PARLIAMENT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8237, 15 September 1906, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. By Telegranh—Press Association. WELLINGTON, September 14. The Oounoil met at 'J.3O p.m. In moving for a supplementary return of the native lands, waste and unoocupied, the Lion. J. D. Ormond proceeded to traverse the land poliay of the Government. He said thero was a much larger amount of land available than the Minister of Lands had accounted for iu his speech on the laud quesfciuo. He condemned tho perpotual lease as a mietnke, and said it as hardly to be expeoted that the holdors of these leases would be satisfied to give uo their right under any thing short of the freehold. Ho declared that in the maia the Government proposals wore tho most monstrous ever submitted to a legislature. At this stage the Attorney Geueral rose to obtain tho ruling of the Speaker as to whether Mr Otmond was in order in diaoussiug the land polioy whioh was not yet before the Council and was now under the consideration of the Lands Committee. The Speaker thought ,that while a fairly wide latitude might be allowed, Mr Ormond was going beyond what t l io simple scope of his motion warranted. Mr Ortrond said if he was debarred from dealing with the main question of the laud policy on his motion he would take other means of bringing it forward. Ho would not wait for the introduction of the Land Bill. Ho then prooeedad to deal with the question of the native land polioy. The Hon. T. Kelly seconded the motion. The debate was adjourned until Tuesday. The Training Ships Bill was read a third time and passed. The Registration of Births Extension Bill and the Opium Prohibition Act Amendment Bill were reported from committee unamended, and passed. The Juvenile Offenders Bill and the Sale of Explosives Bill were reported from oommittee with verbal amendments. The Council rose at 4.40 p.m. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES The House met at 2.30 p.m. The Divorce Aot Amendment Bill Mo. 2 was introduced and read a first time. The following were appointed a committee for dealing with tbe Stamp Ant Amendment Bill:—Messrs Aitken, Baume, Maophersun, Remington, Reid, Ross, Wilford, Symes, Izard, Hon. Millar, and Hon. J. Carroll (mover). The Premier moved that a panel of two members be appointed to act as temporary Chairmen of Committees when requested by the Chairman of Committees, this panel to consist of Mr Platman and Mr Wood. After some discussion tbe House divided—'ayes 44, noes 23. The motion was carried.

ESTIMATES. In committee, 00 class VI., Working Railways Department, Item working railways £1,750,000, Mr Allen complained that sheep are sometimes lost in transit and wanted to know the cause. Messrs Wilford, Bollard, Arnold and Hornsby pointed out the need for better classification, the latter alluding to the "widespread discontent" in the Department. The Minister said he was surprised to bear of the widespread discontent, especially as he had never found railway men baofcward in voicing their grievances. Mr Massey voioed a local traffic grievance from Huntly, where the traffic is growing greatly. He urged the Minister to favourably consider the case of the numerous stationmasters of the service drawing small pay, £IBO to £2OO a year, working long hours, from 6 o'clock in the morning to 8 o'clock at night, and carrying heavy responsibility, Mr Buddo complained of the shortage of trucks. Mr Hornsby urged that junior officers were giren too much latitude, and be wanted an improvement in that direction in an 'otherwise exceedingly well managed servioe. The House adjourned for dinner at 5.30 p.m. EVENING SITTING. The House resumed at 7.30 o'olook. Mr Massey suggested the use of motor carriages in oonneotion with the railways. Mr Wilford asked for some change in the constitution of the Appeal Board. Mr Ell wanted the charges on the conveyance of racehorses to be raised, and the wages [of the railway men improved. Mr Pisher thought the highly paid officials ought to produoe better railway stations at Wellington and other places. The Minister [explained that the constitution of the Appeal Board had been adopted after very careful consideration; that the speed of trains was the outcome of much careful thought on the part of experts of the service, dealing with complicated conditions; that motor oars have been ordered for the Auckland railways; that the building of better stations and the rise in the freight for racehorses would be kept steadily in view. Mr Hogg complained of the want of foot-warmers on the northern lines, though the southern lines were well supplied. The Minister said footwarmers had been ordered. Mr Gray complained of the smoke nuisanoo in tunnels. The Minister said that instructions have been given to make an estimate of the cost of electric motive power for the Lyttelton tunnel. Mr Baume mo7ea that the Jitem £2,000 for Courthouses be reduced by £l. The amendment was lost, and the item passed unamended. The item Government Domains, £1,400, was passed unaltered Maintenanoe'of roads, £25,000. The Minister explained that this is for the maintenance of main roada hitherto maintained out of the Public Works Fund, wbiob 'had paid for the purpose last year £24,700

5' T Mr Massey congratulated the Mia iater on doing the riebfc thing of making this transfer. The item was passed unaltered making the total for Class V 11.,, £64,437.