GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14830, 22 November 1913, Page 7

GENERAL ASSEMBLY

(aBBIDGED PRESS ASSOCIATION RErOOT)

...'- LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL Fbidat, November 21. AFTERNOON SITTING. The Council,met at 2.30 p.m. . BANK OF NEW ZEALAND BILL. In Committeo/on the Bank of New Zealand Bill, •; The Hon. J. RIGG moved that the amount of new capital that could he authorised be reduced from three millions to one million. He declared that it was not capital that the Bank wanted, but shares for the shareholders to gamhle with. The Hon. F. H. D. BELL said it was not intended to issue the whole of this capital now, ami it was not likely that anything like so large an amount would be required. The object was to prevent constant banking legislation, and to' give the Bank the power enjoyed by all other institutions to extend its capital as the business increased. The amendment was defeatod by 27 votes to one. . * ' The Bill was reported without amendment and read a third time and passed. TRAMWAYS BILL. The Tramways Act Amendment Bill nasi recommitted., Dealing with the new sections of the Bill, which had particular application to strike emergencies, the Hon. F. H. D. BELL said these men had no right to hold tip public services, though of course they had a right to refuse to continue" in public employment. The men had their remedy under the Act, and when th«y did not choose to have their grievances determined by that means, they could not complain if the community organised to provide for the carriage of people .when regular drivers refused duty. The section under notice modified, and to some degree extended, the provisions of the Act of 1910, which j gave protection in the cases of men who were then in the employment of the J tramwaj's, and provided that in the case j of- these men examinations should be ! dispenstnl with. , * j

• LOCAL BODIES LOANS BILL .4 The Local Bodies Loans Bill was further considered in Committee, and was reported with minor amendments. MUTUAL FIRE INSURANCE BILL.

Tile Council then went into Committee on tho Mutual Fire Insurance Act Amendment Bill. A new section was added, providing that an association may insure against fire the buildings, machinery, plant and products of any cooperative dairy com-: pany registered under Part 3 of the Dairy Industry Act, 1906. whether such co-operativo dairy company is, or is not, a member of the Association, provided that excent as aforesaid rt shall not boj competent for an association to insure ! the property of persons who are not members of the Association. The Bill was reported witß amendments. BOARD OF AGRICULTURE BILL. The Hon. F. U. D. HELL--moved tho second reading of the Board of Agriculture Bill. The Hon. J. Anstey appealed for distribution among the farming community of the results of agricultural research work in colleges, and statistical information. Ho contended that the colleges at present were only of good to a fortunate few. The colleges wero no doubt valuable for research work, but the present facilities for fanners obtaining the results of such work were inadequate. The second reading was carried. The Council rose at 5.10 p.m.