitable harbours for use as floating factories for the purpose of working up the by-products into marketable commodities. There was no law to prevent this, provided the harbour and the health regulations were complied with. It wag not likely that many whales would be caught in territorial waters, and it was not within the power of the Dominion to prevent anyone taking them outeide such waters. v 0 The rest of the afternoon was occupied in discussing the answers given by Ministers to questions.

Mr MILLAR, speaking of workers' homes, said that wherever land was obtainable at a reasonable price the department was acquiring it for workmen's homos, but the difficulty was to get land at a reasonable price. MONDAY SITTINGS. When the House resumed at 7.30 p.m. the PRIME MINISTER moved that on and after Monday, October 16, and for the remainder of the session, the House should meet on Mondays for Government business. Mr MASSEY suggested that the first Monday sitting should commence at 7.30 p.m., and the PRIME MINISTER agreed to this. The motion was amended to this effect, and was carried on the voices. THE PACIFIC CABLE. The PRIME MINISTER moved that the House should approve of the proposal for a Pacific cable between New Zealand and Australia direct. He explained that the scheme was for a cable direct between Auckland and Sydney, the headquarters being moved in each case to trie city telegraph stations, with the result that retransmissions at each end would be avoided. The undertaking was estimated to cost £175,000. There had been a considerable loss of business ae a direct result of delays on long lengths of line, and a direct cable must be provided if present business was to be increased, or even maintained. The estimated saving by the direct service was £BOOO per annum, in addition to expediting the service.

Mr MASSEY said the proposal was virtually approved of last year. He considered that the closing of the Doubtless Bay station involved a considerable loss to the country, though it would probably be a. better arrangement to have Auckland as the headquarters in New Zealand. The business of the Pacific cable showed a falling-off from 96,648 messages in 1909 to 87,326 in 1910, while more than a corresponding increase was shown in the business of 'the Eastern Extension Company, which increased from 19,812 messages in 1909 to 33,273 in 1910. He in-

quired whether any reduction in the cable charges was proposed. Mr LUKE urged a reduction in the charges on press cablegrams in order that a news service might be furnished in greater detail. Mr ALLEN said New Zealand was contributing £6OOO this year to the Pacific Cable Board, and there was some ground for anxiety regarding the increase in the Eastern Company's business at the expense of the" Pacific cable. A similar alteration in business had occurred in connection with press cablegrams. Sir J. G. WARD replied that all the Government messages from New Zealand to England were sent via the Pacific. The variation in business was due to the fact that during the last two years the Eastern Company had gained a "large amount of commercial business as a result of the efforts of a special.canvasser. Similar enterprise shown by the Pacific Cable Board brought larger business. In 1902-3 the deficiency to which New Zealand had been required to contribute was £10,057, and in 1909-10 it was only £662o—a reduction of £3400. He was confident that the new cable would bring a large amount of new traffic to the board's lines. He advocated provision for a nationalised cable across the Atlantic between England and Canada. 'He had submitted this proposal to the Imperial Conference. The present position was that if a sufficient reduction was made in the charges on Atlantic cablegrams the construction of a British Stateowned cable would be postponed. He was persuaded that it 'would be incomparably better to have an independent press service from England to New Zealand, and hoped that the existing agreement for the supply of cable news from Australia would not be renewed. He considered that the service of news from New Zealand to the United Kingdom was quite ii'adequate, and an arrangement for ttii independent service would afford means for more effectively advertising the Dominion in this respect. The motion was carried on the voices. OTAGO UNIVERSITY COUNCIL.

