PARLIAMENT.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 981, 23 November 1910, Page 6

PARLIAMENT.

THE COUNCIL.

INALIENABLE LIFE ANNUITIES,

When the Legislative Council met at 2.30 yesterday afternoon, a message was received from the Houso of Representatives stating that it had passed tho Inalienablo Life Annuities Bill, with amendments.

The ATTORNEY-GENERAL explained that the amendments were purely verbal and he moved that they be agreed to, ' This was carried.

EDUCATION RESERVES. Further consideration of tho Education Reserves Amendment Bill in Committee was postponed - until to-day. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said ho was not yet in a position to say whether certain proposals suggested by tho Hon. Air. Anstey would be accepted by his colleagues. He hoped to be in a position to-day to submit, on© way or the other, the Government proposals in regard to leases. Tho Education Amendment Bill was also postponed until to-day. MONOPOLY PREVENTION. The Monopoly Prevention Amendment Bill, was received from the House of Representatives, and was passed through all stages -without amendment. DENTISTS AMENDMENT.

The Dentists Amendment Bill was received • from the House of Representatives, and passed through'its second reading arid Committee stages. In Committee, the Attorney-General moved the following clause/ in lieu of Clause 2, which clause He did not think covered all thit was intended. The new clause reads: "(1). Any person may apply to be registered as a'dentist, .and shall, on payment of the prescribed fee, be entitled to bo so registered, who has passed an examination in dentistry by a Dental Board constituted under tho Dentists Act, 1880, or who passes an examination in dentistry ns prescribed by 1 , that Act by a competent Board set up by the Minister of Internal Affairs, if such person in practice or working as a dentist in New Zealand, or was before or at the time of or within fifteen months subsequent to tho passing of the Dentists Act, 1904, an apprentice of. a person qualified to be registered, under that Act. (2) No application for .registration undor this section shall be. entertained unless made to tho RegistrarGenera'l within three months after the coming into operation of this .Act, and no' person shall be registered under this Act after December 31, 1911." , t The ATTORNEY-GENERAL explained that the total number who would come in' under, the amendment was eleven. The new clause .was agreed to. The Hon. J. R. SINCLAIR (Otago) moved an .amendment to Section 22 of th© Dentists Act,. 1908, to make, it provide that an unregistered dentist should not be allowed to go to the house of any person and perform an operation for liis own purposes. The same amendment was moved by Mr. Allen , in the Houso of Representatives, and was defeated. f The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said he had consulted the Hon. Mr. Buddo on tho clause, but he (Mr. Buddo) was not prepared to accept the amendment. Progress was reported to enable the 'AttorneyGeneral to inquire further into tho matter.

SHIPPING AND SEAMEN,

- - ; COLOURED CREWS. ; Thef Hon. .Dr. I'INDLAY, in moving tho second reading of tho Shipping and Seamen Amendment Bill, said: "Tho importance of this Bill and its size as a measure are in inverse relationship." The Bill was to prevent a species of competition which was unfair. Ho proceeded to outline the position in regard to lascar and other coloured crews as fully covered in tho House of Representatives by the Primo Minister. In Committee on the Bill, The Hon. C. J. JOHNSTON (Wellington) remarked that it seemed a rather unwise thing tb prevent such vessels as thDsa of the P. and 0. Company continuing their. voyage to New Zealand from Australia. Thero had been, an agitation to get these vessels, to come to New Zealand in the first .place, and now there was an .agitation to keep them out. Tho vessels were not wholly trading to New Zealand. . They were merely extending thefr voyage from Australia to New Zealand. He moved an amendment to Clause 2 (whiph provides that seamen employed in ships plying or trading from : New Zealand to any port within the Commonwealth,of Australia, or. from".New Zealand to tho Cook-Islands, . shall be paid ... current- rate of wages for the time ruling in New Zealand) to mako the clause apply only to vessels wholly employed'in the trade. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL eati ho thought all felt.agreed, that it. would .be a good thing to see vessels of the P. and 0. class visiting our ports, for such visits were a recognition of the growing importance of the trade of New Zealand. A still stronger feeling prevailed, however! a 1 feeling too strong to .'bo ignored by any. Government, and one too strong to bo resisted, and that was that the peop'lo of New ' Zealand ' would ' not consent to allow, their seamen to be exposed to the competition of coloured labour. He did not see what distinction could -be \ made between protecting our sailors than between, protecting our shore workers from similar competition.' He would not feel- justified' 'in accepting such a radical amendment as proposed! The amendment would kill the princiolo 'of the Bill. 1 The Hon. C. J. JOHNSTON said ho quite understood the position.. Ha would move his amendment,- and take "it on the voices.,, . The amendment was rejected, and the Bill was reported and passed without amendment. ... . ■ FIRST READINGS. , The Scenery Preservation Amendment Bill and the- Auctioneers Amendment Bill were received from the House of Representatives, and were read a first time.

