GROWM SUITS BULL.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 864, 9 July 1910, Page 10

GROWM SUITS BULL.

DEFENCE ACT AMENDMENT. : FIRST READINGS. When the House resumed in tho evening,; Mr. JjAURENSON (Lyttelton) ,was appointed to afit as Chairman of Committee for the receipt of tho, Crown Suits Amendment Bill and Defence Act Amendment' Bill from his Excellency the Governor.

Mr. MASSEY _ expressed his pleasure at the introduction of the Crown Suits Amendment Bill; and his hopo that it would be passed into law this session. He hoped; that the members would insist on knocking out the anti-demo-cratic provisions of the present law. He hoped also that the new Act would allow the Fannors' Distributing Company to take their easo against tho Mines Department into court and obtain damages. Ho regarded the Bill' as another outcome of Opposition demands and criticism. Mr.. Massey referred to other disadvantages sutt'ered -from the Government, including tho ease of Motorman Barton and tlio frequent damages cause'd by sparks from railway engines.

Sir jOSM'H WARD replied that 1 unfair claims wore always being pressed upon the Government. Credit tor the Crown Suits Bill was rightly' due to Mr. Field, member for Otaki, who 'had •"dragged Mr. Massey at his chariot wheels." The Bill would provide facilities by which any legitimate claims that called for tho intervention of tho Courts could bo dealt with by tho Courts, but restrictions t were also provided against improper claims.

The Bill was read a first timo, and tho second reading fixed l'or next sitting day.

In reply to Mr. James Allen, tho Prime Minister said that the Defence Bill would be referred direct to the Houso and not to a committee..

The first reading of the Dcfeiico Bill was passed, and second reading fixed for noxfc sitting day. The Post and Telegraph Act Amendment Bill was also received by Governor's message, and similarly dealt with.

FOREIGN INSURANCE COMPANIESri he PRIME MINISTER, in moving tho second reading of iho Foreign Insurance Companies' Deposits Amendment Bill, explained that at present foreign life insurance companies doiu ,Y business in Now Zealand were required to make a deposit of £50,000, and accident insurance companies a deposit of £10,000. Section D provided'that any company making the deposit under one part of tho Act should bo relieved from making it under any other, with tho result that companies which combinod

I life and accident business, instead of paying u deposit of. £50,000, had tp deposit only .1:10,000, which was not intended by the Act. The amendment was designed to ensure, that a company carrying 011 both those branches of insurance sbo.uld make both deposits of £50,000 and £10,000. ; ,

■ Mv. Massey: What interest do they get on the deposits? 'Die Prime Minister replied that IVo believed tho rate was 4 per ceiit. The deposit was required as a guarantee of the company's stability. As somo of the companies carried on business.hero without having offices in Now Zealand, it was only fair to the Joqal companies that they should make the deposit. In reply to Air. .Kraser, Sir Joseph Ward said tho Bill did not apply (o firo and marine insurance companies.

CONTAGIOUS DISEASES ACT. . The PRIME MINISTER., in moving tho second reading .of the Contagious Diseases Act Repeal Bill, said that at present this -Act was a dead letter. Ho did not think' that any country would put it into operation. The .Act put an insult upon tho women of this country 'which was not at all necessary.