PARLIAMENT

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 174, 2 November 1910, Page 5

PARLIAMENT

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. By Telegraph^ —Press Association. ' Wellington, Last Night. In the Legislative Council this afternoon the Income Tax and Land Tax Bill was put through all stages without discussion. The Justices of the Peace Bill was passed. The dsbate was resumed on the second reading of the Aid to Water-power Works Bill. lion. McCardle dealt with the Makuri scheme solely, pointing out that whatever might be the case with other proposed schemes there could be no doubt as to the reliability of the data in regard to the Makuri "scheme, it would embrace within its scope a population of some 50,000 and over a thousand farms, and it would be greatly advantageous to the industries of the district. Hon. J. McGowan favored water-power as the best means of generating electricity, but' thought private enterprise should not have been tarred.

Hon. J. Rigg considered the scheme would give stability to industries, and prevent fear of interruption by strikes among coal-miners.

Hon. Luke, in a long and comprehensive speech, held that the Government was justified in going into the scheme, and that in doing so they were not taking unnecessary risks. "Their past actions in the direction of the. development of industries showed thev had capable and reliable officers behind 'them. It was well to remember the permanence of the character of water-power as compared with the rapid deterioration of other plants, which required frequent replacement. The absolute efficiency of a waterpower plant was about 75 per cent., while in the ease of fuel-driven plants it ranged only from sto 10 per cent. The scheme would permit of the continued existence of many industries that were now not making one per cent. The debate was adjourned, and the Council rose.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House met at 2.30 p.m. The Premier moved that a message be transmitted to 'the Legislative Council acknowledging receipt of the message' from the Legislative Council regarding the alleged breach of privilege in connection with the preferring of a charge against an honorable member of the Council. Mr. Massey, in supporting the motion, said the Premier had done the right thing He recaHed the fact that when the House had sent a similar message to the Legislative Council in reward to breach of privilege by the Council in connection with the Crimes Bill, the Upper House had contented itself with acknowledging the same. The motion was agreed to. The House went into committee on the Harbors Amendment Bill (No. 2). ' The following alterations in the constitution of various harbor boards was passed.—Auckland Board, by providing that payers of harbor-dues should be entitled to elect two members; Lyttelton Board to include Kainpoi in the representation of North Canterbury. On the Minister's motion, the constitution of the Otago Board was amended by reducing the Government nominees from two to one, the extra elective member to be returned by the payers of dues. On the. motion of Mr. Clark, Tomahawk, Portobello, and Otakau road district were included in the districts entitled to elect representatives on boards. The number of members on the New Plymouth Harbor Board was increased from seven to eight. On Mr. Holm's motion, the number of members on the Wanganui Board was increased from 10 to 11, allocated as follows:—Six by the electors of the boroughs of Wanganui and Wanganui East and the town districts of Gonville and Castlecliff; two by the. electors of the county of Wanganui; and two by the electors, of the county of Waitotarajand one Government nominee.

On the motion of Mr. Jennings, the constitution of the Waitara Harbor Board was amended by inducing the Government nominees from two to one, and increasing the number of representatives returned by the borough of Waitara from five to six. On the motion of the Minister, the number of members on the Wellington Board was increased from 13 to 14. On Mr. Dive's motion, the number of members on the Opunake Harbor Board was increased from five to six. The House rose at 5.30 p.m. THE EVENING SESSION. In the House this evening, consideration of the Harbors Amendment Bill was resumed in committee. The Minister moved that clause 16 be amended so as to prevent any person bein? elected as a member of a harbor board who is manager or director of a company with over 20 members which has a contract exceeding £5 with the Board. Objection was taken to the clause by Messrs Allen, Taylor (Christchurch) .and Hogan, the latter saying it would mean disqualifying some of the ablest men from sitting on harbor boards.

Mr. Millar in replying, said the amendment was on the lines of similar provisions inserted in the Municipal Corporations and Charitable Aid Boards Acts. On a division the amendment was carried by 42 to 17. Clause 17, providing for vacation of office by members of boards, was similarly amended. The Bill was reported with amendments. The second realing of the Noxious Weeds Amendment Bill was moved by Hon. T. Mackenzie, who explained its provisions, which eonsist mainlv of amendments to the principal Act. ' Section 9 is amended by omitting the words "to the satisfaction of the inspector," and by deleting "at the proper season of the year." Ragwort (or ragweed) is included amongst the noxious weeds.

Considerable discussion arose, generally in support of the Bill.

Mr. Massey said that if means could be discovered for eradicating blackberry and Californian thistle, which were by far the worst noxious weeds, it would be worth millions to the Dominion. (Left sitting).