PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 14331, 8 October 1910, Page 3

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Oct. 7. In the Legislative Council this after.noon the Christ. College (Canterbury) Bill was passed*. 1 t , The Inalienable Life Annuities lint was committed. The Attorney-General stated that he had carefully considered Mr. Stevens’ suggestion that th© new class of, business contemplated by the measure k .should he limited to the Government Insurance Office. There was much to bo said in favour of that course, but-if the business was ed to the Government office it would necessarily limit the benefits of the new legislation to policies issued by that office. It was felt that every opportunity should be given for the conversion of policies generally. : The principle of the measure was a new one, and it was very desirable tbat it < should have the advantage of competition. _Ho therefore was Unable to; agree to Mr. Stevens’ suggestion to make a Govern-, ment mon<4i>oly of the new business. Mr. Stevens said' he was convinced the Attorney-General .would live to repent the attitude he had taken up, foi* the time was soon to arrive when the value of the Bill would be lost to tho country, * • •• • __ • „ Dr. Findlay considered tbat Mr. Stevens took art "unnecessarily gloomy; view ; of the tiossibilitics of financial disaster. The Bill would provide for a straightforward proposition, and he failed to gee how there could bu any jugglery about All the clauses passed unaltered, and the Attorney-General moved a new clause. “Every policy issued under the provisions of this Act shall contain only such provisions as may be approved by the* Clovornor-in-Council.V ■ ■ Tim Bill was reported as amended, and passed. • ■ , . , The Immigration Restriction Amendment- Bill was reported from committee. „ ' The Council rose till 8 p.m. on Wednesday next. *■ HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

The House met at 2.30 p.m. The Oamnm Harbour Board Enabling Bill was passed. A petition - from Rotor Heyos, late Commissioner of Taxes, praying for compensation on account of long and special services to > the country, was read. The petitioner stated that he had been frequently called upon to render assistance in-many departments of the State with which ho was not connected, and bad always cheerfully carried out such special duties. He also prayed that the‘circumstances leading up to his recent retirement be-fully, inquired into, and that such sum as be may, bo deemed worthy of be granted him by way of compensation for loss of position. Tbo House ■ wont into committee on, the Estimates for the i’ublic Buildings Account —£83.190. ■ Replying to” Mr. Hcrrics, who asked for information in regard to the recent illness of the staff at Government House, Sir J. G. Word said that as the illness of members- of the staff seemed: to bo similar in nature, two medical. men wore called'inv 1 ‘ It bad been : con-, sidered desirable to open a drain with a view to ascertaining the cause of the trouble, but it was not certain that the cause of the illness lay in the drainage work done in connection with the: Governor’s residence.

Mr. Massey said tho matter demanded im inquiry. An individual wlio-iiad visited the.. Governor's residence.: in a semi-official capacity had described some of the work as “disgraceful.” This pointed to somethin,'.!;: being wrong with the Public Works .Department,; especially the branch responsible for public buildings. Mr. Forbes, referring to’an item of £SO for Government House, Auckland, moved that it bo reduced by £l. as mi .indication;-that the Civil. List bp amend;od by striking out all reference to Government House, Auckland. Mr. .Merries' moved to reduce tho salary of the architect by £l, the object being to get lurlkcr information in regard to tho illness at Government 1 ' House.

Mr. Ilerdman said tho Governor’s residence had been a muddle from .beginning to end. it was not worthy of a representative of the Iving. It, lookedlike a glorified grain Store; Ho believed that thousands of pounds had been deliberately wasted in connection with the delay in. erecting the new -Parliament buildings. ' l ■ ■,, , ; . Mr. Heines’ amendment was'negatived on.the voices. Mr. Taylor (Christchurch) moved that tbp item of £I6OB (salaries of draughtsmen) ho reduced by £1 as-an indication that the committee was of opinion that no public buildings similar■; to those being erected at Christchurch should be entrusted to a private architect, except as a result, of public compptitibn. The motion was affirmed by 39, votes to 25, and the item was reduci\l accordingly. Mr. Forbes then moved that the item of £SO bo reduced by £l, for the reason already set forth. ■ ; ,.,i , , r . On a division the motion was carried by 36 to 81, and the item was reduced. On the item . £550 : for old Parlia-mentary-buildings, Mr. Russell moved that the nmouiit bo reduced by £SO as' an indication to the Government that Parliament Buildings should bo restored 1 on" the old site. Mr. Fisher supported the amendment. The Minister said the matter would come before the House again when the Public Works Estimates wore being discussed. The present building would servo the needs of Parliament for a year or two'longer. , The House rose at 5.30 p.m, EVENING SITTING. , In the House in the evening Mr. Russell’s motion was rejected by 28 to 23. ' Mr. Fisher moved that Hie item be reduced by £25. • Before the motion was put, Sir Joseph Ward moved that progress bo reported in order that a paper relating to the importation of liquor into no-licouso districts be laid upon the table. ’ This was agreed to, and progress was reported. Accordingly, the paper was' laid on the table. ' After a lengthy, debate Mr. Fisher’s motion was put and rejected by 39 to 21. ' . / Mr., Russell asked whether the Government intended tq.accqpt the division on Mr. Forbes’ motion as, an indication that Government House in Auckland should be closed. Sir J. G. Ward said that Government House, Auckland, could only bo honourably withdrawn with the concurrence of the Home Office. The Government proposed to retain the house and ask for a vote for refurnishing it. That was the honourable course to follow. ■ After considerable argument'for and against Government House at Auckland, Air. Russell moved to reduce the item of £25 for fuel, eto._, in connection therewith by £l, os on indication that ;

tho House is of opinion tljat on© Govcr- . nor’s residence is sufficient. After midnight, tho estimates for tho Native Department (£15,366) wore considered. A motion by Mr. Buchanan \ to reduce Mr. Diunio’s salary £1 was • defeated by 38 to 19. . r - Tho remainder of the items in tho class passed without alteration. WELLINGTON, Oct. 8. After 2 o’clock the estimates for the Justice Department (£370,661) woro passed. • • On the Mines Department' (£24,447). Messrs. Poland and E. IL Taylor asked; tho Minister if he would consider tho question of raising tho salary of tho Inspector of Mines at Thames, who was ■ underpaid, ; The Minister promised to consider the, matter. Tho vote was passed unaltered, and tho House rose.