THROUGH ALL STAGES. The Public Health Amendment Bill was put through o.U stages, and passed without amendment. The 'Railways' Authorisation Amendment Bill and the Urowera Native Reserves Amendment Bill were also put through all stages without amendment "and passed. The Council rose at 150 p.m.

THE HOUSE.

SHOPS AND OFFICES BILL, ' IMPORTANT' AMENDMENTS. When the Houso resumed its sittings yesterday, after preliminary, business had been transacted, the Shops and Offices Bill was considered m Committee. In Clause 2 the Hon." J. A. Millar moved that a, hotel shall, be defined to mean premise's in respect to which a publican's license is granted, ■ and a restaurant shall be defined as any premises other than a hotel in which meals are provided, and includes private hotels, tea rooms, and oyster rooms. The amendment was adopted. . At Clause i, Mr. Herdman (Wellington North) suggested that provision should be made to include • Sunday as a working', day in the ease of hotels. TheMINISTER said that he could not see his way to adopt the suggestion which would probably 'lead in tlio case of the smhller hotels that .Sunday would bo, the only day. on which a holiday would bo given.

Hours in Hotels and Restaurants,

As regards hours of employment, it was proposed by tho Minister that in tlio caso of hotels, they shall not exceed 62 (cxcludiug meal times) per . week for males, over sixteen, .and' more than 58 hours (excluding meal hours) in all y. other case, and that the hours in restaurants should bo G2 and 52 respectively. Tlio Minister said that both parties had not quite agreed on tho sublet of hours. Tlio workers wanted GO hours and 56 hours in tlio ease of hotels. Ultimately tho employers had staled that they would como down to G2 and 08. Hvith reference to the hours in restaurants, they wore mado fewer than in tlio caso of hotels, because tlio work was moro strenuous.

It was decided to agrco to the proposals. . '

Sub-clause 2 of Section 5-was amended to read that tho working hours may bo extended, but not for more than three hours in any one day, and not more than !)0 hours in any one year, provided that notic-o is given to tlie inspector within 2-1 hours after tho extended time has been worked.

A clause was agreed to at tho instance of the Minister that the wife and children of a shopkeeper should bo exempted from the provisions of the clause limiting the working hours. There was some . discussion as to whether Clause 7, relating to accumulated holidays, should bo adopted. The clause was amended so that mutual consent of both parties should be necessary for its operation. It was then agreed to uy 39 votes to 28.

It was also decided to add a clause to the effect that any award of the Court of Arbitration relating to hotels or restaurants in force on the. passing of tho Act shall continue in force for the period for which it was made as if tho Act had not gassed. ■, • The Minister moved a now clause to tho effect that workers might be worked (not more than six times a year or onco in two months) on a half-holiday, provided that a whole holiday was" given during the succeeding week. Ho said that he understood both parties wanted tho clause. Tho clauso was adopted.

