PARLIAMENT.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVII, Issue 57, 7 November 1913, Page 8

PARLIAMENT.

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER G

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. [Peb Press Association.l Wellington, November G. The Legislative Couneil met at 2.30. CHURCH OP ENGLAND TRUST BILL. . The Hon. J. R. Sinclair moved the third reading of the Church of England Trust Bill. The Bill was read a third time and passed. The Municipal Corporations Amendment Bill was read a second time pro forma, and referred to the Statutes Revision Committee. The Local Authorities Indemnity Bill was put through all ids stages and passed unamended. The Council further considered the Beer Duty Amendment Bill in committee. A new subsection was added to clause 7 on the motion of the Minister, and the Bill was read a third time and passed. The Science and Arts Bill was put through committee, read a third time ami passed with minor amendments. The Council rose at 3.55^ HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Wellington, November G. The House met at 2.30. The amendments made by the Legislative Council in the Science and Art and Beer Duty Amendment Bills were agreed to. THE RAILWAYS. The Railways Construction Act Amendment Bill and Railways Authorisation Bill were introduced by Governor’s Message and read a first time.

The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. The Railways Construction Bill provides for the construction of lines by private companies and individuals. The Principal Act was also amended to provide, that the limit of the cost of construction was raised from £3OOO a mile to £BOOO. ' The House went into committee on the Government Railways Amendment Bill, a discussion following covering the whole of the railway administration.

The Hon. IV. H. Herries, in reply, said that lie was going to look into the question of ticket examination by guards, but so long as they continued the present system of tickets, frequent inspection during the course of a journey was necessary. Regarding rolling stock, he stated that last year 1032 new trucks were added to the supply, and this year 1400 new wagons had been built. He thought these would, meet all requirements, as he understood that less grain was being grown in the South fjilan.it. He hoped that his information in tin's respect was not correct, because he was looking with considerable apprehension to the returns from the South Island lines. The northern lines were not losing, hut they were not doing as well as he would like. Complaint had been made regarding newspaper vendors,on trains annoying passengers; He had endeavored to restrict thjf nuisance but bad. not been able, to do as much as he would have liked, owing to the. pressure brought to hoar upon, him by

newspaper proprietors. -So far as pos-

sible the manufacture of tarpaulins bad been distributed throughout the Dominion. Replying to further questions he stated that he had been through the question of freights with the general manager, and he thought that something better than the existing conditions could be evolved. The whole matter would be gone into during the recess. Mr T. Davey called for a division on the claugo dealing with offences on the railways, seeking to abolish the Jaw prohibiting the transfer of tickets.

The clause was carried by 2S votes to 21.

The Bill was reported as amended THE LAND BILL.

The amendments made by the Council in the Land Bill were - agreed to after a short discussion, during which Mr Massey said that he was at present in communication with the Valu-er-General of the Lands Department respecting, the classification of Crown lands. Ep to the present he was not able to convey anything to the House on tin' matter. SECOND BALLOT REPEAL. The Hon. F. M. B. Fisher gave notice to introduce the Second Ballot Repeal Bill. The House rose at 12.15 a.m.