PARLIAMENTARY.

Timaru Herald, Volume XCIII, Issue 14364, 2 December 1910, Page 5

PARLIAMENTARY.

Per Press Association. LEGISLATIVE council. TJia r Dec. 1 iie Council met at 2.30 p . m , , Hi " e Committee r? i ; be Tramways Bill nd Greymouth Harbour Board Loaa uilj were passed. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House met at 2.30 p.m. LAND SETTLEMENT FINANCE. The report of the managers set un to confer with the Conneii in regarl to Amendments made by the latter in the Land Settlement Finance Bill was received and read by the Speaker fair J. G. Ward explained that under the new clauses agreed to by the conno person holding knd over m value could take up laid under the Bill. The report was adopted. PUBLIC WORKS. Replying to Mr Massey Mr R. MoKenzie said the debate on the Public Works Statement would be taken on Friday afternoon or evening. RAILWAY SERVANTS. The House went into Committee on the Government Railways Amendment Bill. Clause 7, giving the -Minister power to grant leave of absence to members of the railway service, and clause !0providing that the Council may fix the salaries of -officers within certain limits, were struck out on the voices, and the Bill was reported with amendments. In the evening the Railways Bill was passed. MINING. The Mining Amendment Bill was committeed, and clause 18 (referring to gold stealing) was struck out on the voices. The House rose at 5.30. MINING BILL. The Mining Bill was reported wita some amendments made in committee. Mr Massey raised a puestion on clause 16 of the Mining Amendment Bill, whether it was not a taxation clause on his Majesty's metais ;nd should be sent Home for Royal Assent. Tlie Speaker opheld Mr Massey's contention, and said the clause wouid be inoperative without the Royal Assent. The Bill couid be recommitted with a view of-striking out the clause, or another Bill could lie introduced with a recommendation from the Oovernor. Mr R. MeKenzie moved to recommit V the Bill with the object of striking out the clause. Mr Poland protested against iiis tactics adopted to prevent the passage of the BilL He said that the representatives of mining companies J.ad been allowed to sit alongside the Speaker's chair. Subsequently a clause was introduced by Governor's message, and pissed through committee. The Bill was then read a third time and passed. A COItPOUND BILL. Sir .J. G. Ward moved the second rendiug r,r the" Besc-vec and other Lands Disposal and Public Bodies finipowerins; Bill. Mr Massey protested aeainsi tlm Hill —which was really a number of tills rolled into one—being introduced so late in tiio session . Mr Herries said that several section* of the Bill should have gone to thsNative Affairs Committee. The Bill was read a second ~iimp The amendments made bv the ],<";s lative Council in the Grev'mouth Harbours 8.1 l were agreed to. The Reserves and other lands Dis. posai. Public Bodies ;md Native Land Claims Adjustment Bills were passed through Committee and reported with amendments. LIBEL BILL. The Law of Libel Amendment Bill was committed. 1 A motion by Mr Anderson to include' - public meetings amongst priviliged reports was rejected on the voices. Mr Herdman and Mr Massey objected to sub-clause e of clause 2, which confers privilege on tire reports of proceedings of the Executive or any Department thereof when authorised by a Minister of the Crown. The clause was.retained. - At clause 4, disallowing successive nrtions in respect of the publication of defamatory matter unless made within ten days after the commencement of a fresh action. Mr .Tennints moved to substitute thirty days for ten days, and this was carried on the voices. (Left Sitting.)