To Prevent Unfair Competition. It was-then moved by the Minister that every shop shall bo , registered in the name of one person as occupier, and except in tho case of husband and wife every other person engaged in a shop shall.be deemed to bo a shop assistant. He said that it was intended to prevent unfair competition. Mr. T. E. TAYLOR (Cliristcliurch North) asked the Minister whether the 'Houso would be given an opportunity to consider the advisability of adopting the system of Saturday half-holiday next session.

The clause .was then adopted. Tlie MINISTER said he would propose that shop assistants should bo. allowed to work two late nights before Christmas instead of one as at present. _ Mr. M'LAREN (Wellington East) hoped that this would not be done without reference to tho employers and tho workers. ; ■ Mr. T. E. TAYLOR (Christchurch North) said that he had never heard of a more, retrogressive proposal than ,that of which the Minister had given notice. The Minister did not, however, move in the direction he had indicated.-

It was then proposed by the Minister that under . the clause relating tg closing by requisition;' hotels should not be deemed to be shops. Mr. T. E..- TAYLOR (Christchurch North) asked whether it was proposed to put anything in the measure to prevent hotels sailing tobacco after the hours kept by tobacconists. Mr. FISHER (Wellington Central) wanted to know why it was that the Labour Department' had not seen its way to draft a clause providing for tho licensing of tobacconists. A Knotty Problem. The MINISTER said that that was a matter for the Minister- for Customs. In reply to Mr. T. E. Taylor, the Minister said ho was informed by the Department that there had been dozens of prosecutions for illegal trading in tobacco. Ho was prepared to amend his sub-clause to exempt it from Subsection 8/ This would .make it stand that hotels can not sell tobacco and 'cigars when the tobacconists' shops are closed.

■ Mr. FRASER (Wakatipu) thought that in trying to prevent certain evils they might very easily inflict worse ones. The Minister subsequently withdrew the proviso to his amendment. ■Mr. T. E. TAYLOR (Christchurch North) said ho could not understand the .Minister withdrawing tho proviso without substituting something in its place. Ho moved an addition to tho Minister's amendment as under"Provided it shall not be lawful for any hotel licenseo to sell or deliver any tobacco, cigars, or cigarettes .at any time when the shops of tobacconists in tho same district are closed on any statutory weekly half-holi-day, except to bona fido lodgers." Mr. OKEY (Taranaki) objected to this class of legislation. It only tended to mako-people sneaks. If a man wanted a cigar he could get it through a lodger. In his opinion there should be a license fee. i

Two Divisions. Mr. T; E. TAYLOR' said the solution of tho problem was very simple. Let the hotelkeeper give up' selling tobacco, etc.Mr.-. DAVEY (Christchurch East) said the proviso did not prevent clubs 'selling tobacco. _ As the law stood at present it was illegal for a hotelkeeper to sell tobacco, etc., on the half-holiday. Mf. T. E. TAYLOR said the. embargo had just been removed from hotels. Mr. ' EISHER (Wellington Central) moved to' make Mr. /Taylor's proviso apply not only to the half-holiday, but to after the closing of tobacconists' shops in the ovening. - This was lost by 61 to 10, and . Mr. Taylor s proviso was added •to < the schedule by 47- to .21.

A complaint was made by Mr. T. E. Taylor that sufficient pare was not being displayed by members over this Bill. Already they had passed a clause which, embodied legislation of a retrogressive nature. The. Minister had allowed a clauso to be slipped in by which, the hotel', employees were to be robbed of their weekly half-holiday. It was to bo a matter of mutual arrangement between employer and employee. •It ■ would bo evaded , since it was not-provided for bv statute law. ' Threat to Report Progress, At 'this stage the Minister remarked with some heat that lie was going to' re-' port progress. The member for. Christchurch North had. challenged the amendment ho had made, and characterised tho Bill as containing legislation of a' retrogressive nature. He also' alleged that it practically did away with the halfholiday. This was absolutely .incorrect.. The clauso ill question had been inserted at the request of the workers themselves. There was nothing in the Bill ,to deprivo a man of his weekly half-holiday. Mr.' M'LAREN (Wellington East) said he hoped the Minister would tot renort progress. Ho was satisfied tho Minister had done good.work in bringing forward the Bill.

