THE HOUSE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1267, 24 October 1911, Page 6

THE HOUSE.

LOCAL BILLS. TWENTY-FIVE DEALT WITH. A DELAYED REPORT. The Houso met at 10.30 a.m. yesterday for the consideration of local Bills, of which there were '-'a on tho Order Paper at various stages. The Hon. D. BUDDO laid upon tho table the report on public health, hospitals, and charitable aid. ilr. ALLIiN asked when the report would bo in the hands of members. Tho law had been broken inasmuch as tho report should have been presented within 21 days of tho opening of Parliament. Mr. BUDDO said the delay was entirely due to some boards having been very dilatory in sending in their reports for tho year, which were the principal feature of tho Departmental report. iMr. ALLEN said tho report contained a great deal more than the details about the different hospitals. It contained vital statistics, which wore read with interest within and outside tlio Dominion. Diat portion, at any rate, should have been tabled earlier. AVhat was tho use of tho law if it was to bo broken? Mr. BUDDO said the report never was laid on the table until it was ready in its entirety. On (he Wellington City Empowering and Amendment Bill beiug called on for consideration of tho amendments made in Committee, Mr. ELL reiterated his objections to charging for admission to reserves, but the Uill was read a third timo and Pa Tnp' Mount Hutt County Bill (Mr. Hardy) was again opposed in Committee by Mr. Nosworthy, Air. Russell, and other members. A motion by Jlr. Russell that the Chairman leave tho chair on the Bill was carried by 33 to 25.

The Wuiapu County Council (Tokomaru Harbour Board Endowment) Bill was ruled out of order on the ground that it proposed to tako certain National Endowment lands and make them an endowment for tho Tokomaru Ilarbour Board, and that the consent of the Crown liad not beou given to this course. Tho Mohaka County Bill was thrown out at the iiurtanco of Sir James Carroll, who said that the area of the proposed new county was too small, and its rating capacity was very weak. It lay between two large counties, and if tlie proposal had been to add it to the Hawkc's Bay County there would linvo been some reason in it. As it stood, there was no reason in it. lie moved that the Bill be read a second time, that day six months.

This was carried on the voices. Mr. Brown, wlio introduced the Bill, was not in his place, the motion for the second reading being moved by another member.

The AA'anganui River Bridge Bill was opposed by Mr. l'earcc, who said it would not benefit the portion of AVanganui Borough, namely, Arainoho, which was in the Patea electorate, and would bo raled with other districts for the bridge. Aramoho required a bridge further up the river. This bridge- was for a tramway, and would be unsuitable for travelling stock.

Mr. FIELD ondorsed Mr. Pearco's remarks.

Mr. HOGAN said that at tho poll thero was a 1 to 1' majority 'in favour of the proposal on each side of the river, and even in Aramolio there was a large majority for it. Tho bridge would not cost Aramolio or AVanganui one penny, because; the revenue from the tramway to AVanganui Ea=t would pay the interest and sinking fund.

The second reading was carried. AVlien the Otiiki County Bill was called on for its fecoud reading. Mr. Field said tho Bill had been introduced in two previous sessions by the member for AWJlington Suburbs, but had been ruled out. of order. He (Mr. Field) had consented to take charge of it this session, on the understanding that he nwd not prras it, if the Local Bills Committee was adverse to the Bill. The Committee had reported against it. but as the. attendance at the Committee had beon small, he hntl moved that the Bill IJo referred back. This was done, and the Committee had again reported adversely. He would, however, move the second reading, and leave it to the House. The motion was lost on the voices.

WANGANUI HARBOUR BILL,

STRONGLY OPPOSED.

Jlr HOGVN moved the second reading of'the Wang-amii Harbour District and Bmpowerhi',' Bill, which proposes to give the AVangauui Harbour JJoard power to construct harbour works. and to levy a rate on the harbour district, lie said it was estimated that the rate would not be rociuired, but the town people proposed to rate thcnifc-lvos at double the amount the country ponple were to be rated at. Jlr NEWMAN opposed tho Bill. He nuoted tho Chief Engineer's estimates to show that tho cost of the works would probablv oxocral the proposed loan, lie also submitted that the boundaries were U M*r GTJTTIRIFj also opposed tho Bill. 110 «aid tho differential rating proposal \ns "illusory as the rateable value of the country districts tos about double that of the town. The district was too far to tho north, and yet the land just across the AVangachu was not in it. JJie Bill should be> held over till next session and the boundaries revised. ~,,,, Sir Joseph AVARD pointed out that tho Wan"anui Harbour District was defined bv the Harbours Act 110 supported tho Bill and declared that thofo who opposed it were acting against the interests of the country settlers and the merchants and storekeepers of AVauganui, who would all bo benefited by making Wan-anui a first(sass port. The power to borrow was permissive as a poll had to be taken. He could not understand why tho Opjjositaon

