THE HOUSE.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1577, 22 October 1912, Page 6

THE HOUSE.

A PERSONAL EXPLANATION, The House met at 7.30 p.m. yesterday. The Hon. W. F. MASSEY (Prime Minister) mado a personal explanation about a mistake ho had mado in his speech on Friday night on the second reading of tho Land bill. "I stated," he said, "that a letter which had been supposed to be posted to me by certain Natives had not arrived. It is only fair to say that tho letter has come to hand. I saw it to-day for tho first time. lam informed by my secretary- that it was in my office at the tirao 1 spoke, but it was not recognised because it was in the Native- language." WELLINGTON CITY BILL. The amendments mado by the Legislative Council in the Wellington City Empowering Bill were agreed to. RAILWAYS BILL. . The Government Railways Amendment Bill (the Hon. W. 11. Hemes) was read a, second timo pro forma. PUBLIC REVENUES. The Hon. J. ALLEN (Minister for Finance) moved the second reading of tho Public Revenues Act, and he exolained .the Bill briefly. Sir JOSEPH. WARD (Awnrua) twitted the Government with retaining a clause making it possible to transfer a vote from one district to another, a provision which, had been strenuously opposed by members of tho present Government when in office. Admitting that tho Government had deleted a reference to Governor-in-Council and had substituted a report to Parliament, the member for Awarua contended that the change would bo useless, as when the report was made to Parliament It would be too late to Tescind the transfer of a vote.

The PRIME MINISTER said that the Bill repealed Clause 40 in the principal Act, which was used, on the first occasion when it was used; for the purpose of improperly increasing members' salaries by ,£4O. Certain payments which had been aiado to judges of the Supremo Court could not .have- been made, in his opinion, without this section. As to tho section de'aling with transfer of votes, he contended that no Government would make improper use of the amended section, in view of the necessity of reporting to Parliament, ten days after tho session began, what had been dono. After some further discussion the second reading was agreed to on the voices.

PRIVATE CEMETERIES. ■ Tho Hon. A. L: HEEDMAN (Minister for Justice) moved tho second reading of the Cemeteries Amendment Bill. Ho explained that tho object of tho measure was to reserve and protect from desecration private burial grounds which had been laid out mostly by the early settlers in New Zealand. The second reading was agreed to. SAVINGS BANKS BILL, The Hon. J. ALLEN (Minister for Finance) moved tho second reading of the Savings Banks Amendment Bill, saying that the Bill was desired by the Savings Banks in Auckland and Dunedin. Jt gave- banks more power to lend out of their funds for certain purposes, and it provided for a superannuation scheme for employees being established. Tho Bill was read a second time. A DIVORCE BILL. The Hon. A. L. HEUDMAN (AttorneyGeneral) moved the second reading of the Divorce and Matrimonial Causes Amendment Bill. In tho old Act, ho said, a divorce could.be granted if the respondent had been ten years a lunatic or a person of unsound mind within the iwelvo years prior to the filing of tho petition. The Bill proposed to reduce the term ten years to seven, and-from twelve years to ten. It was also provided that so soon as decree absolute was issued tho parties should be freo to marry, instead of being required to wait for three months. Tho second reading was carried on tho voices. LOCAL BODIES LOANS. The Hon. J. ALLEN (Minister for Finance) moved the second reading of the Local Bodies' Loans Bill, which, he expluined, provided, among other things, for local bodies appointing (heir own commissioners for their own sinking funds. The Bill was read a second timo aftor a brief discussion. ' . MARRIAGE AMENDMENT, Tho Marriage Amendment Bill was read a second timo on tho motion of tho Hon. A. L. Eerdman. BILLS IN COMMITTEE. The Houso want into Committee on.tho Births and Deaths Registration Bill and tho Aged and inGrm Persons Protection Bill. Tho Bill was reported with amendments. Progress was reported on the Aged nnd Infirm Persons Protection Bill, and the House rose at 1 a.m. May Australia bo evor "the land of the free,"

And in one thing 'tis certain and 6ure, The peoplo will ever be "free" from u cough, With Woods' Great Peppermint Cure! So with freedom in this, may she ever bo strong, Tis n cold that starts a disease; Tims wo hope for tho health of the great Oo'iimonwcalth, x liny her flag ever keep, to the breeze. 12*