The MINISTER said he did not 'want to lose the Bill. The responsibility for hanging the matter. up would now have to rest on Mr. Taylor's head. He was going to report progress'. ■ ■ ' Mr. HLRDMAN hoped tho Minister would not let tho Bill go. There was not any justification for saying that tho Minister had done away with- the •weekly half-holiday. The remainder of the Bill wa s not materially altered. ' v Vr W 'r\r.T 1 A^ d rea( J iDß m °™d Mr-D-M LABEN moved as an amendment that the Bui . be, recommitted for con sideration' of Clause 7, which provides, in lieu of allowing a half-holiday or whole holiday, it shall bo lawful to allow' an' assistant leave of absence on full pay for seven days in every three months. Mr. ARNOLD seconded . tho amendment. The Hon, J. A. MILLAR affirmed that Section 5 safeguarded tho right to the half-holiday. ' , HOSPITALS AND CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS. In Committee on the Hospitals and Charitable Institutions Amendment Bill slight amendments were made, including an addition to prevent a deadlock in tho event of a tie for tho election of chairman.

STAMP DUTIES BILL,

PROPOSAL TO INCREASE TAXATION. Tlio. Stamp Duties Amendment Bill was then, considered in Committee,

It was stated by the Hon. J. Carroll that the points raised by Mr. Massey had been referred to the AttorneyGeneral.

There was an important discussion on Clause 7, which provides that on the salo of any land or tenements of whatever tenure, together with liny livo stock, slock-in-trade, fixtures, plant, machinery) or goodwill, a conveyance on the sale shall be chargeable with the same ad valorem duty as if the whole of tho consideration was appropriated to the land itself. . . Mr. MAS SKY mid that a very serious increase in taxation was proposed undor tho clause. Under tlio new proposals thero would now bo made taxable in the event of salu fixtures, plant, machinery, and goodwill. He fell it would -mean

increased taxation to the extent of thousands oE pounds. It would be opposed by him. The PRIME MINISTER said that in some parts of the Dominion the land itself was under-valued to tho extent of 25 per cent. The object of the\ clause was to prevent fraud. It was extremely desirable that the law should be amended.

Mr. RUSSELL (Avon) remarked that the clause was of a sweeping nature. Mr. ALLEN (Bruce) hoped that tho Bill would bo referral to the Statutes Revision Committee.

Mr. i'RASER (Wakatipu) said it was surely never intended that stamp duty should be paid on a mere change of trusteeship. As regards the proposal to increase the scope of taxation to goodwill, etc., he felt that that was never tho original intention of Parliament. Mr. NEWMAN (Manawatu) said that under the Bill a Crown tenant would be charged stamp duty on tho sale of ■ his goodwill.

Mr. WITTY (Riccarton) said that he did not see why this should not be the case. There were too many transfers of goodwills of Crown properties. The' PRIME MINISTER said that Crown tenants had now to pay stamp duty.

"To Stop Evasions." Continuing, -Sir Joseph Ward said that in some cases a portion of the purchase price of a property was called goodwill, and that was done deliberately to evade stamp duty.. Mr. MASSEY said that if Crown tenants had now to pay in respect of goodwill, wliy the amendment in the law? Sir Joseph Ward: .To stop evasions.. Mr. .'Massey (continuing) went on to say that the Bill would be very farreaching. The PRIME MINISTER said that the Bill was not brought down to get increased taxation. Recently a country freehold was soid, but not a penny conld be Collected on .£II,OOO, -which was declared to be goodwill. It was to meet such cases that an alteration of the law was proposed. In order to test the matter, llr. Massey moved an amendment to delete "fixtures, plant, machinery, or goodwill" from the clause.

r " 3ITTY (Riccarton) said the efiect of the amendment would be t'6 let off town properties. He had. proof thas the Stamp Department had charged duty on goodwill of a property. Mr. Massey: It had no right to make the charge. Mr. Witty: Well, it should be the law. Upon a division,. Mr. Massey's amendment was rejected by 42, votes to 25. The Hon. J. CARROLL then moved a proviso as follows"Provided that no conveyance or transfer made of Executed on any. change of trustees shall be deemed a sale within the section, or shall be liable to tho payment of any ad valorem duty thereunder." >

Mr. Massey: Hear, hear. That is one point gained, anyhow. The proviso was. added on the voices. .No further amendments were made to tho Bill.

