N.Z. PARLIAMENT.

Otago Witness, Issue 3212, 6 October 1915, Page 52

N.Z. PARLIAMENT.

MONDAY, OCTOBER 4. The Council met at 8 p.m. The Hon. Mr MAGINNITY called attention to the failure of the Intelligence Department to notify the Government of particulars in regai d to the death of Captain Houlker. This officer was first notified as dead, and a memorial service was held at Nelson. Afterwards he was reported to be wounded, and now apparently definite word had come to hand of his death, two months after its occurrence. He intended to ask the Minister if better arrangements could not be made in regard to sending information as to casualties. The Council adjourned at 8.12 p.m. until 2.30 p.m. to-morrow. The House met at 2.30 p.m. NEW BILLS. The Hon. Mr RUSSELL introduced the Rating Act Amendment Bill, the Lake Coleridge Water-power Bill, and the Municipal Corporations Act Amendment Bill. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL BILL. _ The MINISTER gave notice of his intention to introduce the Legislative Council Act Amendment Bill. COST OF LIVING. The MINISTER OF FINANCE gave notice of his intention to introduce the Cost of Living Bill. THE GAMING BILL. The Hon. Mr RUSSELL moved that the amendments made in the _ Gaming Act Amendment Bill by the Legislative Council bo agreed to. He explained that be was responsible for the concession to the Wellington Racing Club being introduced hi the Legislative Council, having overlooked it when the Bill was before the House. Mr Hornsby called for a division against the amendments, which wore agreed to by 52 votes to 7. EDUCATION BOUNDARIES. The MINISTER OF EDUCATION laid on the table the report of the Education Districts Boundaries Commission. Ho intimated that the discussion would be taken the next day. The report recommends the reduction of the present education districts to seven— Auckland, Wanganui, Hawke’s Bay, Wellington, Canterbury, Otago, and Southland. The Grey, Westland, and a part of Nelson districts ai - e absorbed bv Canterbury, and Marlborough, Collingwood, and Murchison are joined to Wellington. EARLY CLOSING OF HOTELS. The M to L Petitions Committee reported on 77 petitions praying that licensed bars bo closed at 6 p.m. during war time. The committee stated that as a matter of policy was involved the committee had no recommendation to make, but it suggested that in view of the importance of the subject the Government investigate the matter. The motion was carried. KAURI GUM INDUSTRY. The PRIME MINISTER moved the second reading of the Kauri Gum Industry Act Amendment Bill, which he explained proposed to give extended powers to the Minister in the purchase and sale of kauri gum. Owing to the war the outlet for the sale of this gum had been restricted, as our enemies were the principal buyers. It was proposed to send commissioners with a complete knowledge of the trade to America and Japan to negotiate for the sale of the present stocks. Areas of Crown lands might be set aside for kauri gum digging purposes, and such land might be disposed of in areas not exceeding 3000 acres. A heavy penalty was provided for the unlawful lighting of fires in kauri gum districts. The second reading was carried. FRIENDLY SOCIETIES BILL. The Hon. Mr HA-NAN moved the second reading of the Friendly Societies’ Act Amendment Bill, the principal clause of which provided for the validation of rules for the consolidation of benefit funds. The second reading was passed on the voices LAND LAWS AMENDMENT. The PRIME MINISTER moved the second reading of the Land Laws Act Amendment Bill. It was, he said, a very different Land Bill from what they had been accustomed to in recent years.. It was not a policy measure, and was in the main a series of amendments asked for by the department. There were only two contentious clauses, both of which had been approved by the Commissioner of Crown Lands, The clauses in question were 18 and 19, providing for the acquisition of the fee simple of (Town lands m mining districts, and were intended to meet requests from the West Coast of the South Island. He had been accused of giving the mining districts of Auckland preferential treatment, and he was now prepared to place the West Coast on the same footing He was not going to press the clauses, but would take them on the voices. The remaining clauses were entirely of a machinery nature. With regard to the settlement of returning soldiers, he had been able to set aside an area of 40,000 acres of land in Otago and Southland, some of it agriculture land, some sheep country, and some fruit-growing land, on to which*they were now bringing water. Mr WITTY expressed regret that the Prime Minister had seen fit to put any contentious clauses in his Bill, because when the National Government was formed they were told that nothing of a contentious nature was to bo introduced. With this exception, the Prime Minister was to be congratulated on the Bill, which in several respects conserved the interests of the The Hon. Mr MACDONALD expressed himself in opposition to clause 14, providing for a revaluation of Crown lands. He thought it would act unfairly to the man who nad been in occupation for throe years. He hoped the Prime Minister would give the point every consideration in committee, so as to exempt Crown lands from the operation of the clause named. Mr HUD DO said ho thought the time had arrived when a consolidating measure

in regard to the land laws should he passed. Ho did not think there was a great deal in cllause 14 to which objection could ho taken. On the whole ho regarded tho Bill as an excellent one Mr ANSTEY said he thought the Bill embraced several 't'.s-cful features, but he particularised some clauses which, in his opinion, required amendment. Mr SCOTT also considered that some clauses would require further consideration, though ho was prepared to give the Bill a general support. Mr ELL said he thought that if the contentious clauses were insisted on there would bound to bo a protracted discussion. - Tiio Bill was read a second time on tho voices. ' KAURI GUM INDUSTRY. At 0.25 a.in. the House went into committee on tho Kauri Gum Industry Act Amendment Bill. > The Bill passed its committee stages at 0.35 a.m., when it was reported) with one formal amendment. The amendments wore agreed to by tho House, and tho Bill was road a third time and passed. Tlic House rose at 0.10 a.m.