THE HOUSE.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1202, 10 August 1911, Page 7

THE HOUSE.

QUESTION DAY. A DECEASED EX-MEMBER. In..the i House of, Representatives yes-terday-afternoon, on the motion of' the Acting : Preniier, the Houso recorded its appreciation-of the services rendered to New Zealand by the late Mr. John -Bevan, of Westpor.t, ■ and its sympathy with l his relatives... in their bereavement. Mr. Bevan wasrat one time a member of,the House. The motion was seconded by Mr. Hardy, and passed in silence after brief speeches had been made by Messrs. beddon, Colvin, and the Hon. B. M'Kenzie, FIRST READINGS, The following Bills were read a first time:— Otaki County (Mr. Field). Wanganui Harbour Board Vesting (Mr. Hogan).. Nosious Weeds Amendment (Hon. T. Mackenzie). Mining Amendment (Hon. E. MTCenzie). Coal Mines Amendment (Hon. E. M'Kenzie). Tramways Amendment (Hon.'E. M'Kenzic).-

Stone Quarries Amendment (Hon. E. M'Kenzie).

QUESTIONS. MINISTERIAL REPLIES DISCUSSED. POLICE REGULATIONS.' The adjournment of 1 the House was moved to 'discuss Ministerial replies to questions, which had been printed and circulated. The ACTING-MINISTER for JUSTICE stated, replying to a question by Mr. Arnold, that the now Police Regulations are in hand, but that time has not permitted their fiual revision and completion. Mr. ARNOLD, said considerable delay had occurred in bringing about the reforms determined upon alter tho inquiry held eighteen months" previously.' It was most important that the new regulations should 1)6 issued- as soon as possible. The only excuse that had been advanced for the retention of Sub-Inspector \Yright in "Wellington had been that cis expert assistance was essential in preparing the regulations. Ho had now been transferred for some time, and it was fair to assume that tho regulations had now been prepared. There was still a certain amount of unrest in the service, which would be allayed only when the Department had given some clear indication of what it intended to do in the way of introducing reforms. Since the Commission sat, practically nothing had been done, save for a slight increase in travelling allowance, which was of no benefit to the force as a whole. There had been an appointment of seven/detective sergeants and fourteen sonior sergeants, but it was not known whether this policy was to bo continued or whether a sop had been thrown to a few officials. There had been no increase of salaries. It was most unsatisfactory that police, entering the force, should receive less than was given'to labourers.

. ELECTION OF MAYORS. Mr. DA VET asked whether the Government. would amend tho Municipal Corporations Act this session in the direction of providing that the successor of a Mayor retiring at any time, within three months of the conclusion of his period of office, should-be elected bv tho people. The Ministerial reply was that, in tho event of a Municipal Corporations Bill being required, the question would receive consideration. Later Mr. Buddo stated that nlthoneh he was not hankering for another amendment to tho Municipal Corporations \ct such a Bill was at the present time on"the stocks. Whether time would bo found to deal with it that session was another matter, but if the Bill could be brought down ho would consider tho incorporation of a clause which would provide for tho election of a successor to a Mayor who retired or died some considerable time before the expiration of his term of office.

RAILWAY PRIVILEGES. Mr. WRIGHT asked why tlio privilege of free passes on tho railways, formerly granted to shooting teams composed of Territorials and members of riflo clubs, had been'withdrawn. The reply was that tho privilege mentioned had not been withdrawn, but regulations had been mado which had been found necessary, owing to tho need for economy in regard to travelling expenses and tho abuso of free, passes in tho past. Mr. Wright said tho reply was not satisfactory, A team consisting of members of a properly-enrolled . rifle club had left Wellington on' a recent holiday to travel up tho Manawatu line. At the station thev were told that they could not travel freo on the train. The Minister surely

could not be aware of what was going on. The Hon. G. Fowlds: They had not complied with the regulations. Mr. Wright remarked that mysterious regulations were creeping up everywhere. A man would want to carry rouvS a lawyer with him wherever he went. COOK ISLANDS AFFAIRS. Mr. WRIGHT asked when tho report of tho Chief Justice on the administration of tho Cook Islands would be laid before tho House. The reply was that the report, was in the hands of the printer, and would be laid bcfoTc the House at an early date. A WANGANUI BILL. • The Wanganui School Sites Amendment Bill (Hon. G. Fowlds) passed through Committeo without amendment. TOWN PLANNING BILL. "CENTRALISATION RUN MAD."... . Mr. C. H. POOLE (Auckland AVcst) resumed tho debate on the second reading of the Town Planning Bill. He approved of the Bill as a whole, but thought the complaints as to centralisation of authority deserved careful consideration. G. W. RUSSELL (Avon) suggested that after the second reading had been carried tho Bill should stand over until next session, and should be circulated among tho local authorities. The improvement of slum areas could be dealt with under tho Municipal Corporations Act, Clause 293, and fresh legislation for this purpose was not required, and was not provided in the Bill. The measure was at fault iu that it did not make it compukory to submit plans of new townships to the proposed board. On the other hand the powers given to the board and tho Governor-in-Council in regard to existing cities and boroughs were absolutely shocking to anybody who believed in the principle of local self-government. It was centralisation run mad, and there had been too much of that sort of thing already. Mr. W. F. MASSEY, Leader of the Opposition, said the last speaker had placed his finger upon the weak spot of the Bill. It meant the centralisation of everything in Wellington, and though ho (Mr. Masso.y) approved the general idea of town planning, there was much in the Bill that he would resist. Ho objected to the, raising of loans without consultation of the ratepayers. Tho Bill should go to a select committee, and evidence should be taken.

Mr. J. T. HOGAN (Wanganui) hoped the- Bill would bo put through this session, as it was desirable'to move faster than the local bodies would do if left to themselves. The debate was adjourned, and the House rose at 11.15 p.m.