EVENING SITTING.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14835, 28 November 1913, Page 9

EVENING SITTING.

The House resumed at 7.30 p.m., and the discussion on tho Railways' Construction Bill. Mr RUSSELL advocated the setting up of an independent Commission to investigate and report upon the probability of a railway proposed to be conBtnicted under the Act being a payable concern before it was sanctioned.

ffm Hon. W. FRASER pointed out that before any contract could bo entered into, the contract must bo laid on the table of the Houso, when it could be discussed by members. * Mr ELL contended that the contract should be referred to a Select Committee of the House for investigation, otherwise tho House was powerless. Members had no means of acquainting themselves with all the facts, ana would have to follow the load of the Minister. Unless the Minister gave the House the opportunity, members could not possibly reject any contract. Mr PA\NE disagreed with tho principle of the Bill. Sir WALTER BUCHANAN said he could not understand the objections to the measure, as it was simply a corollary of the existing law. and tended to simplify the working of it. Mr McCALLUM supported the Bill "because it furthered the betterment principle. Districts would bo obliged to pay for the cost of railways.

Mr ELL moved an amendment to tho effect that no contract shall be binding unless either House passes a resolution approving the contract.

The MINISTER refused to accept the amendment, as it would hamper tho working of the Act.

Mr EI/L replied that they now knew where they were. The Minister did not propose to allow the representatives of the people to have a say in public matters.

Tho Hon. W. FRASER said that what Mr Ell wanted was a sort cf committee to go over again what tho Government had already done. Such a procedure would probably take months and cost hundreds of pounds.

An amendment by Mr McCALLUM to increase the limit for private lino construction to £10,000 per milo, was carried by 47 votes to 17.

Mr ELL moved his previous amendment as a new clause, but it was rejected by 42 votes to 22. Part V. of the original Act, providing for grants of land to companies constructing railways, was repealed. The Bill was reported with amendments. STAMP DUTIES BILL. _Tho Stamp Duties Act Amendment Bill was considered in Committee. Mr HINE objected to the practice of publishing tho values of deceased persons estates in the Press, and asked that a regulation be framed prohibiting this in cases where it was objected to.

Tho MINISTER replied that it was not compulsory to publish these figures, and without being able to give any assurance on the point, he saw no reason why tho information should bo published if it was objected to. PUBLIC WORKS BILL. The debate on tho second reading of tho Public Works Act Amendment Bill was continued by Mr MACDONALD, who urged that owners should receive adequate compensation for land takon for railway purposes. The Hon. W. FRASER admitted that there was a grievance in this respect, but it was one fraught with great difficulty. The second reading was carried on tho voices. KAITAIA LAND DRAINAGE BILL. The Kaitaia Land Drainage Bill was read a second time. The PRIME MINISTER stated thatr the Bill provided for the drainage of Kaitaia Lake, and would mean bringing into cultivation some 50,000 acres, and when completed some 300 to 400 settlers would be placed thereon. FRUIT PRESERVING BILL The PRIME MINISTER moved the second reading of tho Fruit Preserving Industry Bill, which pTovided for the raising of not more than £25,000 a year for furthering the fruit industry. Mr Massey mentioned that tho export of apples this year had doubled that of the previous year, and they wero continually receiving requests from outside countries for supplies of apples. The fruit grown in Central Otago and Nelson would in his opinion compare very favourably with the fruit grown ia any part of tho world. They should see that - nothing bub a first-class article was placed on the market. Ho did not think that the fostering of the industry would run into taoro than £50,000. With that payment rnadw, the tradeshould be well established and would proceed on satisfactory lines. The Bill was generally commended by members. Mr MASSEY, in,reply, said that it was proposed to send a guaranteed shipment to apples to Vancouver tho same terms as shipments to England, with a view to testing the market there. The Bill was read a second time. HOSPITALS BILL. . The Hon. It. HEATON RHODES •moved tho second reading of the Hospital .and Charitable Institutions Act Amendment Bill. He stated that it was mainly a machinery measure. Mr RUSSELL questioned the wisdoi> of granting tho wide powers proposed to bo taken in Clause 17 (tho detention of persons in hospitals suffering from infectious diseases, until cured). He suggested that tho question should be referred to a joint committee of" both Houses before the Bill was passed. The MINISTER, in reply, defended Clause 17, on tho ground that some such power had been asked for by tho Tuberculosis Conference, composed entirely of doctors. ■ The Bill was read a second time. BILLS IN COMMITTEE. The Public 4 Works Act Amendment, Fruit Preserving Industry, Wanganui School Sites, and Hospital and Charitable Institutions Bills were put through their Committee stage.

Tho above Bills were also read a third time and passed. .

On, the motion for tho third reading of the Hospital and Charitable Institutions Act Amendment Bill, Mr RUSSELL, Sir JOSEPH WARD, and Messrs BUDDO and WITTY made an emphatic protest against tho powers taken in Clause 17 which the Committee had confirmed by 33 votes to 13. The House rose at 1.20 a.m.