PARLIAMENT.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 61, 5 November 1912, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

MONDAY, NOVF.MBEII I, 1912. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. (Per Press Association.) Wellington, November 1. The Council met at 2.30 p.m. The Land and Loan Bills. The debate on the Land Bill was continued by .Messrs. Barr, Louglman, Paul, Anstey, Boehan, and Harris. The Minister having replied, the second reading was carried by 13 votes to 4. The Loan Bill passed all its stages, and the Council adjourned HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House met at 2.30 p.m. Various Measures. The New Zealand Institute of Architects Bill (Mr. Herdman) was read a first time. Replying to Mr. Russell, the Minister stated that it was not intended to proceed with the measure this ses ioii. It had been introduced in order that it might be circulated. The Railway Authorisation Bill was introduced by' Governor’s Message.

Replying to Mr. Witty, the Minister said that the new railway works proposed to lie authorised a cre the Nortiii Auckl md (branch lino to Whangarci), North Island Main Trunk (Wahiku branch), East Coast Main Trunk, Opuna kc branch, Feathcrston• Mart.nb uough branch, Ciilverdcn-Waiaii, and Balclutha Tuapoka branch. The special committee sot up / to consider the iron, and steel industry reported against the proposal of the Kthelburga Syndicate, and recommended that the Government should make enquiry into the iron industry of the Dominion. \ 1 1 The report was referred to the Government for consideration. The House went into Committee on the Town Boards Amendment Bill, Ellesmere Lands Drainage Amendment Bill, Westport Harbour Amendment Bill, and State Fire Insurance Bill, Mr Ell asked that if the Minister of Finance would insist on all mortgagees insuring in the State Office. Mr Allen replied that ho had already stated that ho would recommend that preference should he given to the State Office.

Mr. Ell said that the reply was a bluff. Previous, Ministers had insisted on it.

Mr. Allen : That is not correct

Mr. Ell -contended that the Minister’s act was an act of disloyalty to Sir Joseph Ward’s State Department. The House adjourned, and resumed at 7.30. Siata Fire Insurance. In Committee on the State Eire Insurance Bill Mr. Fisher quoted t le Cabinet minutes of the .Scddon and Ward Administrations, which set cut that the Cabinet, had released the State Departments if rqm insisting on compulsory insurance in the State (.f----fice. . , Mr. Allen said that the' circular recently issued by the Department was necessary from a legal standpoint. 11 business' were restricted to the State Offices it would mean the ruination of the Farmers’ Co-operative lisurance Companies. The State Offices were not created to shut out others, but to act as a check oil them. Mr. JlfcKjenzie submitted that unless the Government took care of the State fire insurance business, this department would he brought to grief, and then up -would go premiums again. Mr. iLsJujenson remarked that no amount'of dodging would alter the following facts: ' Last year the Government issued a circular requiring the borrowers of State money to insure with the State; this year the Massey Government merely urged borrowers to give preference to State insurance.

Boards Bill. The Town Boards Amendment Bill was read a third time. Military Pensions.

The Military Pensions Bill was considered in Committee.

Mr. Okoy said that the people wiio would benefit under the Act were prepared to accept a smaller pension so long as it was given purely for services rendered, and not by way of charity. . Mr. Fisher said that all the maims had been fairly considered. He did not think that any Government could go further than the present Government proposed to go. Military Pensions Bill.

In Committee, on the Military Pensions Bill, the Minister accepted an amendment by Sir Arthur Guinness providing that moneys drawn, from too bank for applicant’s use shall not ccunt as income. ■ The Bill was further amended by providing that persons who have been absent from the Dominion for a short period should not he debarred from receiving the pension. The Pensions Bill was reported with amendments. After midnight the amendments to the Railway Bill were introduced 'providing for representation by secretaries of A.S.iI.S. Locomotive and Engine Cleaners’ Association and Railway Officers’ Society on the Appeal Board, and wore read a first time. The Military Pensions Bill was read a third time and passed. The House, after 2 a.in., passed the Government Life Insurance Amendment Bill, and State Fire Insurance Amendment Bill, and rose at 2.10 a.m. till noon to-day.