PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 October 1919, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL,

By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The Legislative Council met at 8 p.m. The Marriage Amendment Bill was read a second time pro forma, and was referred to the Statutes Revision Committee. , The Hutt Railway and Road Improvement Amendment Bill, having for its object the removal of the embargo upon the building of a tramway line on the Hutt Road, was put through its final stages and passed. The National Provident Fund Amendment Bill was also put through its final stages and passed. Sir Francis Bell explained that he did not intend to proceed at present with the Expeditionary Forces Voting Bill. It had been largely amended, and he thought it would be better to have a new Bill introduced in the House of Representatives. The Council adjourned at 8.25. _ \ HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House met at 7.30 p.m. LAND LAWS. _ The Land Laws Amendment Bill was introduced by Governor's message. The Hon. D. H. Guthrie said the Bill was intended to extend the land Jaw in certain necessary directions. Part one of the Bill dealt.with the appointment of land boards, the idea being that there may be one central board in the cities, but two or more smaller boards in the outer districts. Part two re-enacted the old homestead system, while the rest of the Bill was made up of smaller matters, no important changes being made. Small grazing runs were dealt with on the principle of one man one run. There were also clauses dealing with aggregation, provisions being more drastic than hitherto enacted. REPLIES TO QUESTIONS. Replying to Mr. A'istey, the Hon. D. H. Guthrie said he would have a report made on the Hakataramea Estate with a view to purchase, as he knew there was a demand for, land in that district. Replying to Mr. Lee, Sir James Allen said inquiries were now being made into the position of permanently disabled men who have returned to New Zealand, with a view to seeing what further assistance was required.

Replying to Mr. Young, Mr. Massev said he would take into consideration the question of the appointment of a committee similar to the Coal Committee, whose duties would be to ration sugar. Replying to Mr. K. Newman, Mr. Massey said lie had not received any official information as to the legal date of the termination of the war.

Replying to Mr. Poole, the Hon. D, H Guthrie said Cabinet had to-day been considering the question of enabling South African veterans to participate in the benefits of the Soldiers' Settlement Act.

Replying to Mr. Holland, Sir James Allen said he would this week circulate the Order-in-Council under which the mandate over Samoa would be administercd. He could not promise that the House would be given nn opportunity of discussing it. THE BOARD OP TRADE. The House accepted the reasons formulated by a committee for disagreeing with the amendments made by the Legislative Council in the Board of' Trade Bill. A NEW BILL. On the motion of Mr. Massey, the Shearers' Accommodation Amendment Bill was introduced and read a first time. RESIDENCE ON PASTORAL LAND.

The Land Committee reported on the Compulsory Residence on Pastoral Lands Bill introduced by the Hon. D. Buddo. The committee recommended that the principle of the Bill be given effect.to and that the Government should draft a Bill on these lines next session. The report raised a discussion. Mr. Anstey contended great abuses of the land laws were taking place, largely because of the absence of a residential provision. Compulsory residence should be insisted upon in all future leases. Mr. Anderson maintained that compulsory residence was of vital importance to successful settlement in the south.

Mr. Lee pointed out that many pastoral runs were held by companies and other bodies, in which case residence could not be enforced. Shares in these companies were sometimes transferred without special transfer of land titles, and he drew the attention of the Minister to the risk of aggregation by this means. The matter was one the Government should look into. Mr. Massey gave notice of his intention to introduce a Maori Representation Bill. PUBLIC HEALTH, Mr. Massey moved that the House agree with the amendments made by thcLegislative Council in the Public Health Amendment Bill. The amendments were agreed to. EDUCATION. Sir James Allen moved that the amendment made by the Legis.'ative Council in clause 4'of the Education Amendment Bill bo disagreed with. The amendment gave the board power to hold meetings at such other place within the said district a* the board, with the sanction of the Minister, may appoint for any meeting or meetings. It was explained that while the amendment had a general application, it was mainly intended to permit the Hawke's Bay Board to hold occasionally' meetings in Gisborne.

Mr Craigie put in a plea for the reinstatement of the South Canterbury Board. If the board could not be rein stated, he hoped the clause would stand, and enable the Canterbury Board to meet in Timaru.

Mr. S. G. Smith (Taranaki) said ii the amendment were agreed to it would lead to endless confusion.

After several members had spoken in support of the clause, the Minister stated he had seen the Minister for Education, who expressed a strong desire to have the clause embodied in the bill. He (Sir Jas. Allen) felt bound to support him. He, therefore, asked leave to withdraw his motion that the amendment be disagreed with.

On this, the members who opposed the amendment refused to consent to withdraw, and a division, was taken on the question whether the clause should stand as part of the Bill. This was wried by 40 to 10-

Sir Jas. Allen also stated it liad beenji agreed to increase the amount for' grants to Education Boards from £750 to £IOOO, and an additional sum would be. placed on tlio supplementary estimates. MINING BILL. ' Sir Wm. Fiaser moved the second reading of the Mining Amendment Bill, which he said had been fully considered and approved by the Mines Committee. Mr. Poland congratulated the Minister on the introduction of the Bill, which was a most important addition to mining legislation, though not professing to be a complete revision of, the mining law. Mr Semple commended the Bill, which, he said, was a fitting termination to the Minister's political career. He indicated several amendments which he would move in committee. The Hon. W. D. S. MaeDoimld said the Bill would go a long way to make work in mines more healthy and pleasant.

Mr Holland said the most important, clause was number fl, which provided for the installation of axial waterfoed rock drills in all mines by Ist October, 1020. He hoped the Minister would accept an amendment limiting the height of rises to sixty feet. Mr. Seddon thought some relief should be given to gold producers in the way of an increased price for gold, which remained stationary, while the cost of production had gone up by leaps and bounds.

After the Minister had briefly replied, the second reading was agreed to on the Voices. The House went into committee and dealt with minor amendments.

In reply to Mr. Semple, the Minister said lie would fix the weight of the rises in mines by regulation. His present Idea was that it should be eighty feet.

Messrs Rhodes and Poland asked that the gold mining industry should bo assured of a not smaller amount of assistance than it previously received. The Minister said the vote was increased from £20,000 to £50,000, and the Premier gave his assurance that gold mining would get its share. The Bill was then read a third time and passed. The House rose at 12.40 a.m.