PARLIAMENTARY.

Timaru Herald, Volume XCIII, Issue 14350, 16 November 1910, Page 5

PARLIAMENTARY.

Per Press Association. | LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.' I WELLINGTON, Nov. 15. The Council met this afternoon. STATE BANK. Replying to Mr Paul, Sir T. Kelly, Chairman of the Stale Bank and atatj Currency Committee, stated that the report of the Committee was delayed owing to a. difficulty m getting the evidence from the printing office. He would call a meeting of tne Committee to-morrow, and the matter would be attended to immediately. NATIONAL PROVIDENT FUND. On the third reading oi tiie National Provident Fund Bill, Mr Jenkinson suggested that it would be better to vest the administration of the fund in the Government Life Insurance Department than the Public Trustee. The Attorney-General said tin® i iggestion deserved careful consideration, and he would have the matter brought under the consideration of the Government before next session. The Bill was read a third time and passed. Several other Bills were advanced. HARBOUR, BOARD BILL. On this Bill being committed, an attempt by Mr Aiutey to have the borough franchise instituted at elections in combined districts under the Bill was defeated by 16 to 14. The Attorney-General secured the insertion of a new sub-clause to prevent double voting by ship-owners and payers of dues. Another new clause was added tliht elections shall be held on the days appointed for the election of members of borough councils. Some other amendments were made and the Bill was reported.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House met at 2.30 p.m. A CASE FOR INQUIRY. The Premier, in response to interrogations from seveial members, promised to inquire into the matter of old age pensioners being induced to supply liquor to police probationers in Wellington and accepting money from them. The Five Millions Loan and the "Mokau Jones" petition, were dealt with, and the second reading debate on the Legislative Amendment Bill was commenced ot the afternoon sitting. The second reading was carried. SHIPPING AND SEAMEN. The Hon. J. A. Millar moved the second reading of the Shipping and Seamen Bill, which he explained provided that intercolonial ships trading between New Zealand and Australia or .New Zealand and Cook Islands should bo compelled to comply with the labour' laws of New Zealand and pay tbe current rate of wages. Ships manned Asiatics wholly or in part would be liable to 25 per cent, stamp duty on passage money or freig lit charges. The I3il) would have to receive the Royal assent. Mr Massey said there was a Btrong opinion _ that the ISill was inspired by the Union Company, and he was not going to allow himself to be made us€ of by any com pan v. It would bo a good thing for tb?s country if it encouraged some of the big companies to come here. » The Premier said that the object of the Bill was to preserve the mercantile marine that it hac! taken some thirty years to build up and whirh enabled men to dpoent pay under decant conditions. Lnless competition were refiliated our marine would be manned by Asiatics, or dsn the wages of our seamen would be reduced to a -cry h.w rate, upon which it would be impossible for them to maintain i.hcir wives antl families. Tt was desirable that our representative ar the Imperial Conference should have with him an affirnat!on or our desire to protect our own so that his bund mijzht lie strengthened. He deprecated manning any particular line of steamers, and lie desired to say that the Government did not wish to do anything to injure the' V. and O. C'oy.. but something must be done to protect British seamen. After further discus-ion Mr Millar replied and the second reading was agreed to. The House adjourned at 12.40 p.m.