PARLIAMENT.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19149, 4 November 1927, Page 10

PARLIAMENT.

* • HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

(press association teleorah.) WELLINGTON, November 3. In the House of Representatives today, Mr Rhodes (Thames) claimed that in the first division on the Religious Exercises in Schools Bill he voted with the ayes. Mr Speaker accepted his assurance, and ordered his name to be entered on the division list accordingly. The amendments made by the Legislative Council in the Magistrates Courts Amendment Bill and the Bankruptcy Amendment Bill were agreed to. On the motion of the Hon. Mr McLeod, the Electoral Bill, which is purely a consolidating measure, was agreed to after a brief debate.

The Minister said he would during the recess take into consideration the question of seamen's and absent voters' permits, with a view to making the system, more liberal and perfect, and he would have alterations embodied in the legislation in time for.next election. The Hon.' Mr Hawken moved the second reading of the Slaughtering and Inspection. Amendment Bill. Ho explained that although municipalities had been empowered to erect abattoirs without first taking a poll of ratepayers, it had not been defined that extensions or renewals of existing works could be undertaken in tho same manner. The Bill sought to correct that by enabling local authorities to raise special loans. Provision was also made for plans of works and proposed sites being approved by the Minister before,the commencement, of work* Another clause in the Bill dealt with abattoir competition, provision being made for the payment of fees in respect of meat sold in an abattoir district which had come from stock slaughtered in another abattoir. In no case were the fees to be less than those paid for the use of the abattoir, exclusive of the cost of slaughtering, had the stock been slaughtered there. Both

these clauses, he thought, were quite necessary.

The Bill was read a second time and referred to the Stock Committee. The House then went into committee on tho Electoral Bill, which was reported without amendment, read a third time, and passed. The House rose at 12.12 a.m.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

(PRISS ASSOCIATION TELZORAM.) WELLINGTON, November 3. In the Legislative Council to-day the Rural Intermediate Credits Bill was read a second time. Sir Robert Stout issued a warning against the policy of borrowing, and said the proposals contained in the Bill would resull in increased taxation. The Hon. Mr Hanan and the Hon. Mr Earnshaw complained that the Bill was Socialistic in its tendencies, and catered unduly for one section of ]fche community. In reply Sir Francis Bell said that the Bill was making no new departure so far as borrowing was concerned, but the Bill would relieve the State of some of its responsibilities. Unless the scheme was a hopeless failure, the £400,000 advanced by the Government would be returned to the State.

The Council adjourned at 5 p.m