When the' University of Otago Council Bill (the Hon. T. Mackenzie) was in Committee it wa3 decided to reduce the number'of members appointed by the Governor from four to two. Provision was inserted for the addition of two members of the proposed council, one to be elected by the school committees and one by the Otago Hospital and Charitable Aid Board. The bill was then reported with amendments. TEAMWAYS BILL. The Tramways Act Amendment Bill was next taken in Committee. A new clause was inserted, on the motion of the MINISTER, that when a local authority has delegated the authority conferred upon it by an authorising order, the Minister may, on the issue of the renewal of a license, charge a fee not exceeding £2 in respect of every carriage licensed, the fee so charged to be paid by the Minister of Finance to the local authority to whom the authorising order was issued. Provision was also made in a further new clause for the registration and storage of lost articles, and the imposition of a reasonable charge to the owners in respect of such registration and storage. Mr DAVEY moved a new provision, that each car shall have a corridor up the middle, and that all cars which now hav* no such corridor shall be converted into corridor cars at the rate of 10 per cent, per aiinum. This was agreed to, with a proviso exempting cable cant. Mr WITTY moved a new clause to give a local authority power to levy a special rate to meet a deficiency on the working of an extension that proves unremunerative, the rate to be confined to the district concerned.

After discussion the clause was withdrawn, the understanding bein£ that the clause be printed and brought up again before the measure reaches its final stages. The bill was then reported with amendments. METHODIST CHUECH BILL. The Methodist Church Bill was put through committee without amendment. The House rose at 0.45 a.m. WALTON PARK RAILWAY. A petition asking for the extension of the Walton Park railway to Brighton is referred by the Petitions Committee to the Government, as a question of policy is involved. DUNEDIN BILLS. The Ihmedin City (Waipori Falls) Lands Vesting Bill and the Dunedin City and Suburban Tramways and Water-power Act Amendment Bill were reported from the Local Bills Committee to-day. There has been added a proviso safeguarding the mining privileges extending below the junction of the Lee Stream and the Taieri River. , UNRELIABLE STATEMENTS. A slight breeze arose in the House this afternoon when Sir Joseph Ward accused Mr Massey of making "statements" at Levin. The Leader of the Opposition had sa.id that the public debt had increased from £67 per head in 1906 to £Bl in 1911. Questions and replies being the business before the House at the moment Mr Herries inquired what the Prime Minister's remark had to do with questions. Sir Joseph War-d : It has a great deal to do with the expenditure of public money. He followed this up by accusing Mr Massey of making a great number of extraordinary and unreliable statements at Levin.

Mr Ma.ssey indignantly protested, and challenged .the Prime Minister to prove that he had made any statements that were either incorrect or unreliable.

Sir Joseph Ward : Well, you said that you supported old-age pensions. Mr Massey said he would produce the division list to show that he had supported the first Old-age Pension Bill. At this stage the Speaker interposed and terminated the discussion. TRAVELLING SECOND CLASS. In reply to a question by Mr G. M.

Thomson, Mr Millar to-day stated tfiat arrangements had been made to place chair seats of a suitable design in the second class carriages used on long-dis-tance trains, and the work would be carried out e.s eoon as practicable. A VERANDAH AT WAIKOUAITI. " Owing to the large number of urgent and important works that have had to be undertaken during the current financial year, there are no funds to be allocated for the erection of a verandah at the Waikouaiti Station. I regret that the matter must therefore remain in abeyance until a more favourable opportunity arises. It has, however, been noted, and will be considered with other works to be undertaken in the future." • Thus the Hon. MiMillar in reply to a question put on the Order Paper by Mr E. H. Clark.

PITY THE POOR POSTMISTRESS. Sir Wm. Steward put a question on flie Order Paper. with a view to getting an increase in the salary of the postmistress at Waihoa Forks owing to increased work. Sir Joseph Ward, however,.. has replied that the salary paid is already considerably in excess of the scale. Inquiries are being made about the alleged increased work,- which the returns to hand do not appear to show. STATE BANK. Notice has been .given by Mr Arnold of a proposal that the House of Representatives should appoint a committee to inquire into the question of the expediency of establishing a State Bank for the Dominion. The committee to have power to confer with any similar committee appointed by the Legislative Council. Mr Arnold suggests that the members of the committee should be Messrs Arnold, Ell, Fraser, Hanan, - Hogan, Laurenson, Mander, Millar, Myers, and Rhodes. FUTURE OF MAORI RACE. Mr Herries has given notice to ask the Prime Minister (1) whether the following portions of the Hon. Sir J. Findlay's Parnell speech, as reported in the" New Zealand Times of October 10, is an exposition of the new Native policy of the Government or of Sir J. Findlay :—" He believed the day was not far distant when, with the heightened standard of education among the race, special representation of the Maoris in Parliament would be unnecessary. The -Maori, as that day neared, must foe placed in the same position as the European in regard to the duties of citizenship and the use of the land. He mentioned that day was coming fast"; and (2) if this Policy, which has been always advocated by the Opposition and opposed hitherto by the Government, is to be adopted by the-Go-vernment, will they bring down legislation this session to give effect to it ?

