HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXXXVII, Issue 11741, 19 September 1902, Page 4

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

The Bouse met at 2.30. NAVAL SUBSIDY BILL. A Naval Subsidy Bill was introduced by Governor's message a<p.d read a first tome. Sir Joseph Ward explained that tike Bill provided for the payment of tihe same amount of /subsidy, viz., £25,000, ik> the Australasian Nayjfcas badl hitehertoi been paid. FIRST READINGS. On the ujiotiou of Sir Joseph Ward, ti'o

following Bills were introduced and read i a firsit .time : Pharmacy Act Amendme; t. Law Society's and Companies Act Amendment-. PETITIONS. The Public Petitions Committee reported an the petition of D. Brent, who prayed for relief on account of his salary Being reduced and 'his services being disposed with by the Otago High. School Board. The Committee referred the pet'.doi: lo the Government for favourable donsasr.*ti'on. The report was adopted. With regard to a petition praying for consideration of John Ross, of Lj-Meltori, Arho had been for 38 years a school teacher, the Public Petitions Commutes iind no recommendation to make. Mr. Laurenson moved this report be reerred back to the Committee for coafcideration. He urged tihat the ciaicums ances i f the case were such, as to warrant ji being refei'red to the favourable notice of the Government. A short discussion took place, in which Messrs. Thomas Mack -. 1 ,ie, Ho t '£, Mereditih, Ell, Monk, and. Willis took j art, tire opinion being generally expressed that these two cases provided st-'»og justification for a School Teaeherj' Sujierannuation Bill being .gone on wit'i this sess'ou. Mr. R. McKenzie protitted against the waste of time involved in referring ihe report back to the Commitiw. Mr. Symes (Chaiman of *.U* Committee) spoke to a similar effect, aid there was no similarity between^ the two cases. Mr. Laurenson's amendment was lost by 36 to 26, and the report v»s ordered to lay on the table. MUNICIPAL CORPORATIONS ACT. On the motion of Sir Joseph Ward, a Select Committee of 12 mem W.i was set up to consider the Municipal Corporations Act Amendment Bill. QUESTIONS. In repEy to questions, Minucrs stated: That the Government had t ct the slightest intention of remitting the fines imposed for the sale of diseased stock. That at the jpresent tinin there were fifty thousand acres in the North lelaiid open for selection by wau!fl b« settlers. That the Government comd uot 6ee its way this session to exempt from stamp duty cheques used in t<he ser'i'j-i fif fcducation Boards. That the Govern ner.t could not hold out any hope this seas'an of providing funds for the erection of ji mey-uni for Maori antiquities, but nay oilier step was being taken to ensu~« something being done at an early date. That it was riot intruded lo pJare a sum on the Supplementaiy Kstiu»atos this session to enable Edu-'a.fcioa Boards to dofray necessary expens:o of School Committees. - That the release of xT. T. Moom was decided upon on the mer>.s of the rase > and could not in any way t>e regirded us a precedent.

The House rose at 5.50. The House resumed at 7.30. .. land transfer. The Land Transfer Act Amendment Bill passed through committee with technical amendments. MANUAL AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION. ly committee on the Manual and Technical Instruction, Act Amendment Bill there was a good deal of discussion on the proposal whioh added "managers of associated classes" to the persons to whom local authorities may contribute funds and -the Government may contribute subsidies on voluntary contributions; Eventually Mr. Massiey raised a point of order. He contended that this amendment would, if carried, have tlie effect of increasing the appropriations madid under the original Act for subsidies) to be paid to different authorities towards technical education:. Any proposal that meant increased appropriation could! not come from the Legislative "Council, and was an infringement of the privileges and prerogatives of the House. Mr. Guinness (Chairman of Committees;) thought that as the measure had been before the Speaker at its second reading, -the point should be brought under his nos tice. Progress was accordingly reported1, and the position explained to Sir Maurice O'Rorke. After further. lengthy discusfeion, Sir Maurice O'Rorke asked the House for time to consider tlie point. He wa« very glad to see members jealously watching over the privileges of the House. He did not think the other Chamber would wilfully infringe the privileges of the House. It would; be a great pity if t<he progress of £0 important -a measure as this were to be arrestiedl on a technical point. He was very much, in favour- ot? facilitating the passage of this Bill this session, as he considered] technical education required more Hooking after tham any other branch of education in the| colony. He would intimate his decision later on. Further consideration of the Bill was therefore deferred. ACCIDENT INSURANCE. In committee on the Accident Insurance Companies Bill, clause 7 was amended to read as follows. "The Colonial Treasurer is hereby empowered to ask for such additional explanation of any item in the statement deposited as he deems necessary for the ipnirpoE'es of this Act." LAND TITLES. The Land Titles Protection Bill was committed. In clause 2, which provides that the consent of the Governor-in-Council is necessary before proceedings can be taken to question the validity of fend titles, Mr. Hone Heke moved an amendment to the effect that the potwer of allowing! cases to be brought should be vested in the j Chief Justice, instead! of the Govemor-in-Ccmncil. * The Hioai. Carroll opposed the amendment, as he thought it better for all concerned that the responsibility of deciding whether a prima, facie case had been made out should rest with the Goivernor-in-Oouncil. . After the supper adjournment Sir Maurice O'Roi-ke ruled on the point that had been raided: in committee _on the Manual and Technical Instruction Act Amendment Bill. He said it did not appear to him, that the amendment to which exception had been taken in any way increased the expenditure already authorised! or in any way violated the privileges of the House. The House then resumed consideration of the Land Tittes Protection Bill in committee, and the Bill was under discussion when the wires closed for. the night.