THE HOUSE.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1586, 1 November 1912, Page 6

THE HOUSE.

A QUESTION. The House met at 2.30 p.m. Mr. l\ H. SMITH (Waitaki) ■ gave notice to ask tho Prime Minister whether the Government would make provision I that all employees of local bodies should h'avo one half-holiday in every week. ~,■ TAIERI DRAINAGE. '' On the motion that the v amendments niade in the Tnieri Land Drainage Bill bo agreed to, • Mr. C. PARATA (Southern Maori) spoke of the fishing rights of tho Natives on Lako Waihola, which would bo destroyed by the' drainage ' scheme. He moved that the amendments, made by the Legislative Council be disagreed with. . Dr. TE RANGIHIROA ■ (Northern Maori) seconded '■ the amendment. ■' Ho raised a point of order as to whether the Bill could be proceeded with.seetng that one clause ia it specially affecting the •Native race had not be.en translated into the Maori language. ■ Mr. SPEAKER ruled that the debate could not be proceeded with until the had been complied with. r GOVERNOR'S MESSAGE. , The Fisheries Amendment.' Bill and amendments in the Government Life Insurance. Bill were ■ introduced' by Governor's Message. ...'". ' . : LOANS AND INSURANCE, f j QUESTIONS BY ELL. /Mr. H. G.,ELL (Christchurch South) asked .the Hon. F. M. B.'Fisher. as Minister in charge of the Government. Insurance Department whether he bad issued a.circular similar to. that;recently issued by the State Guaranteed Advances Department allowing mortgagors to. insure with whom they liked instead of requiring them to insure with- the State Fire Insurance Department. . ■"'■.■ The Hon. F: M. B. FISHER said that no;circular had been', issued by the Government Life Insurance Department. This ■ Bill, had to do with ; the State Fire Insurance Department! ' •i Mr. Ell asked whether the Minister would require mortgagors with the Government Life • Insurance Department to insure with the State Fire Insurance Department. ■••■•...■ -.■■■' : ' , Mr. FISHER, said that he did not propose to:alter',the business of the. Government Insuraiice.' Department before consulting the head' of the Department. The intentions .of the Government. would be made ' lchoim- later. ; ' ■■'-. .', • Mr. 1(11 .continued to press bisques-, tions, asking the. Minister whether he would civrry out , 'what he' had told , the House— that; he - believed in getting as much /business: as possible, for:"Ms ,Department.' :■' ■.."■.''■.' Mr.: FISHER' said tliat it was his business to look after . the interests of the. . Government Life Insurance Department os well as the-interests-'of ..the State Fire Insurance Department. The effect of the proposed alteration upon the Government Life Insurance Dopartment must bs taken into consideration. The Government in-, tended to give; to the heads of State Departments the right of. consultation and of being heard in the' of. their own Departments instead of being'; over-ridden 'and...over-ruled 'as they had been during the last : twenty years. ;