PARLIAMENTARY.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 14043, 29 October 1909, Page 5

PARLIAMENTARY.

Per Press Association. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. /WELLINGTON, Oct. L'S. TJie Council met at 2.30 p.m. THE LOAN BILL. The Aid to. Public Works Bill received from tlio House was r.ufc through all stages without discussion. SANITARY. Replying to Dr Collins., tho ±" ttor-ney-General said it was not consuicred necessary to go beyond tho architects in connection with the ventilation and sanitary arrangements of public buildings, part of tho training -f architects having to do with such matters. RETURN REFUSED. Mr Jenkinson moved for a return showing tho names and particulars of those members of tho lfoayay Department who havo received, bonuses for suggested improvements in railway work. The Attorney-General , opposed this on tho ground of time and the cost and the motion was negatived. The Council then rose. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House met at 2.30 p.m. LAST LICENSING POLL. On Mr Herdman's motion it was decided that a return bo presented showing (1) tho cost of conducting the last Licensing Poll in Dunedin, C hristchurch, Wellington and Auckland; (2) tho cost of tho poll throughout the whole Dominion. Tho afternoon was devoted to a discussion on answers to questions and the House rose at 5 p.m. ' The House resumed at 7.30 c.\n. FLOUR DUTY RETAINED. Mr Hogg in moving the second reading of the Flour Duty Abolition. Bill said that when tho Bill was 'ast bo ere the House it was nearly carried. He hoped with.tho altered personnel of the House that it would bo earned r< w. The tax on kour was an anomaly in a civilised country. Tho workers had t hard enough struggle to. make ends meet without having their food taxed. Duties on articles of daily consumption ought to bo abolished in the inte est of the men who were creating the wealth of tho country. The fjuur duly wont into the pockets <•! "•fat m'-.-i not into the State exchequer Since tiu- flour trust had been formed ;t hau taken from the pockets of + he people a million of money. The tax had u>i-. result, viz., to help tho flour /nig; it: abolition would-"benefit the fanne.-s who felt the- burden of .1. No one else having risen, the question was put to the vote, and the second reading was negatived by aJ votes to 21 votes. _ Ayes—Arnold, Bui.ck, Clark, Colvin, Davcy, Dillon, Dive, Glover, Hall, Hine, Hogan, Hogg, Laur.enson, McLaren Malcolm. Okey, Poole, Sidcy, T E Tavlor, Wilford. and Wright. Bollard, Buddo, Buxton, Carroll, T. Duncan, J. Duncan, Field. Forbes, Fowlds, I'raser, Graham", Grcenslade. Guthrie. Hardy, Hcrdman.. Hemes, Lane, Luke .MacDonald, R. McKenzic, T. Mackenzie, Mandpr Masscv, Newman, Nosworthy, i'arata, PoarcV. Phillips, Rhodes, Scott, Smith. St;dlworthy, Steward, Rnngihiroa, J. C. Thomson, Ward, and Wittv. " ELECTORAL REFORM. ■ The adjourned debate on the legislative Amendment Bill was resumed by Mr Poole; who said that, he could not support th" Bill. The second ballot wps preferable. Mr Wright suimorted the Bill on the ground that the Government l«ad ""]": tention of amending the Second Ballot Act. He favoured some system .of pronortioiial representation. Mr Ell defended the Act from the criticism of the supporters of .the Bill which he ooposed. Perfect representation could-only bovsecured,, by retcrendum. ~, , • ~% iMr Forbes, whilo drawing attention to the defects of the second ballot, considered Mr F.Wier's Bill would only add to tho confusion. The referendum ought to he granted with .the power of initiative. He. moved that the Bill lie read a second time this dav six months. Mr Buxton seconded the motion. Mr Laurenson gave Mr Fisher credit for .in liouest attempt to .«rap'>lo with a difficult mifstioii, hut (he Bill was no boiler substitute, for the present Act. ~ , i - i The Premier said he desired a R+rnight-nut division on tli" Bill.' .Mr Fisher was wrong in assuming that ,t!<" Oovevn'neiit supnorters wislied to kill th" ™"- "" ',.,,'• X, X Mr Massoy, whilst adnvttinsr that the Bill was inmeri'ect in detail, contended that it was sound in nrinciplo. Tf it succeeded i" renepling (he secernl ballot it would do good service to the country. . , After further discussion. Mr .I'orhos amendin-ent was negatived on the voices, and a straiVht-out taken on the second residim* —ayes 27, noes 34. The Bill was rejected. The House rose at midnight.