PARLIAMENT.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 50, 13 October 1911, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. N (Per Press Association ' * Wellington, October 12. The House of Representatives met at 2.30 p.m. Reptying to Mr. Luke, Sir Joseph Ward said the whole of the petitions from the military and naval veterans for pensions would come before the Cabinet for consideration before the Supplementary Estimates were completed. The Government would carefully consider all the petitions sent in. 01$i soldiers’ claims dealt with by magistrates would be considered, but whether it was possible to go beyond that he could not say. S|r- Joseph Ward presented a petition from Coleman Phillips, praying for the removal of the site of the capital from Wellington, to a site between Featherston and Carterton. The Premier stated that the Railway Authorisation Bill would be brought down before the end of the session. Replying to Mr. Jennings, Sir Joseph Ward stated he would have to communicate with the chairman of the Racing Commission before he could state when the Commission would sit to consider its report. The Heathcote County Boundary Bill, the City of Christchurch Empowering Bill, the Mosgicl Borough Empowering Bill, the Awatere County Bill? the Ashley Subdivision Bill, and the Waimakariri-Ashley Water Supply Board Bill, and the Franklin and Manakau Counties Bill were road a third time and passed. The House wont into committee on the Wellington City Empowering Amendment Bill. Mr. Wilford moved to reinsert a plause struck out by the Local Bills Committee, which gives the City Council power to make charges for fentrance to sports grounds and zoological gardens on thirty days in the year. The clause was subjected to strenuous opposition, on the ground that the public should not be asked to pay to go on to their own reserves. The House adjourned at 5.30 p.m. EVENING SESSION. ■The House resumed at 7.30. The Wellington City Empowering and Amendment Bill was further discussed in committee. Mr. Massey accused the Government of wasting time in order to allow two Ministers to go electioneering at the country’s expense. Sir Joseph Ward gave this statement an emphatic denial, asserting that these Ministers were defraying their own expenses. The Bill was reported with amendments. The Mount Hutt County Bill was committed. Wellington, October 13. Sir Joseph Ward informed the House that Mr. W. L. Buller, son of the late Sir W. Buller, had offered a valuable collection of ancient Maori works to the State. The offer had been accepted. . The House rose at 12.45.