AFTERNOON SITTING.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 9319, 20 August 1908, Page 4

AFTERNOON SITTING.

The House met at 2.30 p.m. BILLS. The following Bills were introduced and read a first time: — Public Works Act Amendment Bill No. . 2 (Sir Wil-

Ham Steward), Olmra County Bill (Mr Jennings), and Carterton Borough Council Vesting and Enabling Bill (Mr Hornsby). 1 QUESTIONS. . In reply to questions, Ministers . stated that the Government had no in- [ tention of introducing any mechanical '. apparatus for recording votes at elec--1 tions. That the Government could not see its way to grant workers' tickets I to shop assistants whoso work begins ( at 9 a.m. That in view of several con- , cessions made in the Classification Act ' of last session, it was not proposed to ; further amend that Act this year, but ! tho recommendation of the Amalgai mated Society of Engineers that ironwork machinists should be placed on » the same grade of pay as woodwork ma- | chinists would be considered in due course. That the matter of introducing a Trnde Monopolies Bill, in consequence of the Standard Oil Company having " cornered " the supply of kerosene and increased the selling price thereof notwithstanding the recent remission of dut; T , would be considered by the Government. That the Government was not prepared to arrange ' for tho comprehensive testing and recording- of the milk yield of any cow nominated for entry in the district herd book, but the dairy inspectors lately appointed had been instructed to advise and a6sist dairymen as far as possible to improve their herds. Tl\o Hon J. M'Gowan, replying to criticisms of members, referred at some length to the question of the fishing rights of Natives in Lake Rotorua and elsewhere, explaining the situation in relation to the provisions of the Treaty of Waitangi. He said tho Government reepgnised fully ita moral obligations, and would not disregard them. In reference to the Government undertaking to work tho Parapara iron deposits, he said it wds undesirable for the Government to engage in a pursuit of a speculative character. Replying also to criticisms, the Hon W. Hall-Jones 6aid it wa6 impossible to run as cheap suburban l services with only a small population to work on as was possible .where, as in: Sydney, there existed over 500,000 people. He quoted figures to show that the concessions granted on the New Zealand railways compared favourably with those offered in the States of Australia. The House adjourned at 5.30 p.m. EVENING SITTING. The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. BILLS. The Quackery Prevention Bill was read a third time and passed. The Destitute Persons Act Amendment Bill was reported without discussion. In committee on the Counties Act 1886, Amendment Bill (Mr J. Allen), the Prime Minister v moved the substitution of a clause to make the Bill a general one, enabling the Governor, by Order-in-Council gazetted on the resolution of County Councils, to increase the number of members sitting on such Councils, but not beyond" twelve. The amendment was agreed to. Mr Poland moved the inclusion of a new clause, the effect of which would be to abolish plural voting in country elections. , Lost by 30 votes to 23. f The Bill was reported with amendments. MUNICIPAL FRANCHISE. The Municipal Corporations Act, 1900 Amendment No. 2 (Mr Fisher), was committed. Mr Herries said he thought that a Bill so important, proposing that a parliamentary franchise should apply to municipal elections, ought to elicit opinions from the leaders of the House. Last month's Municipal Conference hard vetoed this proposal. Mr Ell: By how many votes? Mr Herriils: Well", never mind that. It was defeated. Mr Ell : By two votes. Mr Herries: Well, the honourable gentleman supports -the bare majority. Why should it not apply in this case? Mr Tanner said the Bill was not as important as was represented, but it certainly ought to be passed. Mr Allen (Bruce) objected to tho principle of the Bill. The Prime Minister supported tho proposal. He said th« present municipal elections were close to the parliamentary elections as regarded franchise qualification. This proposal did not extend to voting for loans. < After a long discussion the Bill was reported. In committee on the Public Works Act Amendment Bill (Mr Izard) the Prime Minister said he thought the Bill as •it stood afforded too great a facility for . construction of streets twenty feet wide. Mr Izard said he wag prepared to accept an amendment in the direction of prohibiting the erection of, a building, fence or enclosure within 33 feet of the centre of a street. The Prime Minister moved accordingly. Mr Fisher said the amendment defeated the whole object of the Bill, which then would simply re^nact the present law. What was required was a clause to enable a local authority to take land for street widening purposes without paying compensation in cases where a narrow street had been conRtrticted by Order-in-Council under this Bill. The Prime Minister agreed to withdraw the amendment if it damaged the Bill provided the width were made 40 feet. Mr Ell said it was wonderful what local bodies would read into the measure. He would not trust local bodies as far as he could kick them. They were 1 responsible for all the slums in all the towns of New Zealand to-day. Sir William Steward moved to amend Section 146 of the principal Act to enable local bodies to remove trees at 6treet cornevs in cases where they obstructed traffic and endangered his Maje^v's liege subjects. i The discussion on the proposal was necfltived by 40 to 15. After further discussion, the Bill vr&s reported. The House rose at 12.3 a.m. — ■ f— -