IN PARLIAMENT.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1245, 29 September 1911, Page 5

IN PARLIAMENT.

DAILY SUMMARY. THE COALITION SUGGESTION. Sir John Findlay, in tho Council yestorday, gavo a curt reply to the Hon. C. H. Mills's question as to the Coronation invitations which wero intended for the Councillors, but never reached them. Ho said he had nothing to add to what the Primo Minister had said in the House, and ho refused to tablo tho correspondence. The Hon. J. D. Ormond moved a resolution expressing approval of tho special land settlement schomo outlined in tho Budget. Specchcs on tho same subject were made by the Hon. T. Kelly, tho Hon. J. Anstoy, and tho Hou. C. M. Luke, and tho debate was adjourned. Yesterday was local Bills day in the House, but a matter of much wider interest came up in the afternoon. Sir Joseph Ward referred to certain stat-o-monts by Mr. - Allen as to suggestions that were made some three years ago to the effect that a coalition should bo effected between tho Government and the Opposition. Tho Primo 'Minister said he was approached at the timo by certain persons, not supporters of tho Government, on the question of a coalition, but he had refused to discuss it. Mr. Allen and Mr. Massey both readily admitted that tho Premier had had no communication with them on the matter, but they and Mr. Buchanan stated that the suggestion had bsen strongly mado by a number of persons including prominent Government supporters.-', Mr. Allen, after hearing Sir Joseph Ward's remarks, said ho had nothing to withdraw, and' was still of the opinion that Mr; Massey could have been in the Ministry if he had wished. • The Bill to constitute tho Methodist Church of New Zealand as a body independent of tho Methodist Church of Australasia was introduced by Sir Joseph Ward, and read a first time.

On the motion for tho second reading of the Wellington City Empowering Bill, it was clear that trouble is to be expected in Committee. Mr. Ell reiterated his objections to .the clause increasing the powers of the City Council to chargo for admission. Tills clause had been struck out by the Local Bills Committee, but Mr. Wilford said ho would endeavour to get it reinstated in Committee of the Whole. Mr. Herdman indicated his intention to try to ndd to the Bill a clause to safeguard private enterprise from injury through the establishment of a municipal milk depot. The House spent several hours in dealing with otlier local Bills, until progre-s was reported on tho Mount Hutt County Bill at 0.30 a.m.