PARLIAMENT.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 59, 24 October 1911, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. (Per Press Association.) Wellington, October 23. The Council met at 8 p.m. The Workers’ Compensation Bill was read a first time. The Local Elections Bill was read a second time. On the second reading of the Legislature Amendment Bill, Hon. Camcross said it was a pity the census details asked for in the electoral enrolment forms had not been knocked out, as thev comprised a • grotesque fad.” Hon. Luke said too much latitude vas given to registrars in allowing them to take names off rolls. Hon. Bigg said it was time that the margin allowed country districts in electoral boundaries was abolished or minimised, as there were now but few places that had no borough near them. He also urged the repeal of the second ballot. Hon. McArdlc defended the margin for country districts. Sir John Findlay, in his reply, said "regarding the second ballot that ho personally thought it would sooner or later lie superseded by some system of transferable voting. The Bill was read- a second time, and the Council adjourned at 9 p.m. until to-morrow morning.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. EVENING SESSION. The House resumed at 7.30 and went into committee on local bills. _ The Dunedin District Drainage Bill, Tuakitoto and Kaitangata Lakes Bill, and Portobello Hoad District Lands Vesting Bill were reported. The Wanganui Board Empowering Bill, in committee, is being stonewalled. At 10.15 p.m. a motion by,Mr Newman to report progress on the Wanganui Bill was defeated by 39 to 23. Twenty minutes later, a similar motion was also defeated. At 11.30 three more motions in the same direction had been defeated, and the debate continued. Wellington, October 24. In the House, after 2 a.m., after six and a half hours’ discussion on the Wanganui Harbour Distinct Empowering Bill, a motion by Mr Guthrie that the Chairman leave the chair was carried by 23 to 20. The following Bills were introduced by Governor’s message and read a first time:—-iron Industries, Dentists’ Amendment, Pest and Telegraph Amendment, Farmers’ Co-operative Banks, Land Settlement Amendment, Reserves, and Other Lands Disposal amj Public Bodies Empowering. The Death . Duties Amendment and Shipping and Seamen’s Amendment Bills were returned to the House by the Governor with amendments, which acre agreed to. In reply to Mr Massey, the Premier said some of the Bills just introduced would only be circulated for the information of members. All local Bills dealt with earlier in the day, except those rejected, were put through their final The amendments made by the Council in the Education Reserves Amendment Bill were agreed to, and the House rose at 2.35 a.m. TO-DAY’S SITTING. Wellington, October 21, The Council met at KT.3O a.m. The amendments made by the House in the Death Duties Amendment Bill were agreed to. The Council then adjourned till this afternoon.