IN PARLIAMENT.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1263, 19 October 1911, Page 5

IN PARLIAMENT.

DAILY SUMMARY. , | . ) DEBATE ON THE LOAN BILL. Tho legislative Council had a long sitting yesterday. It met at 2.30 p.m., and {lie adjournment was not made until 11# o p.m. The principal item in the afternoon's proceedings was the discussion on the Guardian Trust and Executors Co. Bill, 011 which a lengthy debate in opposition was led by the Ilea. O. Samuel. After considerable discussion tho motion for tho third reading was carried by tho narrow majority of ono vote. A number of Bills from tho Homo were put through their final stages, or well advanced. Proceedings in the House of Representatives yesterday nftomoon were quiet. The report of tho Native Affairs Committee on the Mokau Inquiry had been expected, but did not make its appearance. Tho usual discussion upon tho replies of Ministers to questions was crowded out, tlie whole afternoon being taken up by a eeries of debates upon subjects of moro or less general interest. At early stage the member for Tauiuanmui, Mr. Jonniiigs, under cover of a question addressed to tho Mi'nister for Internal Affairs, complained that tho residents of Ohakune had been badly treated by tho Government in connection with a movement to transform their town district into a borough. A brief discussion upon tho present gtate of the electoral rolls was opened by Mr. Massey, who read a telegram from Christchurch, in which it was alleged that names were being improperly entered on the rolls. This was denied by tho Primo -Minister, who stated that deiinito instructions had been given to the registrars which would obviate any improper enrolment. The Municipal Corporations Amendment Bill was read a first timo on the inotion of Mr. iiuddo. The latter part of tho afternoon was spent in receiving tho reports of committees upon potitions, and there was some discussion upon the Nativo land question. In : the evening the Local Electors and Polls Bill, designed to meet cases where g number of electors are waiting at the booth when the timo for closing tho poll knives, was read a second time. Tho Workers' Compensation Amendment Bill was committed niter a somewhat lengthy discussion. At this point tho Prime Minister intimated that he wished tho House before -rising to tako tho Public Works debate and Estimates and tho Loan Bill, but Mr. Massey protested against beginning such a heavy programme at 10.30 p.m. Eventually the second reading of the Loan Bill was taken, tho Public Works Statement being debated with it, and the Prime Minister indicated that the Estimates would be considered, to-day. Mr. Massey, Mr. Allen, and Mr'. Herries uttered some vigorous criticism of the public works system and its financial basis. Sir Joseph Ward replied at some length to Opposition criticism, and tho debate was then continued on an amendment by Mr. Pearse to reduce the amount to be authorised as an indication that the Government was borrowing too much tnoney. • '