PARLIAMENT DAY BY DAY.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 12584, 14 October 1911, Page 3

PARLIAMENT DAY BY DAY.

(From our Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, this day. LOCAL ELECTION POLLS. One of the new batch of Bills which the Premier announced yesterday after noon as behyj among tbe measures which were to go on the statute book before the session closed was a bill of one clause, tbe Local Elections and Polls Act Amendment Bill. Sir Joseph Ward explained that it had not infrequently occurred m local polls that people who had been m the voting place at the time of closing, but bad not been able to obtain their voting papers in< time. were deprived of their vote, owing to the Act specifying that no more papers should be issued after the closing time of tbe poll, ln some cases hundreds oi electors bad thus been shut out, and ha therefore proposed an amendment, pro viding that all voters m the ' building before tbe hour of closing should be allowed to exercise their votes. TO DISCOURAGE IMPROPRIETY. Tbei Prime* Minister informed the member for Bruce, and incidentally the Hqusey yesterday afternoon, that lie did not intend to introduce legislation to deal with such a position a.s that raised by the Hine committee inquiry last session. He rejninded members that he bad already expressed hope of being able by ah' alteration of the standing orders to deal -with impropriety of any kind on the part of a member of Parliament. To introduce legislation on t *> .subject, would, m his .' opinion, be t -ing a slur.^pn every member, of I\.. lament. > ...!•■ \ RLIAMEXTAR Y BUILDINGS. \A. vote for the new Parliamentary Buildings will be provided m tbe Public Wdrks /statement, so the Prime Minister informed the House yesterday. That, lie^ suggested, would probably be the proper time to discuss the subject. The fjohimittee appointed to receive Colonel Y'-rno'n's report on the competitive p!:fi? would be asked to meet again next Mon lay, after which a definite state ment w "Id be made to Parliament about ihe' matter . '*'' IMPERIAL CONFERENCE. The*. Prime -'Minister' was again asked yesterday if it was intended to give the House an opportunity of discussing the Imperial .Conference resolutions. The Prime Minister said he bad already intimated tbat the, House vyould be asked to legislate upon such matters dealt with by the Imperial Conference as required the ratification by New Zealand. Whether they could deal with the requisite legislation this session he could not then say, but' nothing would be. lost by leavir,-; the matter over this year, because it could not come into effect until the other self-governing portions of the Empire had passed similar machinery. Regarding the new Tasman Sea- cable they bad already dealt with a subject that had been discussed by the Conference. He did not know whether it would be possible at this stage of the session to give two or three days that would bo necessary for the discussion of such matters. SHJiPPIXG ACT AMENDMEXT. The Shipping and Seamen Act Amendment Bill came on for its second reading m tbe House last evening. The Hon. «T. A. Millar, m moving the second reading, explained that tbe measure was intended -to facilitate translation of the Act. Provision, for instance, wan made under which a young man who had not sufficient mean* to obtain a. university training m mechanical engineering, could obtain a third-class certificate by unequal training at a technical school. It would enable hundreds of young men to go up for their third-class certificates. Clause 4 was intended to rectify a difficulty tlwt had been found over seamen being left on shore m Xew Zealand by reason of illness. Tbe entrance of New Zealand vessels into foreign trade had a'fio disclosed the fact that whilst seamen of /foreign ships left m New Zealand Mere protected, the seamen of n Xew Zealand vessel left m San Francisco, for instance, had not the same protection. That, however, was covered by tbe present Bill. Another clause m the Bill provided for the repeal of a clause m the Shipping and Seamen's Amendment Act. 1909. dealing with forbills of lading, which had been objected to by the Home authorities. The second reading was agreed to on the voices. a Warlike declaration. "You will never persuade an AuokInjider," interjected "Mr A. M. Myers, during, the course of some remarks made by Mr H. G. Ell, the enthusiastic advocate of the system of ratimr on unimproved values, -when the Rating Act Amendment Bill was under revieAv last evening. The member for Christchurch South was telling the House m glowing terms of the success of this campaign on the subject m the 1 South. ' "I will guarantee if I go to Auckland and Teside there two months J will carry it," de-

clared Mr Ell, with renewed enthusiasm. Mr Myers -. You will not succeed. Mr EH -. All being well, I will go to Auckland next year, and we will see. Mr Myers : 1 will give you a cordial welcome. Mr Ell : Very well, I will go up. 1 have never been beaten yet. Mr Buxton : U'h, yes, you have. You came to Temuka, and they did not adopt it. EXCELLENT OPPORTUNITY. I "I would suggest that the Prime Minister communicates with the Home Government, and as there is now a treaty between Japan and Great Britain,*! belie\-e he might apply through I her for a chart of our coasts from tne Japanese authorities, who now have a chart of great accuracy respecting out coasts." bo remarked Mr Wilford last evening, during a. _ discussion on the necessity for a thorough survey of oui coast. * The bon. member continued : '"The Japanese have also got Wellington harbor surveyed. They began from | the tea kiosk with their theodolites — (laughter) — and worked it all out quit* I thoroughly. | Mr Poole : They were at Auckland, too. Mr Wilford': Yes, I quite believe it. I understand they got into trouble recently with the authorities of New Caledonia, but anyway, 1 believe the correct chart of the Xew Zealand coast is now m the possession of the Japanese authorities. As a treaty exists between us and that enterprising country, therefore this Avould be an excellent opportunity to obtain a thoroughly re liable chart ol the Xew Zealand coastline." (Laughter.) TO ENCOLRAUE THE FINK ARTS. The petition of George George aim three others, praying for a grant m ai:; of the art societies of Xew Zealand, has been reported upon by the Public Petitions Committee m the following terms : The committee are of opinion that an annual grant of £1000 be assured to each of the four city art societies. Tin: recommendation of the committee was adopted, and the matter will go before the Government ih the usual course. SPEEDING .UP. Prior to the House rising last evening, the Prime Minister gave notice to move for the suspension of standing orders m order that new business might be taken after 12.30 p.m. Still another indication cf the approaching rush that al ways marks the closing hours of a ses- 1 sioii was another request to allow Bills-, to pass through all their stages at out sitting. The Speaker, who has a discre-tionai-v power m the latter matter, said he would make an announcement on the subject on Monday. GOOD PROGRESS.

Several minor Government measures were advanced various stages last night. Thus a included the final reading of the Methodist Church, of Xew Zealand Bill, the Land Tax and Income Tax Bill. The usual measure imposing the annual taxes passed its second reading without discussion. The Death Duties Act .Amendment Bill was put through a similar stage. This Bill provides for the remission of gift duty as announced by the Prime Minister, 'who said ha had omitted it from the' list of Bills to be passed this session. The Public Works .Act Amendment, a Bill covering the erection of electric lines for the hydro-electric scheme, and which also affects, irrigation m Otago, was also read a second time. The Tramways Act Amendment Bill m which a new clause w.as insert-, ed a few nights ago at the instance ol Mr Davey. requiring the conversion ol pa lac? cars (with footboards) into corridor cars, was held over. The House made good progress, and rose at 11.5 p.m. * *