THE HOUSE.

West Coast Times, Issue 12282, 15 August 1902, Page 3

THE HOUSE.

The House met at 2.30,

- Ma jocSteward gare aotico to introduce tbe Licensing Gommiitee Quorum Bill. Mr Witheford moved without notice that the House express its heartfelt sympathy with the relatives of members of the New Zealand Contingents who have died since their return to the Colony. Sir J G Ward in seconding the resolution said he was sure eTfiry member of the Bouse felt the deepest sympathy with the relative* of the deceased men; He had in every case of the death of these men conveyed to their relatives the ainoerest sympathy of the Government, The resolution was unanimously agreed to The final report of the Representation Commiasionets was laid on the table. Mr Jackson Palmer asked that a day be set apart for the discussion of the report which ha described si one of toe most carelessly and recklessly prepared that bad ever been presented in the Colony. . - He moved '♦That this House is of opinion that in the adjustment of electorates the report has not preserved the conMDttnity of interests that should have been maintained." Ho referred particularly to the changes that had been made In some of the northern constitutencies which constituted one of the worst botches ever perpetrated. He urged there should be some court in whioh the decisions of the Commission could be reviewed. Sir J J Ward did not see that any good could result from carrying the motion. It would be useless to discuss tbe matter to day as the members Renerally were not yet aware of the changes made, Mr Palmer conlit, it he desired, place bis views on record later on. Mr M'Nab complained of the action of the Commissioners in regard to the Southland electorates where tbe Com.miasipners had gone to the limits of their powers in packing the population into the five electorates with the result that Southland bad been robbed of one electorate.. Mr Tanner said the House was utterly i helpless in the faoe of the decisions given He referred to the absurdity of the system, by which Parliamentary candidates wire made victims of a mechanical amogement which severed populations that bad community of interest for the meM sake of arranging figures. MY c Tioa MoKenxie thought some of the? southern electorate! bad been improved by the amended report: " Mr W. Fr aaer said he did not think the Commissioners had done their work efficiently in all cases. Sir Wm Russell said he had many years ago spoken against the principle cf representation by the numbers of poptr lation and in favour of community of interest. He would be sorry, however to see the old system reverted to, under which boundaries were fixed by the Boose. After a lengthy discussion Mr Palmer eaid he had obtained the object he had in view . of showing Jhe absurdity of the present aystem of adjusting boundaries and be would withdraw bis motion. Leave of absence for one week was graoted to Mr Napier on aooount of argent public business. The Use of Public Bchool Buildings Bill (Steward), and Sand Drift Bill (Carroll J wen introduced and read a firat tine.

The following local Bills wlhj put through their 6nal stages : Punedin Town Belt Road Closing and Regulation B il, Cbrietchureh District Drainog Act. i 875. Amendment Bill, Wellingt >n Hab.ur Board Empowering Bill, Chrisichurch Tramway District Bill,Dilworth Trustee.' Bill, University of Otago Empowering Bill, and Mastcr'on Trustees Empowering Bill. On the motion to go into committee of supply for consideration of- the estimates Mr Fisber moved as amendment that a return be laid on the table showing details of certain promotions in the Permanent Artillery. Hon Hall-Jones said there was no necessity for the return. Tbe amendment was lost on the voices and the House at 5.15 went into committee of supply, The first vote taken was tbat tor the Department of Agriculture, £89,383. Mr G. J. Smith asked if it was a fact that the Government was taking a handsome profit from tbe inspection of meat at the freezing works when tbe fees ought to be only enough to pay the ■aldries. Hon T. Duncan said tbe fees had been reduced and there should not be such profit now. The House rose at 5 30.

The House met at 7 30. A discussion lasting' three hours took place on matters concerned with the Agricultural Department, a variety of aubjects being dealt with. Tbe Auckland members nrged tho necessity for properly sterilising imported bones in order to prevent tbe spread of anthrax. Sir Joseph Ward said the farmers who imported bones should combine together and erect small sterilisers which would be subsidised by Government. Eventually the whole vote was passed unaltered. The vote for tbe Working Railways Department, Public and Scbool buildings and Police Department were paesed practically without discussion.