PARLIAMENT.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 262, 2 November 1907, Page 7

PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

CBy Telegr&plu—Parliamentary Reporter.} WELLINGTON, Friday. HARBOURS BILL. The Minister of Marine gave notice to move that the Harbours Bill should be referred to a select of fifteen members. ° MAORI GRIEVANCES. The Hon. Mr. J. Carroll gave notice to introduce the Maori Land and Claims Adjustment and Lands Amendment Bill to deal with the claims put forth in various petitions presented durin<* the session. '' THE TOTALISATOR. ' Mr. Buddo brought up the report of the Petitions Committee dealing with petitions presented to Parliament for and against the totalisator. The committee reported that as it was the expressed intention of the Government to bring down legislation this session, dealing with this question, it referred the petitions to the Government for consideration. VALIDATION BILL. The Taumarunui Town Council Election Validation Bill (Hon. J. Carroll) to set right the election of the Taumarunui Maori Council, was read a. second time. FIRE BRIGADES. j Ths Hon. J. Carroll moved the second reading of the Fire Brigades Bill already passed by the Conneil. Mr. James Allen said it was not very complimentary to the Legislature that within a year one bill should be repealed and another placed on the Statute Book, i Generally speaking, the local bodies in 1 his district approved the principle of the bill, but there were a number of amendments required to be made in. committee. Among the other speakers was Mr. Kidd, who said that regarding the Government's contributi-on, he thought that might -well be increased, seeing the properties it had at stake. The Hon. J. Carroll, in. replying, said he thought the limit of 5000 population could very well he reduced. With respect to the Government's 'coTvtributica, the discussion on the bill in committee might enable them to arrive at the general feeling in regard to it, and he was prepared to submit the result of the committee's deliberations to his colleagues, and if necessary, to bring down an amendment in this direction by Governor's message. The second reading ■was agreed to on the. voices. MARINE INSURANCE. The Hon. J. A. Millar moved the second reading of the Marine Insurance Bill, which he said ivas a complete codification of the law affecting marine insurance, and brought our law into 'teonformity with, that of Great Britain. It was mainly s. technical measure. The bill was read a second time on the voices. BELLS OF EXCHANGE. The Premier moved the second reading, of the Bills of Exchange Act Amendment Bill, which lias already passed the Council. It provides for the destruction of cheques, bSnk drafts, bills of exchange, promissory notes, etc, after the expiration.-of ■. ten years. The bill was read a second time on the voices. AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENT SALES. The Hon. J. Millar moved the second reading of the Agricultural Implement Manufacture, Importation and Sale Bill, and be explained that this was an extension of the existing law for a period of three years, and with this difference. It was made perfectly clear thai; British manufactures applied only to those from Great Britain, aria not to the colonies outside of Great Britain. The bill was read a second time on the voices. SECOND READINGS. In moving the second reading of the Police Offences Bill, the Hon. J. McGowan (Minister for Justice) explained that the measure had been adopted by the Legislative Council. It was intended to stop a practice which bad become very common, that of using persons' names in trade "without their consent, and the fraudulent use of titles. Debt collectors had adopted a form of blue -paper resembling a summons for use in their collections, and this would be stopped by the hill. The bill was read a second time on the voices.

Another measure which has passed the Legislative Council, the Supreme Court Practice and Procedure Acts Amendment Bill, was read a second time upon the motion of the Minister for Justice. The bill validates certain orders made by registrars of the Supreme Court, atjput the validity of which doubts have arisen. BILLS Ef COMMITTEE. The Post Office Savings Bank Funds Investment Bill was considered in committee, and reported without amendment

Eeplying to criticism from Opposition members as to the rate of interest payable upon savings bank deposits, the Premier pointed out that loans were granted to local bodies at the rate of 3J per cent, including repayment of principal. If ,the Government increased the interest on deposits to a fictitious amount, how could it lend money to local bodies at 3} per cent? Such an arrangement would make it harder for fanners to secure cheap money, and would disturb the finances of the whole country. Last year the deposits increased by £1,291.243, which was hardly a sign that the interest was too low. The Hutt Railway and Road Improvement Bill was also considered in committee, and reported without alteration. LOANS TO LOCAL BODIES. Upon committal of the Loans to Local Bodies Act Amendment Bill (Eight Hon. Sir J. G. Ward), Mr. Hemes moved to increase the amount a Town Board might borrow annually from £300 to £3000. He remarked that these authorities had often to do as much as boroughs, but he was not wedded to £3000 if the Premier would make a compromise. The Premier replied that if they did so, they must reduce the amount ■which could be loaned to county councils. The hon. member seemed to think that the country could do anything financially. There seemed to be an utter disregard of the amount of money which the Dominion could borrow annually. The amendment was rejected by 37 votes to 13.

Following up his remarks on the second reading Mr. Hogg moved that all special rates -under the authority of iais or any previous Act should be levied only on the unimproved value.

. iThe. amendment rwas. lost by c4O votes to 8, and the bill was reported unaltered;

ADVANCES TO SETTLERS. _; Tie Government- Advances to Settlers* Bill (Pdght Hon.' Sir J. Ward) was committed, in order to provide that the power to advance money to a workman for the purpose of building a house nrigb.tr. be extended to dwellings erected in rural districts. • The Premjer moved ■to -delete the words "urban and. suburban" from section 3 of the principal Act. This -was carried, and tha bill reported ■without discussion. Progress was then reported, on the Premiers motion. SCAFFOLDING INSPECTION. The Hon. J. A. Millar (Minister for Labour) moved the second reading of the Scaffolding Inspection Act Amendment Bill, which provides that scaffolding under 16ft. in height shall be included in the definition of scaffolding, that a, ladder must extend at least oft beyond the highest level to which such ladder is intended to afford access, and requiring accidents to be reported under a penalty of £10 for disobedience of the provision. He assured the House that practically all the representatives of the building trade favoured the measure. The motion' was agreea to. WORKERS' COMPENSATION. The second reading of the Workers' Compensation Bill pro forma was moved by the Hon. J. A. Millar, and it was referred to the Labour Bills Committee. The Minister stated that he did not think it likely that the bill -would come before the House this session, if the interested parties took as long to give evidence as they had in connection with; J the Arbitration Act Amendment now before the Labour Bills Committee. The. House rose at 12.15 a.m.