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 12. ! The House met at 2.30 p.m. PENSIONS FOR VETERANS. Mr LUKE asked the Prime Minister if he would promote legislation to grant pensions to veterans who served the country in the naval, military, and volunteer services during the Maori war. Sir J. G. WARD said that the whole of the pensions would come before the Cabinet for consideration before the Supplementary Estimates were completed. The Government would carefully consider all the petitions sent in. The old soldiers' claims dealt with by the magistrates would be considered, but whether it was possible to go beyond that he could not say. SITE OF THE CAPITAL. Sir J. G. WARD presented a petition from Mr Coleman Phillips praying for the removal of the site of the capital from Wellington to a site between Featherston and Carterton. The petition was received with laughter. RAILWAY MATTERS. In answer to a question, the PRIME MINISTER stated that aftailway Authorisation Bill would be brought down before the end of the session. Mr HOGAN asked if it was possible to set up another committee to deal with railway matters. The Railways Committee was engaged in investigating the claims of the first division, but besides that there were the claims of the second division, and several other petitions rewarding railway matters. ° The Hon. Mr MILLAR said he thought it was somewhat late in the session for such a course to be taken. Any petitions not dealt with this session would come before the committee next session. THE RACING COMMISSION. In answer to Mr Jennings, the PRIME MINISTER said he would have to communicate with the chairman of the Racing Commission before he could state when the commission would sit to reconsider its report, LOCAL BILLS. ' The Hea.thcote County Boundary Bill, the City of Christchurch Empowering Bill, the Mosgiel Borough Empowering Bill, the Awatere County Bill, the Ashley Subdivision and Waimakariri Ashley Water Supply Board Bill, and the Franklin and Manakau Counties Bill were read a third time and passed. WELLINGTON CITY EMPOWERING BILL. The House then went into committee on the Wellington City Empowering Act Amendment Bill. Mr WILFORD moved to reinsert a clause struck out by the Local Bills Committee, which -gives the Wellington City Council power to make charges for entrance to sports grounds a.nd the Zoological Gardens on 30 days in the year. The clause was altered to give power to the council to charge for admission to the reserves on 20 days in the year, providing that not more than 10 of the days were Saturdays. The bill was reported. The Mount Hutt County Bill was then committed. Progress wa6 reported at 0.30 a.m. The House rose at 0.45 a.m.

LAND TAX REVENUE. A return showing the revenue from land tax during the last four years was presented in the House of Representatives this afternoon. Particulars are as follow : 1907-8. ,1008 r 9. 1309-10. 1910-11. Ordinary ...£346,166 £383,844 £417,668 £416,426 Graduated ... 185,999 209,247 220,044 203,492 Absentee ... 5,680 5,809 4,557 2,W4 Totals ... £537,846 £604,900 £642,270 £628,723 During the four years there has been no loss of gradual land tax caused by the subdivision of estates. EDUCATION ENDOWMENTS. An interesting return relative to education endowments, prepared on the motion of Mr Fisher, was presented in the House of Representatives this afternoon. It shows that the area set apart since Decembr 31, 1906, as general, primary, and secondary educational endowments, exclusive of those for special schools and universities, amounts to 43,888 acres, of which 27,070 acres were leased at March 31, 1911. Of the area set apart prior to December, 1906, 770,025 acres were leased, making the total area leased on March 21 797,095 acres. The revenue received from these endowments during the last financial year was £1512 5s lOd from lands reserved since 1906, and 66,327 6s 8d from those reserved prior to 1907—a total revenue of £67,839 l2s 6d.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 13. The Council met at 2.30 p.m. FIELD DIVORCE BILL. The committee which considered the Field Divorce Bill reported that it had added new clauses providing for a decree nisi to be granted by the Supreme Court, on proof that the allegations in the preamble were correct. A BILL AMENDED. The Guardian Trust and Executive Bill was also reported on by a Select Committee. Several new clauses were added providing for an audit by the Auditor-general and the proper legal status of the company. LATE MR FLATMAN. A letter was "read from- the widow of the late Mr Flatman, ex-M.P., thanking the Council for the resolution passed by it on the'death of her husband. ADMINISTRATION BILL. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved the second reading of the Administration Bill, which is intended to remedy some defects in the existing law in connection with the administration of estates. The bill was read a aecond time. The Council then rose.

