PARLIAMENTARY.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIC, Issue 13389, 12 September 1907, Page 5

PARLIAMENTARY.

l'cr Press Association. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. WELLINt!TON, September 11. The Council met at 2.30 p.m. LOCAL BILLS. Gore Streets Bill, Wellington City Empowering Bill, and Borough of New Plymouth Electric Loan and Waterworks Loan Bill Mere reported Hop-, Committee. LEAVE OF ABSENCE. Leave of absence .was granted to Mr ?>lai shall and Mr George on account of iiii:.. s.-. The Council rose at 5 p.m. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House met at 2.30 p.m. BILL PASSED. The Dunedin Suburban Gas Company Empowering Bill was read a third time and passed. REPLIES TO QUESTIONS. In reply to questions stated That a short Bill amending the Government Advances to Settlers Act had been prepared, which would help to obviate any unavoidable delay in advancing cask for authorised loans." That no bank in New Zealand is under the Companies Act and. therefore, cannot be compelled without legislation to disclose for the information of the public the names of shareholders. The Government did not propose to introduce banking legislation this session. That the question of amending the Advances to Workers Act to enable lessees of land held under i mining title to obtain advances for purposes of erecting residences is under consideration. That steps would be taken to obtain all available information on the subject of oiling roads.

That (here is no indication at present that Sir Dinnis hn« any intention of relinquishing his position as Commissioner nf PoVce and until there is some likelihood of a vacancy occurring ,it- does not appear necessary to consider the question, of appointing his successor. , That Ihe Public Works Department -will be classified in common with all otter departments of ihi? service that, hare not yet been dealt, with in any general scheme of classification that may be decided upon. That the question as to reform in thhospital and charitable aid system is receiving the consideration of the Government- and it is hoped that the new Hospitals and Charitable Institutions Bill will , be introduced next session. 1 LAND LEGISLATION. The Land and Income and Assessment' Bill was reported from the Public Accounts Committee. In reply to Air Mavsey the Premier stated that as soon as the Tariff Bill was put. through, the Land and Income Tax Assessment Bill would be proceeded with, to h> followed bv the Land Bill and the Native Land Bill. THE TARIFF DEBATE. The House went into Committee on the Tariff Bill. Mr "Marnier urged that the duty should be taken off ironbark and bridge timber. ill- Ell said that a lot. of the timber for the use of bridge and pile work had to lie imported, as th? colony did notproduce it, and he hoped that the Minister would be able to see his way to take the duty off this class of tvmber for us? as beams, piles ,etc. Totara was getting exceedingly scarce, yet it was be:-ng used for telesrapli pole:: and piles. He contended -that totara which was exceedingly brittle was not suitable for telegraph poles, but was admirably adapted for use niside houses, particularly for window .wlies. He maintained that- it was anational waste to u:-:e totara. for piles and

telecrrapli poks. Mr Jennings said he was opposed to admitting- ironbark and javrah free. The Hon. Mr Millar said that the Commonwealth was closing her doors to everything from New• Zealand and lie failed to why tiimbsr from Australia should be admitted free to compete with the hundreds of workers in the timber industry of Tv;w Zealand. Mr Buddo said it would be a suicidal uolicy to take the duty off Australian hardwoods at- the present time. Mr Barber said there was something wrong- when jarrali timber paying a duty of 2-- per hundred feet" could be landud in Wellington cheaper than totara and oili-i' Zealand timbers. : The Premier said that there were thousands of men earning a living as timber producers, and if Australian timber was admitted free it -would seriously interfere with tbsse workmen and would tend to the stagnation of the labour _ market. They w?re anxious to see a neighbourly and'brotherly feeling existing between Australia and New Zealand, but until tlicy hnv of what the Federal tariff would ultimately consist, they could not disenss the matter of a reciprocal treaty with Australia, It would not be- fair to New* Zealand timber-getters and timber-mi'lev< to throw the door open to a. counti-y which was erecting a high protective fence agvinst other countries. •- • The House at 5.,>0 n.m. nud "esiimed at 7.30 P.m.. a long discussion taking pine,?' on the duties on flour anil whe-it. _