Legislative Council.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXX, Issue 11977, 21 September 1906, Page 5

Legislative Council.

(Per United Presa Association.) WELLINGTON, September 20. The Council met at 2.30.

PROGRESS OF BILLS.

The Firearms Bill and Fisheries Acts Amendment Bill were read a third time and passed. Tho Horowhenua Block Bill, Payment of Jurors Bill, second readings, were agreed to without debate.

Tho Municipal Corporations Amendment Bill (Attorney-General) was read a second time pro forma and referred to the Statutes Revision Committee.

FIRE BRIGADES BILL.

Th» Fire Brigades Bill, second reading, was moved by tho Attorney-General. The Hon. vVigram was opposed to the Bill, which he considered went too far. The Hon. George considered the Bill the most illogical ever brought into the Legisature. It required fire insurance companies to pay a large proportion of the cost of fire prevention, a matter in which the companies had no concern. It would have the effect of minimising insurance business.

The Hon. T. Kelley gave a general ■upport to the Bill. The Hon. Beehan congratulated the Minister on bringing in the Bill, which was one in the right direction, and had been asked for many years. It was part of the business of insurance companies to support brigades, for they saved the companies many thousands a year. The Hon. Jones contended that the Bill had not been asked for. The Municipal Conference had opposed it. The brigades had been well conducted, but this Bill set up an autocracy. The Attorney-General said the whole sum and substance of the objections raised was that the insurance companies were called upon to pay a just contribution to the support of the brigades. He could quite understand Mr - George's objection, as the companies did not wish to minimise risks to an extent which would minimise insurance business.

The second reading was agreed to by 21 to 5.

The Arbitration Act Amendment Bill passed through Committee without amendment, and was read a third time. The Napier Athenaeum and Mechanics Institute Empowering Bill, and the Napier Hospital Site Extension Bill were reported from Comitte© without amendment, read a third time and passed. The Council rose at 4.30.