HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXIV, Issue 12941, 4 December 1909, Page 5

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

WELLINGTON, December 3 The House met at 2.30.

FRIENDLY SOCIETIES BILL

The Friendly Societies Bill was introduced by Governor's message, and read a first time.

The Prime Minister moved that on and after Saturday the House sit from 10 a.m. till 1 p.m. for the consideration of the orders of the day, only local Bills to take precedence, and thereafter Government Bills, which was agreed to.

THE LAND QUESTION

The House resumed the interrupted, debate on the question that the ievj.z of the Lands Committee do lie on the table.

Messrs Thomson and Wallace entered a plea for the freehold on benu'f of the pioneer settlers. Mr Hogg upheld the leaseho:.i, and doenunced the Government's s>upincn?ss on the land question. In the evening the second reading- of the Defence Bill carried pro forma, [ on the motion of the Premier, and referred to" a Selectf.'Committee. The Houfte ' wenfcjJrtto. Commiti^e^ of^ Strsly £n f*he < 4n'otiQti I> y Sfrfiflefi t6 reduce an item of £1100 for extra clerks j and reporters. — Lost. Mr Hanan moved to reduce £2203 library salaries by £1 as indication that they are excessive for the work done. The Premier gave details of the • library and work done by the staff as warranty for the expenditure. Several members bore testimony to the value of the library and the assistance they had received from the staff. The motion was negatived. Mr Massey moved to strike out an item of £400 to the financial adviser to the Government in London. After considerable discussion, touching largely on Mr Reeves, late High Commiasionep,-the motion was put and carried by< 85 votes to 25. -' •' r.i

On the item of £400 to the Commit ' sioner of Taxes and the Valuer-General, Mr Wright moved to reduce the amount by £1, as an indication that the Government should inform the House as to the position in regard to the Commissioner , of Taxes,' against whom charges had been made.

Mr Herdinan supported the amendment, and asked for general particulars of the case. • .

The House Was still sitting when the Telegraph Offifle closed. After 12 the debate on Mr Wright's amendment was continued, and* provoked recriminations on both sides of the House, the Opposition demanding that the report of the Judges on the irregularities in the Income Tax Department be laid on the table. Mr Massey said: it was rumoured that persons connectecT.with the Legislature were impliciatefLV '. 7 The Premier, fetbutly declined to do so, and said if the*' House carried the motion someone else would have to do it. Mr Wright replied at 1.50 a.m. The motion was put and negatived by 40 to 21.

WELLINGTON, December 4.

In the House after 2 a.m. the debate on the Valuation Department was proceeded with.

Replying tat Mr Okey, the Premier said the amount saved by retrenchment was .£303,603. He could not promise to give retrenched civil servants employment. The inland revenue vote was passed without further challenge.

The Post and Telegraph Department vote was passed with the exception of .£67 700 for class 111. for conveyance of mails by sea, which was postponed. On the public buildings vote, Mr Mas-

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sey said a very serious mistake had beeu made in not re-building a portion of the old Parliament buildings burned down. He hoped this would yet be done. Sir Joseph Waid said that if the old buildings were re-t)uilfc, >it would probably cost thrice what was being expended, owing to the necessity for providing accommodation for members.

Mr Massey said that the fire had not been accidental ana that tne Premier had been talking nonsense. If the contract had been pushed on for the addition to the buildings, it would have been ready for the^, following session. The vote was passed at 3.20 a.m.

- HOSPITALS BILL. 'ihe Hospitals Bill waa brought down from the Legislative Council with amendments, which Mr Fowlds moved be agreed

to. ', '' Several members strongly opposed the delation of clause 72.

Mr Fowlds said .the House would have an opportunity to conaider the matter again, when the Friendly Societies' Bill was befpre the House. , •On the motion of Mr. Massey, the House adjourned at 3.30 a.m.