SLAUGHTERING INSPECTION,

. POSITION AS TO DISEASED PIGS. In Committee on the Slaughtering and Inspection Amendment Bill, \ Mr. T. E, TAYLOR took exception to Clause 4, which provides that meat export slaughterhouse means a slaughterhouse wherein no fewer than-25 per cent, of the stock slaughtered is for export beyond New Zealand. This (he thought) would result in serious injury to the municipal abattoirs. on which . a good deal of money, had been expended in Wellington, Auckland, and Christchurch. He intended to divide the House on the clause.

. Mr. WITTY. .(Riccarton). pointed out that the municipal abattoirs would not lose anything. . Where stock was slaughtered away from the abattoir the meat export companies, still had to pay abattoir fees. ,

The clause was retained by 51 votes to 16.

A new clause was moved by Mr. Forbes (Hurunui) to provide that auy farmer selling meat in small townships should be subject to tho same conditions in regard to inspection and licensors butchers when he entered into competition with the butcher by hawking and soiling meat.

Mr. MASSEY thought this was trying to introduce legislation to deal with isolated cases. The present . provision in the law did absolutely no injustice. Mr. WITTY (RiccaTton) said the clause would not hurt a farmer at all. Tho amendment only 'applied to ' carting round portions of a carcass. It wonldnot prevent the fanner killing or selling on his own farm.

Mr. BUCHANAN (Wairarapa) -hoped the Minister would stick to his Bill, and refuse to accept the amendment. So many restrictions were being imposed that very soon wo would-be unable, to move in any direction. He himself had supplied parties in the country, not because he wanted to do so, but to oblige the workmen. Under a provision like this a farmer could not do this.

The MINISTER, said lie could not accept the clause. It was rejected on the voices.

Mr. DAVEY (Christchurch East)'moved a new clauso to provide that no slaughtered pigs shall be offered for sale until they have been inspected by a competent Government official, and passed as •fit for human consumption, provided, however, that this' shall only apply to pigs offered for sale in the four centres of the Dominion. Tho MINISTER said that the present Act gave the' power sought by Mr.' Davey's amendment. Continuing, ho said it was proposed to appoint inspectors in each of the four centres for the purpose of examining the pigs that came m. Mr. Reakes had'tho matter in hand, and was devising methods -to deal with the 'matter.

Mr. Brown: "Why not extend it to the boroughs?"

•. The MINISTER renlied that the De partment could -not afford to apDoint in spectors for all the boroughs. However tho DeDartment's officers were being in structed to exercise the greatest vigil ance.

Mr. ■DA VET eventually withdrew his amendment in. view of what the Minister had stated.

Tlie MINISTER moved an amendment to the schedule providing, that Id. per pound over 2001b. bo naid to owners of swine condemned. The original schedule provided for 2d. a pound all round, and 2d.,wi11.-still be.paid up to 2001b. The Bill was reported, with amendments. ..

HAWKE'S BAY RIVERS. ,Tho. Hawkc's Bay Riyers Bill was put through its Committee stage, and reported ■with one ox two inconsequential amendments.

