HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Colonist, Volume XLVIII, Issue 11762, 19 October 1906, Page 4

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

The House met at 2.30 p.m. The Teachers' Superannuation Act, 1905, Amendmet was received by Governor's message, and referred to Committee. Mr Massey asked the Minister if the bill intended to give effect to the actuary's recommendation of last year, to strengthen the fund with a sum of £17,000 from the Consolidated Revenue. The Hon. Minister for Education replied that the bill was entirelyconfined to certain machinery matters in which the experience of the year had shown the need for amendment. The bill wag read a first time. The Private Hospitals Uill was received from tho Council with amendments, which were agreed to. On the Quackeries Act Amendment Bill tho Hon. Mr Millar gave notice of the introduction of this bill on next sitting day. Tbe second reading of the Waimate Hospitnl District Bill was lost by 34 to 22. The Timaru Harbor Districts Bill, the Sandy Point and Grasmere Domains Vesting, the Hokitika Harbor, the Onslow Borough Drainage, the Gladstone Streets, tho City of Christchurch Municipal Offices, the Borough of Port Chalmers, the Timaru Public Library, and the Auckland Girls' Grammar School Bils were read a second time. The amendments made by the Council on the "Eketahuna Borough Bill were agreed to. The House adjourned at 5.30 p.m. The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. The following bills were put through Committee, namely, Timaru Harbor, Sandy Point and Grasmere Domains, Hokitika Harbor, Onslow Drainage, Gladstone streets, Christchurch Municipal Offices, Port Chalmers Dock Trust Exchange, Timaru Public Library, Auckland Girls' Grammar School. These bills were then reported, read for the third time, and finally passed. The Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act Amendment Bill was read for the first time, and then referred to the Labor Bills Committee. The New Zealand International Exhibition Bill, providing for financial and other arrangements in connection with the Exhibition, received its second reading. Some discussion arose on the Public Reserves Bill, which enables all lawful increments of salary to be paid by the Treasury, such having been prevented recently by the Audit Department. It also provides that i all accounts for the receipt of i revenue on every Department shall be audited by the Audit Office. Mr Massey contended that such an important bill should be referred to the Public Accounts Committee. Sub-clause 2 of clause 2, he asserted, was incomprehensible. Messrs Wilford, W. Fraser, and J. Allen having spoken, the Premier replied, after which the bill was read for the second time. The Premier moved the Local Bodies Loans Act A mendment Bill be read a second time. Mr Massey agreed that the bill was a good one, and clauses 2 and 3 would remove a deal of friction. He was disappointed that there was not provision made for reducing interest on the local bodies-loan. Messrs Field, Major, Witty, Remington, Hernes and Jennings having spoken, the bill was read the third time. The Land and Income Assessment Act was read the second time, and referred to the Public Accounts Committee. The Scenery Preservation Bill was read tbe second time, and referred to the Lands Committee. The Customs Duties Adjustment ! Bill was read the second time in committee. The New Zealand Exhibition Bill, the Public Revenue Bill, the Local Bodies Loan Bill and the Customs Duties Adjustment Bill, passed through Committee. The four above billss were read a third time and passed. The House adjourned at 0.10.