PARLIAMENTARY.D

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13660, 31 July 1908, Page 6

PARLIAMENTARY.D

HOUSE: OF REPRESENTATIVES. Par Pxesa Association. • ' WELLINGTON, July 30. The Hons® met at 2.30 p.m. PRODUCTION OF PAPERS. The Minister of Lands laid on the table papers relating to certain land transactions in the city of Wellington .between the Government and the City Council and Kennedy Mac Donald apd Co. • Mr Fisher, who-had called for the papers said , the transaction revealed that the Government had been hoodwinked and had unwittingly.'' committed a breach, of; the land Act-jn. selling Crown lands to prirat® individuals without competition. Moreover in ; regard to an exchange of land the Government had been misled as ■to the nature of the exchange and had been led to sell land at £lO a perch to Mr Mac Donald, who refused £2O a perch -lor ; tbe 'Eame.

Mr Massey said that if the facts were as stated, evidence of criminal negligence was - disclosed,' and shady transactions-had taken place, -and there should be a full enquiry by the House. The Premier- said, that the Government courted the fullest enquiry as according to their rights what) had been >ne w:.s light and ■' honourable. He suggest 11 at the matter be referred to the '.ands Ocin--mitftee, which should commence an enquiry to-morrow and report as npopaible The Hon. Mr McNab moved in this diresviou. The motion was carried. SECOND READINGS. The second reading of the W:stporfc Harbour/Board Loan Bill, was t«r«ed to. The Christchurch Cuy Sanitorium bill was read a second time. Mr Ell moved the second- reading of tihe Town : Districts Act Amendment Bill, to make the qualification of electors those prescribed by the Municipal Corporation's Act 1900 and also to make the conduct of elections come under tiw provisions oi the Local Government Act 1904. i The second reading was agreed to. The Local Elections Act Amendment 831, and Lamps on Vehicles Bill, were read a second time, without debate. Mr 'lzard's Public Works Acii Amendment Bill to enable local authorities vnder certain conditions to take land compuisorily for the purpose of making roads and-streets was read a second linnet

The second reading of the Companies Act' Amendment Bill was carried and the Bill was referred to the Public Accounts Committee., Mr Hornsby moved the second reading of the -Quackeries Prevention BilL The dinner adjournment interrupted the debate. > The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. Mr Hornsby continued his remarks, laying- gTeat stress upon tht injury cioik: uy tl» unrestricted sale of quack nostrums. The" object of the jliiil was iOiaiy -w> buim this and prevent the sale of noxious appliances or worthless and harmful dtuga, the latter of which cost scores of infaiit lives. Dr- Chappie, speaking from a medical etar dpoint,. stcongly supported the Bill ■ and spoke strenuously of the pernicious effect of quack 'drags and, advertisements. Ihe Bill was read a. second time on the Vaii-feS. ! . • ABSOLUTE MAJORITY. Mr Laurensoa moved the second reading of ilw Licensing' Polls Absolute Majority Bil' contending that as absolute" majority rali-I all other elections it should do so in the licensing poll. Although opinion was stirongly in favour of no-license, it had only been carried in six electorates. Mr Rutherford opposed the Bill on the ground of the expense imposed on licensees to provide the accommodation asked for by .licensing committees. The Hon. Mr McNab opposed the Bill on the ground of the tiurmoil and unrest that would be occasioned in constituencies by- a bare majority," and said that in the future .it would be the trade party who would ask for a bare majority as the only chance of' getting licenses. Mr James Allen opposed the Bill on tha ground that unrest would -be occasioned- by it-, and that the law would nob be< effective under tha bare majority. Dr Chappie vigorously opposed the Bill % He said that rule by bare majority was essential to make'it effective. Stability was essentiau to make it effective. The threefifths' majority was indispensable in iihe interests of temperance. Mr Hall thought that they must guard agpinst' confiscation of property -as. the result of a 1 catch vote. Mr Malcom supported the Bill in a strong no-license speech. • Mr Hornsby said that the. no license party were committing a tactical blunder... Mr Fisher strongly opposed the Bill a_v a tactical blunder likely to cause ceaseless unrest. The progress of "no license had been satisfactory. - He was earnestly opposed t'o the liquor traffic, but the present measure would- not further-the causa he had at heart. The.Prime Minister said it was obvious that a. general Licensing Bill would engender, an interminable discussion, judging by this debate. There was -no time in tha last session of Parliament to deal ' with the liquor question. On this particular question a large majority of members frrrrt pledged themselves to support the present law- It . would 'be -a retrograde step for a matter of this land" to be dealt jrjth by a private BilL

Mir Buddo, Mr Banme, Sir. Flatman, Mr Barber, Mr T. Mackenzie and Mr Wilford opposed the measure. Mr Laurenson then. replied. The second, reading was lost by 54 votes to eight, votes. The House rose at 0.30 a.m.