CROWN SUITS BILL. LIABILITY OF THE STATE. ' In Committee on the Crown Suits Bill. 1 Mr. HEREIES (Tauranga) asked if all claims were barred against the Crown except as provided under the new Bill. Under the old Act one could go to the Attorney-General and obtain permission to bring an action. He asked if this procedure was done away with. Sir JOSEPH WARD said the only clause of the Crown Suits Act repealed was Section 35. Mr. MASSEY regretted tho Bill had not been referred to the Statutes Revision Committee. If was evident the Prime Minister did not understand the Bill. Sir JOSEPH WARD said the procedure was not altered. Mr. HERDMAN (Wellington North) said the Bill extended the scope of the original Act. He did not think-the difficulty anticipated by tho Leader of tho Opposition would arise. Section 6 was amended to read as follows: —"The Deaths by Accident Compensation Act. 1008, and Section. G2 of tho Workers' Compensation Act, 1908, relating to common employment, shall be so construed as to bind the Crown." The PRIME MINISTER, replying to Mr. Massey, said this did not in a'ny way j limit the compensation that should be paid. on account of the death of any worker employed by the State; Now clauses were, on the Prime Minister's motion, added to tho Bill providing that claims in respect of death or per" sonal injury are not to exceed .EJOO, and providing for tho recovery in the Magistrate's Court, on behalf of the Crown, of amounts not exceeding ,£SO. The provision that no claim against the Crown should bo tried before a jury was struck out.

CENSUS AND STATISTICS,

AN ELECTION ASPECT. In Committee on tlio Census and Sta-' ' tishes Bill, Til© Hon. D. BTJDDO, replying to Mr. Massey,- stated that it was intended to , take ,th« census on the first or second Monday of April in 1911."' Mr.-ALLEN (Bruce) said it was important the House should provide that the i census.should bo taken not later than a i certain date. The work of the commissioners , who would alter the electoral 1 ~ ri<?s depend upon the date °t the census. They required this information to go upon, and in view of the i tact that the boundaries had to be re- . vised before the general election at the end of next year the census should be 'taken liot later than April 30. ; lho Hon. D. BUDDO said the Imperial > census would be taken on April 2, and > f ll , probability our census would be taken on tho same date. > Sir. MASSEY said that he intended to j move ah amendment to Clause 4 (which : that a census shall be taken in 1911 and every fifth year thereafter) to ; the effect that the census should bo -taken \ not later than April 30; That date would be late enough to -allow the boundary, commissioners to do their work properly. He was rather suspicious of this Bill. . Sir JOSEPH WARD said there was no- ; thing- underlying the Bill. He would give ins undertaking ,the census . would be ' taken in plenty of time. Mr. MASSE £ asked why, in that case, t the Government would not accept.. his amendment. He wanted to : make quite sure the census would be taken in plenty of time.. He moved an amendment providmg that the census 1 should be taken not later than April. 30. Mr. HERRIES (Tauranga) said that to put -the matter plainly there was a tumour that an effort was to bp made to avoid altering the electoral boundaries before next election.' Sir Joseph Ward: That is perfectly ' idiotic. nonsense. Sir. Herries: Well, they emanate from your side. Sir Joseph Ward denied that there was any such intention. Mr. Massey: It has been said by your colleagues. Mr. Herries: There aro rumours thatthe South Island seats arc to' be kept same as now. Sir Joseph Ward: That emanated-from your side. Mr. Herries: It emanated from those supporting the .party in power. ■ Sir Joseph Ward said , the prime mover x to retain the South Island seats had been a stable mate of Mr. Herries, Mr. AllenThere was no, intention to interfere with the, alteration of the boundaries. The North ,'lslrmd was so favourable to the Government ■ that why should it interfere? . Mr. J. ALLEN (Bruce) said he had been in favour of retaining the present South Island seats and increasing the number of North Island. He would advise the Prime. Minister to" speak to one of his own colleagues. • ■ The MINISTER FOB AGRICULTURE (the Hon. T. Mackenzie) said he had been in favour before last redistribution of seats of' retaining the South Island constituencies, while doing justice to'the North Island. Since then he had not discussed the question with anyone or asked that the seats should be' retained. The amendment was lost by 23 votes to 40. The MINISTER, replying to Dr. Te Rangihiroa, said he would favour, a Maori census being taken, unden, the. same Conditions as the European census, but this was ■ not practicable. Mr. HERRIES (Tau'ranga) said that unless the agricultural and stock returns of the Natives'were secured, the statistics would be. of very'little use. ' The Hon. Mr. Biuldo: "That will be done."; The Bill was reported without amendment. POUKAWA NATIVE RESERVE. The Poukawa Native Reserves Bill was put through its Committee stage without amendment. WORKERS' DWELLINGS. ' In Committee on tho Workers' Dwellings Bill, the. Hon. J. A. Millar moved to strike but Clause 16,- which provides that , moneys , received under the Act shall go' 'td ,:1 'tile Public Account. This was agreed to, and a new clause was inserted providing that all moneys received under the Act shall be paid into the public account, and. shall be credited to the Workers' Dwelling Account in the 'case of ordinary Crown lands, or lands taken ' under the Public Works Act, and in the case of lands acquired under'the Land for Settlements. Act'. shall be' credited to tho Land for Settlement Account. Tho Bill was reported with amendments. . The amendment was lost by, 36 votes to 15. " ' The Bill was then read a. third time and passed. ■ ■ : ' BILLS PASSED. Tho following Bills were read a third time and passed:— Hospitals and Charitable Institutions; Bill,' ■ Stamp Duties Amendment Bill. Slaughtering and Inspection BilL Hawke's Bay . Rivers Bill. Crown ■ Suits Amendment . Bill. Census and Statistics Bill. . Poukawa Native Reserve Amendment ! Bill. . • . '. Workers' Dwellings Bill,. The House rose at 2.20 a.m.

