PARLIAMENTARY.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXXXII, Issue 12796, 30 September 1905, Page 4

PARLIAMENTARY.

Per Press Association. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. WELLINGTON, September 29. The Council met at 2.30 p.m. BILL PASSED. The Property Law Amendment Bill passed its final stages. ELECTORAL. The Electoral Bill was received from the lower House and read iilir©time. The Council then rose. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House, met at 2.30 p.m. FIRST READING. The Methylated Spirits Bill was read a first time. NOXIOUS WEEDS. The Agricultural Committee recommended that the Noxious Weeds Act Amendment Bill receive consideration this session. VALUATION. With regard to a petition praying for aii alteration in the present system of valuation, the Public- Petitions Committee reported as follows:—"That the Committee is of opinion that in order to secure greater satisfaction in valuation, the Government be recommended to have only competentmen employed to make valuations, and that one of the assessors composing the Assessment Court be appointed by the -local authority having jurisdiction "in the districtaffected."

In the course of a lengthy discussion, Mr ' Taylor complained that- "land in the South Island was consistently undervalued, and that the revenue of the coolny was thereby deprived of tens of thousands of pounds in land tax. He knew of land in the south that had been valued at 35s per acre that should have been assessed at £7 or £-8. If the land was properly valued the taxation through the Customs could be reduced a considerable extent. Mr Mills said that all the complaints received by the Department were that the valuations were too high and not too low. He defended the valuers, and said that their valuation was honest and fair in all cases according to their lights. It was easy to make a general complaint about, under-valuing, and the member for Christchurch should have given specific instances. Mr Laurenson gave several instances in tvliich there was a great disparity between the actual value and the land tax value. Several other members also took part in the discussion. At 5.10 Mr Kidd moved "the previous question," with a view of closing the debate.

Mr Massev protested against the application of the closure in a case of this kind.

Sir J. G. Ward said that he was opposed to this system of gagging the House. Personally he was against the closnre altogether, and ■the Government did not- {.litup the Whip (Mr Kidd) to move the previous question. Under the circumstances,. Sir Joseph asked Mr Kidd to withdraw his motion, but Mr Kidd said he had no intention of doing so. The moving of the previous question having closed the discussion, the report of the Committee was by 54 votes to nine votes ordered to lie on the tab!", and be referred to the" Government for .a-ronrable consideration. The House roser at 5.30 p.m. The House resamed at 7.30 p.m. NEW BILL. The Property Law Bill was received from the Legislative Council and read a. first time. COMMITTEE OF SUPPLY. The House went into Committee of Supply for further consideration of the Estimates.

The first class taken was Department of I Agriculture, total vote £112,770. Sir W. Hussell asked whether anything lad been done in regard to the inixodnctipn of the natural enemy of the codlio moth which had been a great success in California. Mr Massey did not think the Department had been sufficiently enterprising in this matter. If the colony could get rid; of the codlia moth hei believed they would be able to export many thousands of tons of apples annually. Mr Duncan (Minister for Agriculture) said that the natural enemy of the codlin moth was being experimented with in California, aiid New Zealand had been in communication with that State on the subject. A reply had been received that the work of rearing _ the insect was very difficult and expensive, but that it was hoped later on.' to "supply New Zealand with ten or a dozen colonies of the insect at a costof £IOOO. Mr Harding hoped the Minister would not hesitate to pay the price for several colonies of the insect and he would haver the support of the whole country. Mr Kirkbride urged the Government to lend its assistance to the fruit-canning in-, dustry. Mr Massey complained of the Department's attitude in connection with the payment of compensation for the slaughter of diseased stock. Mr Duncan said that when the slaughtered animal was only slightly diseased, ■compensation wae -paid but when, badly diseased no compensation was paid. 'ln,reply to Mr Alison Mr Duncan said the Government was prepared in a reasonable way to assist fruit-growers to establish fruit-preserving factories. The growers must do something for themselves by forming co-operative companies. The Government would be prepared to lend money on shares in connection with a co-op-erative fruit-preserving venture. Mr Massey pointed out that there was no provision in the law for lending money in this way, and 'ne hoped legislation would be passed this session to enable the Minister to do what he had suggested. Replying to members who had urged that- more fruit experts should be appointed, Mr Duncan said that- it was too early to secure a high salaried Californian expert. They had to get the industry into order first. The Government intended to find out,in what districts the best.fruit could be grown. A motioh by Mr Hawkins to reduce the vote by £1 as an indication that the duty shpuld be taken 6ff Australian grapes, was lost by 31 votes to 19 votes. Mr Vile moved to reduce the item ''Establishment of Dairy Schools, £1000" by £l,\as an indication that the work of establishment should be-begun at once. Lost by 32 votes to 23 votes. Mr Ell moved to reduce the vote by £1 as an indication that the import duty on potatoes shouldbe removed. . Lost by 57 votes to nine votes. The total vote for the Department of Agriculture passed unaltered. Police Department, £133,206. In reply to Mr Massey Mr McGowan said he would lay the evidence taken bv the Police Commission on the. table, probab'y within a week.

Air T. Mackenzie brought under the notice of the Minister the advisability of transferring country constables more" frequently than at present. Mr McGowan said he thought constables should Hot take any active interest in politics. - He knew nothing about tha politics of the men in the force and the transfers were largely a matter of suitability: Speaking generally he said there were several men in the force of long service who wanted to know why they were not made sergeants. The reason was that they were not qualified; they were very good men, honest straightforward and upright, but they: wanted more than that—they wanted brains. The total vote passed unaltered. ; ' Valuation Department. £29,235. Mr Kirkbride moved that the item "As■s sessment Court expenses, £450" be reduced by * £1 as 'an indication that one member of the Assessment Court shall be appointed by the local authority .in any case in which the local authority is interested. - (Left sitting" at 2 a.m.)