PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 14348, 28 October 1910, Page 6

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Oct. 27. In the Legislative Council this afternoon, the Justices of the Peace Amendment Bill was reported without amendment, and read a third time. The Stone Quarries Bill was further coneidorccl, and reported with amendments. On the motion of the AttorneyGeneral, the amendments made by the House m the By-laws Bill wore disagreed with, and a committee set up to confer with a committee of the other Chamber on the matter. The Land Settlement Finance Amendment Bill was read a second time pro forma, and referred to the Statutes Revision Committee, and the Council adjourned. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House met at 2.30 p.m. The Premier moved that in future during the cession the House sit on Mondays at 2.30 for Government business only. . , Mr. Massey moved to substitute 7.0 U p.m. for 2.30 p.m, A discussion arose as to the methods of conducting the business, and the necessity for altering the present system, which resulted in long night sittings and injury to the health of members. The Premier was willing that the House should adjourn at 11 p.m., if moans were l taken to prevent desultory discussion. He remarKod that the session ought to be concluded in three weeks, or even a fortnight. Touching on the work to l>o done during remainder of the session, Sir Joseph W ard said ho was afraid the Local Government Bill would not bo dealt with. If the Bill were not introduced he would see that it was forwarded to the members after the close of the session. He proposed to go on with the fourteen Bills appearing on the first page of the order paper for the day. They were mostly minor measures. In addition to the Land and Licensing Amendment Bills, the Libel Bill, which had been printed, would also be proceeded with. A Bill dealing with public holidays, and a Bill amending the Old Age Pensions Act would be introduced this session. The Gaming Bill would have to go through this session. The Beet-root Sugar Bill would be hold over, but the sum of £IOOO for inquiry into the prospects of tho industry would be provided for in the Supplementary Estimates. Opportunity would f)e given for considering tho reform of the Standing Orders. Tho Bill dealing with tho Canterbury pastoral runs would have to go through. The Public Works Statement would be brought down on Friday week. Ho was anxious to avoid Saturday sittings altogether, and would suggest later on that the Standing Orders be relaxed in order to expedite business. Mr. Fisher said he would bo no party to any attempt to check reasonable discussion of business. On a division the amendment was rejected by 44 to 23, and tho motion carried. Replying to Mr. Massey, the Premier said he could not name a definite date for the second reading of the Land Bill, but hoped it would bo some time next week. Tho Premier,-.replying to Mr. Poole; said he would introduce a Bill this session to extend tho laws now applying to coastal trade to vessels trading to Australia and tho Pacific Islands. This would enable the Dominion to control wages and conditions of labour under which crews of these vessels worked. Tho Bill would also deal with the question of Asiatic crews in order to protect tho seamen of the. Dominion against cheap Lascar labour. The amendments made by the Legislative Council in the Animals Protection Amendment Bill wore agreed to. Mr. Buddo moved the second reading of tho Taranaki Scholarships Amendment Bill, which was agreed to. The House rose at 5-30 p.m. EVENING SITTING. The Kaipoi Reserves Bill was reported without amendments. Mr, Buddo moved that the amendments made by the Legislative Council in tho River Boards Amendment Bill bo agreed to. Mr. Buchanan moved as an amendment that clause 4 (extending the time ior making claims), which had been struck out, should stand. The amendment was lost by 33 to 24, and tho motion was agreed to by 35 to 24.

The second reading of tho Opium Amendment Bill was moved by tho Hon. T. Mackenzie, who explained the provisions of the Bill, which provides tor restrictions on the sale of preparations ol opium which may be .made suitable for smoking, and penalties for broach of tho law.

The second reading was agreed to without discussion. Tho House went into committee on tho Inspection ot .Machinery Amendment Bill.

At clause 2, Mr. Poland said that the clause, which made it compulsory for men in charge ot winding machinery engaged in raising persons and materials from a shait to have certificates, should also apply to men engaged in lowering persons and material.* The Minister agreed to add the word ‘‘lowered” to the clause to give effect to Mr. Poland's suggestion, and the Bill passed through committee. The Harbours Amendment Bill (No. 2) was taken in committee. Mr. Taylor (.Christchurch) raised the question of the election of harbour boards, contending that these should be elected on flic Parliamentary franchise. He moved that clause 2 be amended by striking out the words “other than those (elective members) who are appointed by the Governor,” so ns to allow the matter to be discussed Mr. Millar said that if the amendment were carried he would move to report progress. The Government, ho said, had given n good deal of consideration to the Bill, which embodied the resolutions come to by the Harbour Boards Conference. If the committee decided to reduce the Government nominees to one member each he would offer no' objection to it. Sir. Taylor thereupon withdrew his amendment. Mr. Davy moved to amend clause 3 by providing that members of hoards be elected on the Parliamentary franchise. The amendment was rejected by 47 to 21. Mr. Craigie moved to add a new subclauso 7 to the effect that in the case of a combined district an elector in a country portion of the district shall enjoy the same franchise as the elector in a borough. The amendment was negatived hv 40 to 25. WELLINGTON, Oct. 28. After midnight clause 42 was amended by increasing the area that a local authority may reclaim from two to five acres. An amendment by the Minister to give harbour boards power to regulate timetables and faros on ferry steamers was lost on the voices. Mr. Laurcnson moved to add a proviso that in case of boards on which

members were elected by payers of dues ono mombor should bo elected by the waterside workers’ union. On a division t his was lost by 45 to 13. Mr. Taylor (Christchurch) moved a now clause providing that 'on the request of not less than ten per cent, of the electors for a poll to be taken on the question whether or not the board should proceed with any specified harbour work a poll should he taken. On a division the clause was rejected bv 38 to 20. After 2 o’clock, when the clauses of the Harbours Amendment Bill were concluded, Mr, Massey moved to amend the schedule by reducing the Government nominees on the Auckland Harbour Board from two to one.

Mr. Herries suggested that the Minister postpone consideration of the schedule to allow him to come to an agreement with members on this point. Mr. Massey’s amendment was agreed to by 40 to 18. Mr. Millar suggested that if the number of members on the Aucklan/1 Board be reduced from 14 to 13 all other hoards should bo reduced by one. On a division the Minister’s amendment to reduce the number of members was rejected by 31 to 20. Progress was reported, and the House rose at 2.45 a.m.