N.Z. PARLIAMENT

Waikato Argus, Volume XV, Issue 6043, 17 September 1903, Page 2

N.Z. PARLIAMENT

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. YESTERDAY. The Council met at 2.30 p.m. PROGRESS OF BILLS. The \Yeilirjgtou Harbour Hoard employing Bill wus n ported from Committee with amendments. The Dramatic Copyright Bill was read a second time without discussion. The City of Chr atchurch Special Loins Enabling Bill passed its final stages. The Couueil then adjourned. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. YESTERDAY. Tho House met at 2 o 0 p.m. PRIVILEGE.

The speaker read a letter from Mr S. Saunder, the Editor of the Lyttelton Times, in reply to a resolution passed by the House declaring tint the breach of privilege hud been committed by that newspaper in publishing certain ar:icles commenting on confidental matters be fore the Educatiou Committe. Mr Saunders regretted that a breach of privelege hid beeo committed. He po nted out that a part of the information conducio 1 iu the article had been previously published by the New Zealand Times, while some of the statemen's were based on data obtained from partly papers distributed by the Government printer some time ago. He was not aware that the publication of the article would constitute a breach of privilege. Mr J. C. Wilkin, publisher of the Lyttelton Times, wrote that he did not know how the information was obtained by the editor.

Sir J. Gr. Ward moved that the letters be referred to the Privileges Committee, which is at present considerinii the New Zealand Times ca'-e. It seemed to him that there was not much breach of privilege as far us the Lyttelton Times was concerned. Sir J. G. Ward's motion was agreed to en the voices without discussion. LEAVE OK ABSENCE. Mr Buddo was granted one week's leave of absence on account of illness, and Mr Bmme four days' leave on account of urgent private business. FIRST HEADINGS ' The following Bills were introduced and j read a first time—Water Power, Public Works Act Ameudmeut, Destitute Persous Act Amttidment, and Public Works Act, 1891, Amendment. QUESTIONS. In reply to questions, it was stated that— No steps were being taken by the Government to acquire the Wellington* Manawatu railway. The Government hoped to pass a Bill this session dealing with the whole question of pea fisheries. The Native Minister would do everything in his power to acquire for the colony certain historical spots in the North Island. Several purchases had already been made for the proposed National Maori Museum, and the question of purchasing some of the mauy valuable specimens of Maori art collected by the late Mr Butterworth, of New Plymouth, was at present under the consideration of Cabinet. A Bill would be introduced this session as a preliminary to the establishment of a National Maori Museum in Wellington. A Land Bill would be brought down in a day or two, and it would be got through if the members would only talk less aud work more. THE COJIPANISS BILL. The Companies Bill, introduced by Sir J. G. Ward, was read a second time pro forma and referred to the Industries and Commerce Committee. SHIPPING AND SEAMEN'S BILL.

The rest of the sitting was devoted to the consideration of the Shipping and Seamen's Bill in Committee. On reaching Claube 40 progress was reported, aod the House rose at 12.50 a.m.