woro K) anxious to prevent the pooplo of Wanganui niul district reaping tho advantages provided liy this J fill. Mr. FISH Kit said that tho Prime Minister's statement tiial (lie Opposition was against tho Hill wa.s absolutely incoiwt. Jlr Ij-WC! said the chairman oi the Local Hills Committw, Mr. Laurenson, was strongly against Iho Hill, nnd it only got through llio committee by a majority of one. The l'rimo Minister should have blamed members of his own party equally with Opposition iuciiilkts. Tho ratans area was absolutely unfair, and this had been admitted by the principal advocatc of the Hill before tho Committee. Mr. KJETjD opposed tho Hill. The present facilities for shipping produce at Wanganui were satisfactory, and flit lightering there was cheaper than wharfage charges would be. Tho Hon. li. Jl'K KX/.IK said, that i! the last speaker was right, it would 1" useless to make harbours anywhere, ii New Zealand. Tho Wanganui llarboui was capable of very great improvement and tho schcinc would bo very bcneficia to the settlors over a largo area. Jlr. PEARCE said he did not oppnst the Dill, nor object In Wanganui getting a harbour, but he objected to the un fairness nf the rating area. Tho pr<ipl< at the AVaitotara end sent their pnidun through the port of I'a tea, and could ex port from Wellington cheaper than Iron Wanganui. The settlors alKiut l.'aclih railed their produco by tho Main Truiil lino to Wellington. Tho Hon. .1. A. .MILLAR supported tin Hill. Tho Chief Engineer's Mile objection was on the ground of the cost nl slonf for the outer mole. Ho believed that, ii the rating was the only objection of tin settlors, they would always iik> whatever was tho cheapest ]>ort for them The scheme would b-inofit almost tin whole district, except tho Wailotara nor (ion, but P.ilea would never bo a liar bour. Mr. Poarco: Look at tho o.x|mr(.s. Mr. Jlillar: "Ixiok at tho ditch there.' The increase in the trade of Wanganu: justified the proposals of tho Hill. Mr. l'earce: Tho exports of Wanganu last year were .fct'2l,nr,(l, and tho;o oi Patea .£s7r>.flofl—even if it is a "ditch.' Mr. SMITH opposed Ihe Hill, and sail tho settlers in his district, who eam< under the Hill, would never expo!' through Wanganui, if there woro tci paris thero. Jlr. HOG AN, replying, Enid lie bolicvei tho rato would never bo levied. Th< board expected to close this year with i surplus of .£">000, and tlieso annual sur pluses increased, liy tho time all till money under the Bill was spent—and i would tako several years—the port woulc 1)0 so flourishing that thero would bo n< need for the rate authorised by tho Hill Tho objectors to the rating area shouU have objected to the schedule of thi Harbours Act, hut they had not been ad . verse to the pooplo in remote parts o: ' tiie district voting at tho Harbour ]!oar< elections, lie erilieiscd tho estimate o: Mr. Ilolmns, and declared that tho pro posed works would benefit the exporter through tho saving of lighterage charges Tho sccond reading was carried by 3! to ID. BILLS PUT THROUGH COMMITTEE Tho following Bills tvero put througl Committee with little or no amendment —Waikoikoi Public llall Transfer, River ' ton Harbour Loan aud Empowering Auckland Electric-power Station Site Auckland Harbour Hoard Empowering Olago Harbour Board Empowering Tapanui Commonage Uescrvo Exchangi and Leasing, Ross I3orough Council Vest ing and Empowering, Lyttelton Borougl Extension, Dunodin City and Suburbai Tramways and Water-power Amendment Invercargill Reserves Vesting, Onelmng; Borough Vesting, Little liiver Domaij Board, Jlanukan Harbour _ Control Hamilton Domains, Dunodin City (Wai pari Falls) Laud Vesting, Tuakitolo am ivaitangata Lakes. The House adjourned at 1.30 p.m. til 7.30 p.m. At the evening sitting the Dunodin Dis triet Drainage and Sewerage Amendment the Portobcllo Jioad District I,and: Vesting, and the AVanganui River Bridgi Hills wore put through Committee with out amendment. WANGANUI HARBOUR AGAIN. A FIGHT IN' COMMITTEE. In Comjiiitteo on tho AVanganui Harbour District. and Empowering Bill, a motion to report progress was moved by Jlr. Newman, and supported by Messrs Uuthrie, Lang, Smith, and others. The expression, "stonewalling" was used bj Jlr. Glover, a supporter of the Bill, anil had to be withdrawn. Jlr. PEARCE gave rpasons for the view that tho trade of Patea would increase at the oxpenso of that of AVanganui. Jlr. GUTHRIE said that an examination of the position showed that the statement that the rate would not need to bo collected was erroneous. It would commence when the works were begun, and would be a serious impost for : long time, on people who would nol benefit from the works.

