PARLIAMENT.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXX, Issue 58, 4 November 1914, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

£Put Fkki Association, j

Wellington, November 3

In. the Council in the evening, the Native Land Amendment and Native Land Claims Adjustment Bills were put through their final stages. The Washing-Up Bill was read a second time.

HOUSE OF R£PHfci»i-<s *A. i V

ike House met at U.3U pan

Hie Bill enabling memoers oi the Maori contingent to record Llieir votes at the general elec non, and another amending the Defence Act, wore introduced by Governor's message, and read a first time.

Hon. Allen laid on the tabio a new agreement made between the Commission and the Bank of New Zealand. He estimated it would result in a saving to the country of between £2UUU and £3OOO per annum. Hou. Herries moved the second reading of the Native Laud Amendment Bill, the provisions of which, he explained, were mainly of a machinery nature—Mr Ngata and Mr Parata discussed the Bill, which was then read a second time.

Hou, Herries moved the second reading of the Native Land Claims Adjustment Bill, which, he stated, was a native land “washing up” Bill, in which he assured the House there were no swindles.—Mr Ngata and Mr Batata supported the Bill, and the second reading was carried on the voices. The Premier moved the second readifill,and the Reserves and Other Lands Disposal and the Public Bodies -empowering Bill, which passed without debate.

The House went into committee on the Native Laud Amendment Bill, and the Bill passed without material amendment.

The Native Land Claims Adjustment Bill, of the Reserves and Other Lands Disposal Bill passed the committee stage without material amendment. • The Native Land Amendment, Native Laud Claims Adjustment, Reserves and other Land Bills were read a third time and passed. The second reading of the Railways and Garden Diseases Amendment Bill, was agreed to without debate. The second reading of the Railways Authorisation Bill, authorising the construction of a number of small lines was passed without discussion. The Port Ahuriri-Westshore Road and Railway Bill (Hon. Fraser), Mental Defectives Amendment Bill (Hon. Rhodes), Legislature Amendment Bill, No. 2 (Hon. Fisher), were all read a second time without debate. Hon. Allen moved the second reading of the New Zealand University Bill, which, he explained, established Boards of Studies, University National Scholarships, University Bursaries, National Research Scholarships, and made provision for giving the University Colleges an improved finance. — Messrs Sidey, McCallum, and Guthrie criticised the Bill—The Minister replied, and the Bill was read a second time.

Hon. Massey moved the second reading of the Shops and Offices Bill, bringing the business of selling tobacco and cigarettes into line so far as closing hours were concerned. Mr Hindmarsh put in a plea for the inclusion of the workers in private hotels amongst those benefited by the Union Act. Messrs Payne and Yeitch supported him. Hon. Rhodes moved the second reading of the Medical Practitioners’ Bill, and after some discussion the second reading was carried. Hon.* Massey suggested that the 'Cook Islands Bill should be put through, and brought down for reconsideration next year.—Sir Joseph Ward regretted that he could not agree to pass a Bill with 675 clauses on trust.—Eventually the Bill was postponed. 1 The Premier moved the second reading of the - Public Domains and Reserves Amendment Bill, which was agreed to on the voices. The Orchards and Gardens, Railways Authorisation,Mental Defectives and Port Ahuriri and West Shore Bills were read, and the Railway Bill, Legislature Amendment (Xo. 2) and the Xew' Zealand University Bills were put through their final stages. Mr Massey, in reply to Sir Joseph Ward, said it was impossible to go on with the Cook Islands Bill, as ho could not get the amendments in the Bill printed. He hoped to close the session to-morrow. The House would sit at noon to-morrow, and it was the intention of the Government to complete all the business. The House rose at 11.65.