NEWS AND NOTES.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 905, 26 August 1910, Page 6

NEWS AND NOTES.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL REFORM BILL, v ; :': me. ; ;epssell dkops :his bill. '; When the' House of Representatives resumed, its sittings last night' Mr. G. W.' Russell,;.. M.P. .for Avon, ,requested permission to be' allowed'to drop his Legislative' Council Reform ..Bill,, which aimed at reforming that branch, of, the Legislature by making it an elective body. '■■■••Ho said that be realised that' at that stage ,of the session,ho could not hope to see the Bill seriously, considered, much less'of being passed through Committee. Even if. the Bill, got through the House it could not expect to- get tbo full .consideration to which it was entitled'at the hands of the Legislative Council, which would have such, a large number of other'important measures before:'-it.

:The:PRIME MINISTER said .that ,he thought that Mr. Russell was taking a very practical course. ./When-important changes in regard to. the Constitution were desired that should .bo proposed at the instigation of the Government. ,In turn, the Government would require to submit such proposals to. the country. Ho was''sure that it; would take a considerable time' before' any such reform could be made, - until at, any rate tho members of both branches of tho Legislature and the people of the country hod had tinio to fully consider the proposals. - Mr, MASSEY; said that the'Bill was the. most important measure brought down by a private'member this session. It dealt with, a'reform which was urgently needed; He .was surprised to hear tho Prime Minister state that, it would not be possible.to get the Bill;through. Two years ago a , similar /. measure passed through thb.Ho'use.' ''•'/>'".•-,• Sir Joseph: But it never got.any further. '

Mr. Massey: Yes, I .admit it got drastic from the Legislative Council/ but.that. fact: should not prevent members of this. House from doing 1 their duty in the matter; Such a Bill should be introduced session after session. until the Council agrees to reform their Chamber from within, which is the proper thing to do.

•Continuing his remarks, Mr. Massey reminded members that the Bill providing for the female franchise, was introduced by a private member. It was passed session after session until the' Government took it up. He hoped. that the Government would itself bring down a'Bill the object, of which .would be.the reform of the Upper House. ..

It was then agreed that the Bill should be discharged.from the Order Paper.

. : BANKS' NOTE TAX. . The five banks trading in New Zealand paid the following sums by way of note tax for the year ended March 31:— ' £ s. d. Bank of New Zealand 22,427 6 2 Bank of Australasia 3,315 19' 2 Bank of New South Wales ... . 4,110 8 9 Union 1 Bank of Australia ... 3,53117 1 National Bank of Now . Zealand : ............: 6,301 2' 4 Total i .£39,680 13 6 REPORTS ON PETITIONS. The Education Committee, reported yesterday on, the .petition of the art societies .of New-Zealand that in its opinion assistance for the' purchase of works of art should at the present stage of 'tho country's development be given by local bodies or private individuals, or,both. Reporting on the petition of G. D. Hamilton, of Tiratu, Dhnnevirke,, praying for compensation for land absorbed (Maugatoro Estate) by the Bank of New Zealand, the Public Petitions Committee reported yesterday that as a select committee had been set up to,deal with this matter it had no....recommendation to make. As regards the petition of Dr. Purdy and 49 others of Wellington; praying that provision be made for the immigration of domestic servants, the Public Petitions Committee has reported that it be referred to tho Government for consideration. A petition by John Jcffories, of Wellington, praying for a refund of certain contributions under the Polico Force Act, 1908, has been referred to the Government for favourable consideration, nt tho instance of the Public Petitions Committee. ' The Native Affmrs Committee has recommended that the petition of Hemi Kuti and others, of Ngatitoa, for an inquiry re a reserve forming part of the Porirua Block, be referred to the Government for inquiry.