Sir J. G. AVAHJ) said ho hoped the member for AVanganui would stick to his Bill. The development of the port of VYanganui would benefit l'atca and tho country districts, because it would coinpete with AA'ellingtoii i'or tho oversea trade. The value of every acre of land in the district would be enhanced. Ho was prepared to move, later a clause authorising a Royal Commission to decide what districts should be included in the rating area under (he Bill. When tho discussion had proceeded for an hour and ten minutes,

Mr. LANG, who had made a suggestion early in tho proceedings that the Bill should bo amended so as to provide for separate polls in the town and in the country districts, said that if the Premier woulr consent, to this amendment, tho Bill would go through without any dilliculty. He considered that the waste of time was caused by tho Prime Minister. Mr. FIELD urged that Mr. Lang's amendment should bo accepted. His objections to the Bill as it stood were not due to his interest, in Foxtou—a port which would be able to stand on its own when properly developed. At 1U.15 p.m. tho motion to report progress was defeated by 39 votes to 23. Tho debate resumed, on unsensational lines. At 10.30 p.m., „ . Mr. I'BAUCE moved "That the Chairman do now leave the chair."

This was lost by 21 to 37. Mr. NEWMAN, referring to a statement made by Mr. Hogan that the Harbour Board had begun to construct the. works named in the Bill out of revenue, said it was a most unbusinesslike thing to do, and went to show that tho board was incompetent. He again moved to report progress. Mr. HOGAN said he could not accept the proposal. The motion was defeated by 30 votes to 23. ' Mr. FIELD moved to report progress. He protested that it was tro lato in tho session to stop thero all night over r local Bill. The delay (hat had occurred was due to tho refusal of those in charge of the Bill to accept any reasonable amendment. The motion was negatived by 36 votes to 23. Mr. NOSAVORTHY moved: "That tho Chairman leave the chair." He did it, he. said, "with a view to finishing this Bill up." The motion was negatived by 37 votes to 22. At midnight the Committee had mndo only nominal progress. Twenty-four members were present to continue "the discussion." which by this time had developed into a stonewall of the most obvious type. The same old reproaches, explanations, and appeals followed one :i> other time after time, in dreary succession. Mr. Hogan sat at the tabic, his head supported on his hand, his eyes closed, and looking both wcaTy and miserable.

At 1.45 a.m. a motion by Mr. Guthrio that the Chairman leave the chair was carried by 23 votes to SO, thus killing the Bill.

NEW BILLS. The Iron Industry Hill, Dentists' \mcndmont Bill, Post anil Telegraph Amendment Bill, Formers' Co-operative. Hanks Bill, and Lands for Settlement Amendment Bill wore introduced by Governor's Message ami read a first time. Amendments to the Shipping and Seamen's Bill were also introduced by Governor's Message and agreed to. Mr. MASSHY asked the Prime Minister whether ho intended to go on with the measures just introduced. If so, it would lie necessary to introduce legislation to extend the term of tlie present Parliament. Some of these Bills were exceedingly important

The PRIME MINISTER replied that ho proposal to go nn with a majority of tlio Hills, iiiul hoped that they might 1k« dealt witli before the mid of the week. S<iino (if the Bilks ho proposed only lo circulate. .Mr. MASSKV remarked Hint the House a r might jnsl. ils wo.II understand that busi- al ness would go on for :i fortnight. ■ jj, 'J'lio "Washing-up Bill" was introduced. |~ Tho llouso at 2.:i5 a.m. adjourned until el 2.110 p.m.