PARLIAMENT.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1863, 24 September 1913, Page 7

PARLIAMENT.

A DAILY SUMMARY,

Slow progress was mado with business in tho Houso of Representatives yesterday. A great part of tho afternoon was spent in a series of detached discussions upon a variety of topics; There was a littlo talk in tho early afternoon about tho Auckland Exhibition, and tho Prime Minister stated that if tho session had not come to an end by December 1 he would ask the House to adjourn for a week in order that Ministers and members might attend tho opening of the Exhibition. The question of converting all tramway cars to centre-passage type and doing away with outside footboards was brought up by Mr. 'I'. H. Davoy, who has strongly advocated this change for some time past. The Minister of Public Works ropeated a former assurance that legislation would bo introduced this session dealing amongst other things with the type of tramway carriago referred to. Mr. Davey asserted that the Wellington City Council had failed to carry out all agreement in regard to tho conversion of ca.rs mado some timo ago with tho Minister of Public Works.

Another subject of discussion was the ponding report of the Royd Garlick Inquiry Committee. Somo Opposition mombors expressed a desire that'the report and evidenco of tho Royd Garlick Committee shoußl be printed and mado accessible prior to the report being discussed, but it was finally agreed that nothing could be done until the. committee had reported, which it is expected to do today. It was nearly four o'clock before the Houso reached the appointed business of the day, which was to put a number of Bills through their final stages and provide the Legislative Council with work to do. Half an hour was spent by Sir Joseph Ward and the Minister of Finance in discussing the Land Tax and Income Tax Bill, which was aftorwards read a third time, ■ Tho remaining hour of the afternoon and threo hours in the evening were spent in a debat-o upon the Land and Income Assessment Amendment Bill, which wis down for consideration of report. In the afternoon there were somo interesting reference 1 * to the Customs tariff- Strong curiosity was manifested by tho Opposition, but no other satisfaction was obtained than a plain assurance by the Primo Minister that some Customs duties would bo reduced this session and a supplementary statement by the Minister of Financo that he hoped to see other duties increased to mako good the rovenuo lost by reductions. Tho Assesslent Bill grants incomo tax exemption to people with families, and tho Opposition travelled over well-trodden ground in accusing the Government of - being intont mi granting concessions to peoplo of comfortablo incomes At about 11 p.m. tho Opposition allowed the Bill to pass its third loading without calling for a division. 'lne Prime Minister cheerfully challenged them to take a vote but they did not respond. A lively quarter of an hour followed when the Legislative Amer.dment Bill, which provides for the appointment cf a Deputy Clork of Parliament, came up for second reading. Mr, G. W. Russell raised the question of. electoral reform, and sought to draw a policy statement on the subject, from the Primo Minister. Mr. Russell reminded .the Government of its promise to repeal the Second Ballot Act, but stated that his party would prefer to lot that Act stand unless a substitute wore provided, and as a substitute he favoured tho single transferable vote. Tho Prime Minister said that a Bill would be brought down" "to repeal the Second Ballot Act, and that for the rest the Opposition*' would see : what' tK(J Government proposed whon the Bill was brought down. The Legislature Amendment Bill was read a second time on the voices without further discussion. Minor amendments made by the Legislative Council in the Pensions Bill wpro agreed to without discussion, and tho New Zoaland Institute of Architects Bill and the Local Elections and Polls Amendment Bill, both in charge of tho Hon. A..L. ! Herdman ; though they gavo rise to somo discussion, 'were quickly dealt with in Committee, and reported with minor amendments. The House rose at 0.45 a.m. The debate upon the Reform Bill was continued in the Legislative Council by the Hons. J. D. Ormond, G. Jones, J. Barr, and J. T. Paul. Tho Hon. H. D. 801 l then replied, and the motion to commit the Bill was agreed to on, the voices.