House of Representatives.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXII, Issue 8867, 18 July 1907, Page 2

House of Representatives.

The House mot at 3.80. Mr Massey moved for copies of all correspondence between Mr and Mrs Eustace Lane, of Hawke’s Bay, aud the Lauds Department, with reference to transfers of Crown lauds aud all documents relating thereto. —Carried.

Mr J. Allen moved that it is desirable to have an acturial investigation of the Railway Superannuation Fund before March 81st, 1008. Ou division the motion was negatived by 84 to 20.

Mr Barclay moved that the present systoip of dealing with questions' unsatisfactory, aud that the' old system of asking a question aud receiving an answer at the time be resorted to. The discussion was interrupted at 5.80. The’House resumed at 7 30. Mr Hornsby moved the second reading of the Quackery Prevention Bill, which he explained was similar to the Bill of last session. Ho congratulated the Govrounumt ou its action, which had the effect of chocking the evil through the Post Office. He gave a list of analysis of a number of pills ou the market. Soap formed an ingredient of several of. those. He also cited the constituents of various popular tonics, cordials, hair restorers,, apd for gout, eliciting frequent laughter. Not' one of these in 4oz. bottles} would, ho said, cost Gd, so that it could bo understood how the vendors could afford to extensively advertise. The Bill would uot affect an honest manufacturer, lie asked members} to assist him in making the measure a useful aud workable one iu the interests of suffering Immunity, The second reading was agreed tQ without debate, and the Bill was referred to a Select Committee.' 4

Mr Major moved tho second reading of t!i« tc am i B; m k Holidays Bill, which ho briefly explained provided that whenever any holiday 1 pursuant 'to the 'Act would fall oft any other day than Monday, tho following Monday should ho observed as a holiday. The Act would apply to the Eiug’s Birthday, Princo of Wales’ Birthday, Anniversary Days of tho provinces, St. Patrick’s Daj ( St. Gooruo’a iyi g ti Andrew’s Day, aud Empire Day. Mr Bmldo supported the Bill aud hoped it would bring about finality in the matter of holidays. Mr T. McKenzie said tho Bill would not bo perfect until it dealt with tho hours of bauk clerks. The second reading was agreed to on the voices aud referred to tho : Labour Bills Committee, Mr Major moved the second reading of the Farriers’ Bill, which he said had passed the Chamber last session. Tho second reading was agreed to without debate. Mr Major moved the second reading of the Lamps aud Vehicles Bill, tho object being to require all tho vehicles on the highways throughout tho colony to carry lights during darkness. ° The motion was agreed to without discussion. Tho Noxious Weeds Bill was committed. On tho first clause Mr Gray moved to report progress. After a long discussion the motion was lost.

Mr Wilford moved to limit thp ; operation of tho Act to the' proviucial district of Nelson. The Chairman ruled the amendment out of order. Mr Wilford moved to report progress in order that tho Speaker’s ruling might ho taken on tho Chairman’s ruling. On a division the motion was carried by 35 to 21.The Speaker then took fhe chair, aud ruled that the Chairman's ruling was incorrect. It was quite _in order to move to limit tho operation of the Act.

The Committee resumed, and Mr Wilford’s amendment was put and carried by 31 to 37. Mr Colvin moved to report pro-

gress. Discussion was interrupted by thq supper adjournment. On resuming, the question of re: porting progress was the subject of further debate for nearly half an hour, when the motion was agreed to.

The Pure Pood Bill was further considered in Committee.

At Clause 23, offences under the Act, section 1, “every person commits an offence who sells any adulterated form or drug without fully informing the purchaser at the time of sale of the nature of such adulteration. ” Mr Fowlds moved an amendment that the clause should be subject to such exceptions as may bo prescribed by the Governor-iu-Oouncil. The amendment was carried and the clause passed,' ’ Clause 13 provided that it should be no defence that the offence was unintentionally committed. The clause was struck out by 29 to 28.

Progress was reported, and tht} House rose at midnight.