The House met at 2.30 p.m. BILLS. The University of Otago Council Bill, Auckland University College Bill, and Methodist Church of New Zealand Bill were read a third time. The Dunedin Technical School Site Bill, Elingamite Rehearing Bill, and Christchurch District Drainage Amendment Bill, land and Income Tax Bill, Death Duties Amendment Bill, and Public Works Act Amendment Bill were read a second time. CLASSIFICATION. . Mr MILLAR laid on* the table the railway classification list—the D 3. Mr ARNOLD remarked that it w 7 as impossible for civil servants to find their position on the classification list, and he asked if the Government would bring down the nominal roll showing the position, and salary of every member of the service. Sir J. G. WARD replied that it would' be necessary to provide the nominal roll, but he was not sure whether it could be completed before Parliament rose. If not, he would have it circulated duiing the recess. Each officer would be informed of his position, so as to give him the right of appeal. The classification would not become law until it was confirmed by the Home. When the classification list was adopted the nominal roll would become permanent, and would show the position and salary of every member of the service. SHIPPING AND SEAMEN ACT. The Hon. Mr MILLAR, in moving the second reading of the Shipping and Seamen Act Amendment Bill, said the chief clause of the bill repealed the clause in the principal act relating to the power of the Government to collect a percentage on bills of lading in the case of ships carrying coloured crews. The Home authorities objected to the New Zealand Government having any authority over bills of lading issued in England. The Imperial assent was given to the original act on the condition that the portion of the clause relating to Home bills of lading was repealed. The bill made this undertaking good. It also contained a clause providing that, where seamen were left on shore in New Zealand by reason of illness, they were deemed to be discharged. The bill also contained provisions ensuring the deposit of certain sums of money for the maintenance of seamen left on shore. The bill was read a second time. RATING ACT AMENDMENT.

The Hon. Mr BUDDO moved the second reading of the Rating Act Amendment Bill, which provides that where on the taking of a. poll in any district the system of rating on the unimproved value is adopted the system 6hall apply to water rates, gas 1 rates, electric light rates, sewage rates, and hospital and cha.riable aid rates leviable under the principal act. A second clause provides that in any district where the sy-stem was in force on the 'commencement of this act a. poll may be taken on a proposal that the said system shall apply to the said rates.

Mr WILFORD held that the holding of a poll should be mandatory, and not optional, as provided in the bill. Mr WITTY and Mr FRASER upheld this view, holding that the ratepayers ehould have a say in the matter.

Sir J. G. WARD said the bill was practically a permissive one. He agreed to make the second clause mandatory and compel a vote of ratepayers to be taken. It was quite right that the people should take a vote if the rates mentioned in the bill were to be brought under the rating on unimproved value. In practice it would be better to have uniformity of system in the boroughs. The whole of the l-ating on unimproved value system in this country was working very well. The rating system was working unsatisfactorily in connection with pastoral runs, and Parliament would be asked to alter it this session.

The Hon. T. Y. DUNCAN welcomed the Prime Minister's statement in regard to the mandatory clause. Mr ALLEN said he failed to eee that sufficient reason had been given for the change in. the system of ratings He thought that for water purposes it was unfair that a large supply should be let off in proportion, and a smaller building should have a larger rate imposed. The same applied- to sewage rates. Mr ELL congratulated the Prime Minister on initiating such a fine scheme of rating. Mr NEWMAN referred to the case of holders of small grazing runs in the North Island. The runs were, he contended, taken up on the inducement that the rates were particularly light, whereas the act of last year greatly increased the rates. In some eases they were quadrupled. They had the worst tenure of any Crown tenants —21 years' leases, with no certain right of renewal.

