PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXII, Issue 182, 19 July 1900, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

[PBII PBESB ASSOCIATION.] g « e HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. J Tuesday, July 17. j After the supper adjournment, the t debate on the second reading of the j Government Valuation of Land Act I Amendment Bill was resumed. The Hon. Mr. Ward having replied, 1 the motion for the second reading was carried by 40 to 12. 1 A motion to adjourn till 7.30 p.m. on Wednesday, on account of Arbor 1 Day, was lost by 30 to 20, and the House adjourned at 12.40 a.m. Wednesday, July 18. The House met at 2.30 p.m. FOREIGN INSURANCE COMPANIES. A Bill amending the Act relating to foreign insurance companies was read a first time. QUESTIONS. In reply to Mr. Monk, who asked that it be suggested to the AgentGeneral to discontinue cablegrams that were a repetition of information previously supplied through Reuter's, the Premier pointed out that the information of the relief of Ladysmith and the massacre of the Legations at Peking was received by the Government from _ tho Agent-General several hours before ' Reuter's messages reached New Zea- ■ land. The Government proposed to keep up its own sources of information, and to furnish it to the people through'the 1 telegraph and by the telephone to settlers in outlying districts. ■ In reply to a further question, ' Ministers said they did not intend to 1 issue further licenses for clubs where 1 liquor was sold until a provision was made for giving the Government more > supervision over. them. ' With regard to the scarcity of coal, ' the Premier said it was due to the scarcity of vessels. The Government ' proposed to put on the Tutanekai to 1 carry coal for Government use, which would relieve the pressure to a certain ' extent, and they thought further mines ■ should be opened up in difierent parts 1 of the colony.

It was also stated that school cadets should be provided with suitable light weapons for drill and shooting purposes; that the Government did not 1 intend at present to proclaim the Tokomairiro River a sludge channel. Mr. Lang moved the adjournment of the House, on the ground that he was not satisfied with the answer to a question re the reservation of a certain land endowment for the harbour at Kawhia

Mr. G. W. Russell urged the Government to open coal mines to be worked by the State to relieve the coal famine at present prevailing. did not urge the Government to enter into competition with retail dealers, but to supply the very large demand required for public services.

Mr. J. AUon was also dissatisfied 1 with the answorto the question respecting the declaration of the Tokomairiro Kiver sludge channel. He was aware the question was a difficult one, but they were now face to face with thi fact that in consequence of the indecision of the Government a large number of men were thrown out of employment and dredgos were lying idle. Mr. EH was also dissatisfied with the answer in regard to a quostion with i'f spect to the coal famine. Tiio co-it of Vloliikintii c«l delivered at Wef-tpovt win llspor ton; yot it was s:>ld v. UhriHtcliuich for £2 2*. It w;s ti'njo tho SUto inleifu.od and put an cud to such an ouiiMgeous pine. Mr. Hogg utged thst tho Gov.rnnioufc do tlk-ir duty iu the ma'.tcr cf reducing tho pi ioo of coa l , Mr. Ward thought tho time had oome when something should be done .;o reduce the price of coa). Members of the Government were as ansi.-us as inyone to prevent injury being done by coalcompaniep, but still members should remember thai the Government oould uot go beyond public opinion. Still, '-be Government realised that the state of things at present prevailing with regard to the sale of coal could not continue, and the State must do some»;biog to provide a more forward state >f affaire. The discussion that had arisen would do good, and now that public opinion on the subject was attaining a concrote form the Government wonld be justified in stopping in and applying a remedy. Mr.' E. McKenzie condemned the laxity displayed by the Government in extinguishing the fire in tho mine at Mohikinui, by which a large quantity of coal was beinjj destroyed. Mr. Smith advocated that the coal mines of the colony should be placed in the bands of local bodies. Mr. McGowan defended his action in regard to the coal industry. Mr. Guinness said tho charges made by railways, steamers, harbour boards, etc., wore not conxidqred too high, but complained of the excessive jump in charges between the time tho coal, leaves the vessel's side in Wellington and when it reaches the consumer. Mr. Seddon asserted tint the aggregation of leases at Wesfcport was not duo to tho present Government but to their predecessors. If the State was going to take tho mine it would take one whieir would give a reasonable chance of success. ( The debate [was interrupted by the 5.30 adjournment.

EVENING SITTING. The House resumed at 7.30, OBSTRUCTION OF ROADS. Major Steward moved the second reading of the Roads Obstruction Bill, providing for the removal of any obstruction placed across certain roads in t tlio colony. Mr. (jilfedder supported the Bill, Mr. Massoy said tho Bill was intended to create Stipendiary Magistrates a Court of Appeal. Mr, G. W. Itusscll hoped the Bill would not intorforo with the letting valuo of lauds loasod by tho State on account of tho largo amount of additional fencing that would be necessitated on pastoral areas. Messis. .Napier and &, Thompson supported the Bill. Mr, 13, Of, Allen thought the Bill would entail very groat hardships on many struggling settlers. Messis. McLachlan and Hall-Jones supported. Mr. Parata opposed, on the ground ; tint it would a%t the, native race. * n '

which case it would be hard to find out the owner of land on which an obstruction was placed. Captain Russell opposed, for the reason that it caused inconvenience to travellers, mid would place the power in the hands of two or three cantankerous individuals to destroy the harmony of a district, and enable the permission granted by a looal body to be revoked by a Magistrate. Messrs. Flatman, Buddo, Houston. and Ell supported the Bill.

Messrs. Hutchum, Field. OolHab and Duncan also speke, Mr. Steward replied, and tht noon* reading was carried by 43 to 8, SECOND READINGS. The Companies Act Amendment Law Amendment, Commission Agents? Remuneration, and Gaming Ad Amendment Bills were read a — uma time pro forma and referred to tht Statutes Revision Committee.

The second reading of the Land and Income Assessment Act Amendment Bill was moved by Mr. Wilford, who said il was designed to exempt aharebolden of dairy factories from payment of income tax.— Mr. Ward said the Government intended to bring in a Bill oa the subject, and as it traversed the financial policy of the Government he would oppose the second reading of the Bill.—The BUI was read a second time on the voices.

Mr. Barclay moved the second reading, pro/orma, of the Shop and Shop Assistants Aot Amendment Bill, to include chemists' shops within the Aot and extend to domestic servants * weekly half-holiday.— Carried, and referred to the Labour Bills Oommittoa, The House took the 10.80 adjourn* msnt.