THE HOUSE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1245, 29 September 1911, Page 7

THE HOUSE.

WELLINGTON AFFAIRS. EMPOWERING BILL SECOND READING CARRIED. The House of Representatives met yesterday at 2.30 p.m. Tlie Methodist Church of New Zealand Bill was read a first time, as reported elsewhere. Before the orders of tho (lav were reached, statements and explanations were made concoming suggestions made same years ago in the direction of! -o coalition between Government antl Opposition. The matter is fully reported under another heading. The Waikowhai Park Bill (Mr. Lanj) was read a second time. Mr. T. M. WILFOIiD (Hutt),. in moving the second reading of the \\ cllington City Empowering Amendment Bill, said ho intended to ask the flouse to reinstate when in committee Clause 5, which had been struck out by the Local Bills Committee. The clause proposed to stive the Citv Council power to charge on 30 days in the year, instead of ten as at present, for admission to the city reserves. Ho contrasted the natural disadvantages of. Wellington in tho matter of parks am reserves, as compa.rcd with Auckland and Christchurch. The City Council spent .£7OOO a vear on the upkeep of the parks out of rates. The Wily, character of tho ground made it cosily to form p.aying grounds, and the excavation alone at Anderson Park had cost ,£12.000. He was introducing the clause at tho request ot the sports bodies, as well as, tho City Council. The clauses also applied to tho Zoo, which cost the city .£I7OO a year. It was strange that the member for Christchurch South (who had said he would kill the Bill) should object to having to pay 3d for admission to tho Zoo; u J hich tho Wellington people . paid for. Section i of the Bill v;as to; prevent double rating of parts of Mitchelltown, Kclburne and Northland for drainage pur-, poses, these portions having formerly been within the 'Borouirh of Knrori. Clause 3 dealt with tho milk supply question, and proposed to authorise tuo construction, of 6cot storage cho.mbcTs' , bv- th<£ oil. The opinion of tlie City Solicitor was that this would not create a monopoly of cool storage'in the town, and that a cornpajiy like the. Fresh l'ood and Ice Company could still go on using its own cool stores, but Hie Bill passed last year would wipe out such a company, just as the provisions of municipal abattoirs wiped out the nrivat'e slaughterhouses. Mr"G. H. ELL (Christchurch South) said that in opposing Clause 5 of the Bill ho only had in mind tho well-being of tho people, of Wellington. He was glad to have succeeded in 1908 in preventing the Wellington City Council getting pwer to give exclusive leases of portions of the reserves to sports -bodies. He objected strongly to charges for admission to reserves, and if tho clause wero passed the House could not resist similar demands from other places. Mr. A. L.. HEUDMAN (Wellington North) supported Clause 5. Ha referral to the heavy expenditure on the reserves, and argued that tho people who used them phot.ld pay something, a.s proposed in tho Bill, to relieve the general ratepayers from part of tho burden. Some of the reserves wanted extending, improving, and planting. He believed a city should have a good milk supply, but ho wa.s not sum that that would bo effected by last year s Act. lie objected to anything that would injure the property of po.ple wha had acquired such property under fclio previously existing law. Accordingly, when tho Bill was in Committee he would move a clause similar to that which he had moved to add to tho Act of last year—'"Nothing in this Act shall affect any company ot person carrying on the business of distributors or sellers of milk at the commencement of this Act whoso premises aro declared suitable for the purpose by the Minister for Public Health."

Mr. J. P. LUKE (Wellington Suburbs) spoke in support of the Bill. The second reading was carried on tlio voices.

LOCAL BILLS. The Mount Hutt County Bill was taken in Committee, and progress was reported on it, through a rnisniiulcrataxuliag, before any mogress was made. Tho Ilcathcoto County Boundary Bill, tho City of Christchurch Empowering Bill, the Mosjicl Borough Empowering Bill, and the Awaterp County Bill were passed through committee without amendments. The Franldin and Manukau Counties Bill (Jlr. Massey) was considered in Committee. On tho motion of tho Hon. D. Biuldo a new clauso was adied providing for tho constitution of boroughs and town districts. Tho Bill was reported without further amendment. The Ashlev Subdivision and the Wai-mnkariri-Ash'ley Water Supply Board Bill was passed through Committeewithout amendment. The Mount Hutt County Bill was further considered in Committee. The House rose at 0.30 a.m.