PARLIAMENT.

Colonist, Volume LVI, Issue 13595, 9 October 1914, Page 7

PARLIAMENT.

(Special to "The Colonist."

Wellington, Oct. 8. i

In the Legislative Council this afternoon, the Fisheries Amendment, Taieri Land Drainage Amendment, Rangitaiki Land Drainage Amendment, and Hauraki Plains Amendment Bills were read a first time.

The Hon. H. D. Bell moved that the Council agree with tlio amendment made by the House of Representatives in the Fire Brigade Amendment Bill, enlarging the scope of the Bill. The motion was adopted. -"

The Labour Bills Committee recommended that the Factories Amendment Bill, reducing the working hours .of women in woollen factories, be not pro-'j ceeded with. .

The second reading of the National Provident Fund Amendment Bill was. moved by the Hon. Mr Bell,.and agreed to after a brief discussion. : .

A long night's discussion in the;; House of Representatives on the LocalRailways Bill, upon .its third reading,; presented no new features, ppposition members repeated their objections to the departure from the idea of State; ownership, and suggested that the Bill was merely an electioneering device, Mr Atmore declared that "lie .would; have no hesitation in voting against! such an .out-of-date Tory measure. The Government was not doing its duty to the settlors to whom it had promised to provide railways. It coolly jeft, ihsm] to their own resources in a.Bill'which, revived the old Tory dorice. of plural voting.

The debate, was being-■continued when the telegraph offico closed. ;. .