PARLIAMENT

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10339, 10 September 1926, Page 6

PARLIAMENT

TO-DAY'S SITTING RUSHING BILLS THROUGH. Electric Telegraph—Press Association WELLINGTON, Tins Hay. Tiie Legislative Council met at 10 a.m. to-day. The Stamp Duties Amendment Bill, the Auckland Harbour Board Empowering Bill, the Tutukaka, Whangaruru, and Whananaki Harbours Control Bill, the Lyttelton Harbour Board Loan Bill, Perbone Borough Council Empowering Bail, Kaituna River District Bill. and the Napier Harbour Board and Borough Enabling Bill were received from the House of Representatives, all local Bills being reiferred to the Local Bills Committee. The Council adjourned at 10.7 until 2.30 p.m. Idle House met at 10.30 a.m. On the third reading of the Motor Omnibus Traffic Bill, Mr Harris protested against the Bill, but expressed the hope that tile results would not be so disastrous as lie anticipated. Mr P. Fraser declared the Bill was a very fair, attempt to meet a difficult position, and the Government deserved every credit for the way in which they overcame that difficulty. There was absolutely no ground for the suggestion chat an unfair advantage had been given to the Takapuna Tramway Cbrhpany. AIR, HARRIS’ CHARGES. Mr Holland, Leader of th e Opposition, drew attention to the charges made against the Government hv Air Harris in clear language by that member. He had made charges of commercial immorality against the Government, and if the Government did not turn him • ut of their party, they pleaded guilty to charges. If Air Harris remained in the party what was the position. The matter could not rest where it was. The Government must prove his case. Action should be taken one way or other.

Air Forbes did not regard Air Harris’ charges amounted to charges of commercial immorality. They might have amounted to charges of political “pull” by a private company and the Government’s best answer to that charge would have have delayed the operation of the Bill until the people of Takapuna could express an opinion on it at the next municipal elections. Takapuna had been made a special licensing district, and people naturally asked why the suggestion was that it had done so because the gentleman at the head of a private tramway company had the “pull” with the Government. The Government should have granted Air Harris’ request for delay, as he represented a majority of the electors, and might be expected to know the feeling in his district.

The Speaker said he had not stopped Air Harris when speaking, because he did not regard his charges as serious enough. If members'thought differently, they should have raised the point of order at tlie time. To revive the matter now was to some extent a reflection upon hi.s (Sir C Statham’s) conduct of the business of the House.

SECOND EDITION