PARLIAMENT.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1810, 25 July 1913, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

A DAILY SUMMARY.

Tho evident intention of a large number o£ members of the House of Representatives yesterday, as on tho previous day, was to defer to tho last possible moment a debate upon the knotty problem of the ul location of racing permits. On Wednesday, talk upon a variety of subjects was' so strung out that Mr. Hunter's Gaining Amendment Bill (which proposes; tlmt thirty additional racing permits should bo issued) had not been readied when the hour of adjournment arrived, Thero being no local Bills upon the 'Order I'aper yesterday, another day was made available for the consideration of private Bills. On this occasion Mr. Wilford's Gaming Amendment Bill was tho third order of the day, but tho indirect obstruction of the previous day was so successfully continued that the long-anticipated discussion did not begin until literally the eleventh hour. When it did begin, the highly-contentious nature of the subject was quickly made evident. For over an hour in tho afternoon members discussed late developments of the smallpox epidemic. Nothing very new or interesting came to light, but it was made perfectly plain that a majority of tho membors believe in tho efficacy of vaccination. On behalf of the Opposition, Mr. G. W. Russell assured the Minister for Public Health that the House would support the Government in any action considered necessary in order to cops with the epidemic. Two local Bills introduced were tho Foxt.on Harbour Board Loan Bill (Mr. Robertson) and the Borough of Mornington Tramways Amendment Bill (Mr. Stathn-m). Mr. Wilkinson gave notice of a measure entitled tho Land Drainago Amendment Bill. On tho motion of the Hon. A. L. Herdman, the Architects Bill was referred to a special committee, which will hear the evidence of interested parties, amongst others, builders who are in tho habit of drawing their own plans. A long and embittered discussion took place upon a proposal to refer the Premium Bonds Validation Bill, introduced by Mr. Harris, to a speoial committee. Opposition members denounced the Bill as one intended to legalise gambling. Many Government members declared themselves opposed to the Bill, but contended that considerations of fair play demanded that it should be referred to a committee as otherwise it would be killed without being discussed by the House. Mr. M'Callum moved, as an amendment, that the Bill should be referred to the Public Accounts Committee. Eventually,' after a debate which lasted over the first half-hour of the evening, the amendment was negatived, on a division, by JO votes to 21, and the Bill was referred to the special committee just proposed. ■ Air. Sidey's explanation of his Daylight Saving Bili, early in the evening, suffered as a result of Grey election returns. After the result was made known the House quickly regained its normal aspect.

Mr. Sidey's "hardy annual," as it is called, had a fairly good reception, although it was adversely criticised by country members' on both sides of the House. After about two hours of somewhat uninteresting debate the Bill, at 10.25 p.m., was read a second time by 36 votes to 23, a result that was greeted by members with a hearty round of applause. The next item upon tho Order Paper was Mr. Wilford's Gaming Bill, which provides for an indefinite increase in the number of. racing permits that may be issued during the year. The member for Hutt, intent no . doubt on increasing the chances of his Bill going to a "division, made no speech in moving the second reading. For a moment it seemed that the Bill would go to a division without discussion. Mr. Hatian rose, however, to announce that he .would oppose the Bill, and invited a number of members on both sides of tlie House to put their views on record. Mr. Hanan and some other members commented severely jipon the failure of the member for Hutt to explain his Bill. Mr. Isitt asserted that Mr. Wilford had fathered a Bill which no one could understand, and had maintained a sinister silence regarding it. Most of the other members who spoko complained about the indefinite character of the Bill. . At 11.30 p.m., Mr. Young, member for Waikato, somewhat unexpectedly intervened by moving the adjournment of the House. The Chief Government Whip (Mr. Guthrie) seconded tho motion. Mr. Wilford protested, but eventually allowed the motion to go against him on the voices. The Bill is now "killed," but it is expected tlwt the subject of racing permits will be revived before long in a discussion upon Mr. Hunter's Bill. The House rose at 11.40 p.m. The debate on the Reform Bill was resumed in the Council j-esterday by tho Hon. J. E. Sinclair, the only other speaker being the Hon. Geo. Jones.