PARLIAMENT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8224, 30 August 1906, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

legislative council. By Telegraph—Press Association. WELLINGTON, August 29. Tbe Council met at 2.30 o'clock. The Eon. J. Kigg moved tor a return ebowiug tbe number of Chinese immigrants during the year coding March u'lst, 1906, aud since, and the number ut Chinese who left tho colony during tho same periods.— Carried. 'lhe election of Chairman of Committees resulted in the Hon. R. H. J. Reeves being elected. The Hon. Sir G. M. O'Rorke moved the second reading of the Divinity Decree Hill lo enable the University of New Zealand to confer degrees of divinity. On the motion of tbe Atfcor ney-General the debate was adjourned until to-morrow. The Council rosa at 4.10 o'clock. BOUSE OP REPRESENTATIVES. The House met at 2.30 o'clock. FIRST READINGS. The following Bills were read a first time—Habitual Criminals (Mr Sidey), Immigration Restriction (Mr Sidey), Landless Natives (Hon. J. Carroll), Stamp Act Amendment (Hon. J. Carroll), Fire Brigades (Hon. J. Carroil), Local Government Subsidies (Sir J. G. Ward). QUESTIONS.

lbe replies to questions wore circulated. Among tbese ore the following:—The rumour that the State Fire Insurance Office intends to join the Fire Insurance Underwriters' Association has no foundation in fact; the meeting of Parliament has beeo fixed for the convenience of members, and the alteration suggested to meetiug eaily in May would necessitate the change of the close of the financial year to the end of December; in the matter of tele pbone the' attitude of'the Department so far from being conservative is of the most liberal character. There is hardly any township or hamlet now in existence in the colony that has not telephonic communication, ana many places have it where there is neither hamlet nor township; the Government will not introduce legislation to abolish epeoial juries, sb the present law, whioh wte passed in 1898, and which provides thuc no case or inquiry shall be tried by a special jury, unless all parties consent thereto, or unless in the opinion of the oourt or judge expert knowledge to required, is quite sufficient to protect the interests of all classes of t,he public; the dislocation of thu San Francisco mail service is due generally to the San Braocisco earthquake, and partly to a recent maritime strike in that city; the Friendly Sooieties Bill will be circulated at an early date; the proposal to establish a free law bureau has Jbeen mooted from time to time, but up to tbe present there does not appear to be any very great demand on the part of the publio for the creation of such an institution at the publio expense, nor has any practical scheme jet been worked out. The Government shall be glad to give every consideration to any suggestions on tbe subject. The question of introducing regulations to enable effect to be given to the Workers' Compensation for Accidents Act is at present under consideration, so that full effeot may be given to tbe provisions of tbe Act. If time will permit this session an amendment to the Shearers' Accommodation Act will be introduced providing that the inspector can insist on propor accommodation being provided for the ordinary station and farm hands as well as for the shearers. It is not deemed advisable that any alteration should be made in regard to compensation oases, as up to the present time the Arbitration Oourt has been able to deal with them in a satisfactory manner. The potato duty will be considered when the question of tariff is brought down. Sfeps have already been taken to prohibit the importation of potatoes affected with blight; tbe further question of preventing tbe planting of diseased potatoes will receive consideration. A Bill will bejjjintroduced this session to amend the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act. There is no intention of introducing a Fair Kent Bill. The question of a reduction ®in the Sheep Tax is under consideration. The takmg of trout at the mouths of rivers (will be dealt with fiually ai an early date. A question asking for free school books was answered by quoting the answer given to Mr Field in September, 1905, to a similar question, viz., that the course proposed would be very expensive, that the books would bo inferior to those now supplied in such great variety, that they would never be up to date, and that it is a matter for the Education Boards to deal with. The House adjourned at 5.30 o'clock.

EVENING SITTING, The House resumed at 7.30 o'clock. WORKERS COMPENSATION FOR ACCIDENT. Mr Barclay moved the second reading of the Workers Compensation for Accidents Act, 1890, Amendment Bill, basing his recommendation of ita' provisions on the ignorance of technicalities which sometimes causes workmen to lose their claims. Mr Sidey congratulated the member for Dunedin on having got so important a measure to the second reading, and approved of the Bill. The Premier suggested the reference of the Bill after the second reading to the Labour Bills Committee. Mr Rutherford asked if the Government were going to take up the Bill after what had happened last year. Mr Barclay did not like the pro posal to refei the Bill to tne Labour Bills Committee, but he would, of course, accept the suggestion. The Bill was read a second time and referred to the Labour Bills Committee. The House adjourned at 10.40 o'olook.