POLITICAL NOTES.

THE TRAMWAYS BILL'. Mr. Fisher evoked a sharp reply from the Hon. R. M'Kenzio yesterday by suggesting that tile Tramways Bill might not go through this session. Mr. Fisher said there was one part of the Bill which would be .very valuable to tramway employees, t 'and was not contentious. He suggested that the measure should be divided into tw.o, and the valuable and non-contentious part passed. . The reply of tlie Hon. R. MTvenzie -was characteristic. "The lion, gentleman may regard it as one that is not. likely to go through this session," he said. "I look upon the Bill as a certainty to go through this session. (Laughter.) If there is any .portion of it that he' docs not want to go through he should get a majority to his view." - . .

"Are you satisfied?" queried, .a mem' bcr of Mr. Fisher.

Tho member for Wellington Central replied that he was, after tho Minister's' lucid explanation!

ST. DAVID'S DAY. The Welsh Societies - of New Zealand have noted with pain that no recognition of St. David's Day is proposed in the Public Holidays Bill, although provision is made for the observance of the days of the patron saints of Ireland, England, and Scotland. The societies are therefore petitioning Parliament, that March 1 ho declared a .Bank holiday.. NATIVE LAND CLAIMS. A Native Land Claims Adjustment Bill was introduced by' Governor's Message. in the House of Representatives yesterday. The • Bill provides for power b?ing given to the Public Trustee to survey, subdivide, • and lay-oE. roads on Native reserves vested in liim. Amongst other matters, the Bill provides .for . a rehearing by the Native Appellate Court in regard to orders in respect of certain blocks. TOWN PLANNING. A plea, for the setting up of a Town Planning Board "was made in the Legislative Council yesterday by the Hon. J. E. Jonkinson. Mr. Jenkinson said he thought tho tinio had arrived when some steps should be taken in the above direction. If the municipal 'authorities' would not, take steps the Legislature should step in. He was not'sure that a combined committee of the Legislature and tho municipal bodies would not be best able to do the work. One only had to look round the various cities to see that immediate improvement was necessary. In tho back streets of Auckland, said Mr, .Tcnkinson, one could see what could; not bo seen in any other part of New Zealand—not even Wellington. The Wellington City Council had dono very good work within the past few years, but there was plenty- more to do,, although Wellington could now say it was. in the forefront of Now, Zealand.- Ho hoped that steps would bo taken to go into tho town planning in the various cities, and at tho same time the suburbs should not be forgotten.