NOTES FROM THE HOUSE. PROCEEDINGS IN PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXX, Issue 36, 4 September 1902, Page 15

NOTES FROM THE HOUSE. PROCEEDINGS IN PARLIAMENT.

After the transaction of formal business by the House on Tuesday afternoon a debate took place on the recommendations of the Minea Committee to strike out of the Coal Mines Bill the proviso that the eight hours to be worked shall be from bank to bank. On the motion of Mr Guinness, who urged that the hours to be worked should be lessened and fixed by Act of Parliament, the report was referred back to the committee. The greater part of the evening sitting was taken up with the Railways Superannuation Fund Bill in Committee. In answer to some objections the Acting-Premier said that the measure as a whole met with the approval of all branches of the railway service. On the motion of Sir J. G. Ward the following new proviso was added to clause 16 : — ' If any contributor is dismissed or his services otherwise dispensed with for misconduct he shall be entitled to a refund of the whole amount actually contributed by him to the fund, but without interest. 1 The Land and Income Tax Bill, which was introduced on Wednesday afternoon, reduces the mortgage tax from one penny to three farthings, which represents a rebate of £25,000. The whole of the evening sitting was devoted to consideration of the East Coast Native Trust Lands Bill which provided for the postponement of the sale by the mortgagees (the Bank of New Zealand) of certain landa held in trust for the Natives, and to make other provision relating thereto and to other lands held in trust for Natives upon the Eaßt Coast of the North Island. Sir J. G. Ward asked the House to treat the bill as one of urgency. It referred to matters that had been the subject of litigation for some time past, and under the order of the Supreme Court the sale of these lands had been fixed to take place on Friday, and it was necessary to pass the Bill before that date, or the Bale would have to proceed. The measure was passed through all its stages. The business in the House on Thursday was confined principally to the consideration of local measures, a number of which were put through their final stages. In the Council on Friday the Factories Act Amendment and the Destitute Persons Act Amendment Bills were passed, and the Local Authorities Indemnity and Second-Hand Dealers Bills were read a second time. In the House on the motion of Mr Witheford a resolution was passed expressing regret at the death of New Zealanders who had fallen in South Africa, or had died at a subsequent date, and sympathy with their relatives and friends. The greater part of the Bitting was taken up with consideration of the Scate Coal Mine Aot Amendment Bill and the Mining Act Amendment Bill.