PARLIAMENTARY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 9308, 7 August 1908, Page 4

PARLIAMENTARY.

— •— ♦ / (Abridged from Press Association.) HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Thubsdat, August 6. AFTERNOON SITTING. The House met at 2.3d' p.m. BILL. •The Alteration of Time Bill (Mr Izard) was read a first time. THE EDUCATION BILL. Mr Hanan, chairman of the Education Committee, reported that he had been instructed to secure a ruling from the Speaker as\ to whether a member of * he committee could move an amendment in tho Education Bill which would have the* effect of increasing appropriation. He had ruled against Buoh an amendment, moved by Mr James Allen. Mr Allen urged that he was entitled to move an amendment which he had proposed, to increase staffing and so increase the total appropriation. Tho Speaker, in giving his ruling, said that the whole question turned on the, "point whether resolutions of eelect committees were binding upon the House or not. In his opinion they were not. Previous rulings and the ordinary practice of Parliament clearly showed that resolutions of select committees were in the nature of suggestions or recommendations and were not binding upon the House. When they came before the Committee of the Whole it would be for the Chairman of Committees to rule according to circumstances whether they could be accepted. Ho (the Speaker) must rule that the decision of the chairman 01 the Education Committee # was not in accordance with the Standing Orders. BILLS. The following Bilk were put through committee: — Westport Harbour Board Loan Bill (Mr Colvin), Christchurch City Sanitation Empowering Bill (Mr Gray). The Oamaru Town Hall and Gasworks Sites and Recreation Reserves Bill waa read a second time. OAMARU HARBOUR. ■ The Hon T. Y. Duncan moved the second reading of the Oamaru Harbour Board Loan Bill. Mr Laurenson opposed the Bill on the ground that the proposal wae extravagant and needless tot so small a town as Oamaru. Instead of borrowing £50,000 on an expensive new dredge they could obtain a sscond-hand dredge Suite good enough for the purposes of tie harbour. i Mr Macphereon supported the Bill, ' and said Mr Laureneon did not know whrt ho was talking about. Sir William Steward also opposed Mr Laureneon, and said that the member for Lytteltoii had not considered the question properly, overlooking the requirements of the whole district, which, as a grain-growing country 5 re- " quired modern steamers to visit the port. The second reading was agreed to. SECOND READINGS. The Christchurch City Betterment Bill (Mr Gray) was read a second time. I Mr Malcolm moved tho second read- ! in<r of tho Tapanni County Bill. The Hon J. A. Millar opposed the Bill. The debate was interrupted by the 5.30 p.m. adjournment.

j EVENING SITTING. j Tho House resumed at 7.30 p.m. ! After a protracted discussion, the motion for the second reading of the Tapanui County Bill was lost by 39 to 26. TOWN BOARDS. Mr Ell moved the third reading of . the Town Boards Act Amendment Bill. i Mr Massey opposed the measure as an insidious attack on local government franchise. If it was right that there should be no taxation without representation, it must also be true that there should be no representation without taxation. That was precisely what the Bill, if passed, would set at nought. The policy of tho Bill was a levelling-down policy. Mr Hornsby said he was astounded at Mr Massey's dictum. He said the policy was a levelling-up policy. The Opposition was making a last stand for plural voting. He was tired of the eternal cry : Property, property, property. Men nowadays were recognising there was something above and beyond property, which gave people a right to the franchise. Mr Herries said the last speaker's arguments might apply to the Municipal Corporations Act, where large powers of axpenditure existed for general purposes, urater, gas, trams, drainage, and so en, but in this case , parliamentary jjowera of borrowing not

exceeding a few hundred pounds altered the position, and surely in view of the restricted powers only taxpayers should have the franchise. What was wanted was a general local government measure. This Bill was a wretchec attempt to de&l with .one small, aspeol of local government. Mr Ell, in reply, said that' the sys tern had been in vogue in the Ole Country for seventy years without an} harm. The only form of plural voting there now was sin certain countie; where a person might have a vote ii different ridings of counties, but evei there such persons only had one vot< in any one riding. The third reading was agreed to b;, 38 votes to 21 %ote&, and the' Bil passed. . ' FARMERS. The Farriers Bill (Mr Major), wa» read a third time on the voices\anr passed. ■ .Mr James Allen moved the seoonc reading df the Counties Act, 1886 : Amendment B'i'.H, to increase the number of members on the Bruce ■ Counts Council. The second reading was agreed t< on the voices. QUACKERY PREVENTION. The Quackery Prevention Bill (Mi Hornsby) was committed and reportec with amendments. CRUELTY TO ANIMALS. Mr Laurenson moved the reading of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Bill. The second reading was agreed to and the Bill referred to the Steel Committee. MUNICIPAL CORPORATIONS. Mr Fisher moved the second reading of the Municipal Corporations Ad Amendment Bill. He said the objed of the Bill was to make the parliamentary franchise jiualification apply in the case of municipal elections. After some discussion the seconc reading was agreed to on ithe voic»?6. , MARRIAGE LAW. Sir William Steward moved the second reading of the Marriage Ac< Amendment Bill, to validate a marriagt with a deceased wife's niece or a deceased husband's nephew. Mr Massey protested against the absence of the Ministry during the discussion of private Bills. The Hoitee had a right to get a lead from the Government. The Prime Minister said it was not usual for the Government to take side* on private Bills. They gave a lead on all important private measures. As to i the particular Bill before the House, he would vote against it, as it enablo-d a man to marry his deceased wife's grandmother. The second reading was lost by 24 votes to 17. THE VISIT OP THE AMERICAN FLEET. The Prime Minister moved the second reading of the Local Authorities Indemnity Bill, to legalise expenditure in connection with the American fleet. After a long debate, the second readins was carried. . - The House rose at 12.43 a.m.