The bill was read a second time. DOMINION ART GALLERIES.

A favourable reception has been the lot of the petition by the four art societies.of the Dominion for State assistance. The petition has been dealt with by the Public Petitions A to L Committee, and in its report to the House of Representatives this afternoon the committee recommended that an annual grant of £IOOO should be assured to «ach of the four cities' art galleries". The report was adopted.

MONDAY, OCTOBER 16. The House met at 7.30 p.m. OLD-AGE PENSION^. The PRIME MINISTER moved the second reading of the Old-age Pensions Act Amendment Bill, the principal clause of which provides that where any person who, being a male, has reached the age of 50 years, or a female the age of 55 years, and has dependent on him or her two or more children, shall be entitled to a pension, the amount of the pension, to be as prescribed by the principal act, with the addition of a sum not exceeding £l3 per annum, as a magistrate in his discretion, having regard to the circumstances of the case, has determined. He stated that the scheme would cost some £IO,OOO per year extra. The rates of tne present pensions where there were dependents would be increased by 50 per cent., and the maximum pension would be £sl per year. Mr FISHER asked that . Imperial pensions should be exempt under the act. Mr WILFORD suggested that railway superannuation should apply in a similar manner.

Mr HOGAN said he thought the scheme should be extended to the indigent at 60, the blind, maimed, crippled, and deformed.

Sir J. G. WARD, in reply, said the question of applying, the-system to railwaymen who were superannuated was all a matter of money. Last year the scheme had cost £380,000, and this year the expenditure would be over £400,000 plus £55,000 for pensions to widows. The bill was an enormous advance in legislation dealing with pensions. Some exception had been taken to the questions asked of pensioners by magistrates, but these questions were necessary, and the magistrates, in putting them, were simply carrying out the law. With regard to Imperial pensioners, he said it was all a question of finance. He would like to accede to the request, but there must be a limitation. The revenue and population was limited, and at present they were doing a great deal in the matter, and he hoped in time to do more. Nothing would please him more than to be able to tell the women of the country that the age limit would be reduced by five years. The bill was read a second time. PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT.

The Public Works Statement was laid on the table. Sir J. C 4. WARD said the Statement would be considered on Wednesday, at 2.30, and a Loan Bill would be brought down and considered simultaneous! y. WIDOWS' PENSIONS. Sir J. G. WARD moved the second reading of the Widows' Pensions Bill. The mainspring of the measura was the savin"- of children as an asset for the State. The scheme would cost the whole of £55,000, and would be money well spent. Mr ALLEN said the bill appealed to his sympathy, and he was sure that all in the House would do their utmost to preserve the young of the community. The Dominion owed a deep debt of gratitude to those women who banded themselves together to preserve the child-life of the Dominion. He referred in particular to the Karitane Home and the Plunket Nurses. He hoped the bill would get on the Statute Book this year. The bill was read a second time. STATE GUARANTEED ADVANCES. Sir J. G. WARD moved the second reading of the State Guaranteed Advances Bill. The chief clause provides power for raising £750,000 per annum for assisting workers to build homes.

The second reading was agreed to BILLS IN COMMITTEE.

The House then went into committee on several bills. The Christ-church District Drainage Act Amendment Bill was reported, and the Shipping and Seamen's

Act Amendment Bill was reported with a minor amendment. PROBATE OF WILLS. .A suggestion was made by the Hon. J, R. Sinclair, speaking on the second reading of the Administration Amendment; Bill, that more publicity should be given before granting probate and administration of wills. The Attorney-general, in reply, said the cost of advertising as suggested was a bar. One class to which the' newspapers showed no mercy at all was the lawyers. If they went with an advertisement they were met with atrocious demands. The Hon. J. E. Jenkinson: "It is diamond cut diamond." THE JUDICIARY. Speaking in reference to the Judiciary Bill, which was set down for its second reading to-day, the Attorney-general remarked that provisions of the bill relating to the status of Supreme Court judges were having further consideration, and he was not in a position to circulate the bill that day in the shape in which he hoped to have it considered by the Council. At the instance of Sir John Findlay, the second reading was set down for Wednesday next. ,