PARLIAMENT.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1881, 15 October 1913, Page 7

PARLIAMENT.

A DAILY SUMMARY.

Proceedings ill tlio Houso of Representatives yesterday were tamo and placid; in strong contrast to tlio embittered 1 wrangling which took place in tlio long sittings [hiring tho week-end. Practically the wholo of the sitting was spent upon tho Land Bill in Committee. In tlio afternoon tho discussion, was businesslike, but in tho evening somo hours wore wasted by tho leaseholders and Labour members in holding up Clause 4S, which extends tho option of the freehold to tenants of settlement lands. Only a quarter of an hour was devoted to formal business when the House met. Tho Hon. Dr. Pomare gavo notico to introduce tho Cook Islands Government Amendment Bill. Information regarding some important details of policy was sought from tlie Friuio Minister' by Sir Joseph Ward, Leader of tho Opposition/. Regarding naval policy, tho Prime Minister indicated, that lie hoped shortly to make a. statement covering tho developments in tho naval situation, as it concerns New Zealand, sinco tho agreement of 1909. Mr. Massoy further stated that a Bill readjusting tho Customs Tariff in some respects would be laid before Parliament at an early date and would bo gono on with. An Electoral Bill would bo laid before tho Houso this session. As to its contents the Prime Minister would say nothing more than that the Second Ballot Act would bo repealed. The Publio Works Statement and Estimates, tho Prime Minister 'stated, wero approaching completion, , and would soon bo submitted to Parliament. The subject of tho dangerous sidestep on tramway carriages was again brought up by Mr. Davey, who drew attention to tho recent accident iiv »>clljigtoii* aiicl asked tlio Minister of Public Works (tho Hon. _W. Eraser) whether- he would prohibit tho use or cars with side-steps, pending their altcration. The Minister did not commit himself to this extent, but promised to institute immediate inquiries and tell tho Houso on tho morrow what ho intended to do. . . Tho plight of a small party of minors located upon an island in Preservation Inlet and reported to bo in danger of starvation was mentioned by Mr. J. C. Thomson. The Minister of Marino promised that, .if necessary, the Amokura would act as a relief ship w'hen on her way to tho Campbell Islands. At 2.45 p.m. the Houso went into Committco on tho Land Bill. Thirteen clauses in the Bill as drafted and several new ones remained to bo dealt with. During the afternoon sis clauses wero passed. Most-of tho discussion took place upon a clause designed to give a moro secure tenuro than they now enjoy to the occupiers of pastoral lease lands. It was not until 8.35 p.m. that a division was taken on the. clause, but it was then passed by 47 votes to 18. % Clause 48 which enables lease-in-perpetnity tenants of settlement lands to acquire the fee-simple of their holdings gavo riso to ono moro skirmish on the general question of leasehold versus freehold. ' The leasehold niembors on the Opposition sido 'vented a great deal of loud rhetoric, but their "protest" on tho whole fell exceedingly flat-_ and scarcely called even fot so much in tho way of reply as it drew from tho Government sido. of the House. Ono of the defenders of the freehold was Mr. -Atmoro, member'for Nelsonj who dealt in a particularly scathing way with some showy generalities advanced by tho member for Christchurch North (Mr. Isitt). Tho clauso was passed at 11.37 p.m. Tho remaining clauses, including those dealing with the acquisition of private lands, and with aggregation wero rapidly dealt-with. Several new clauses of a technical character wero added to tlio Bill. The BilP'was reported with amendments and the Hoqso rose at 1.35 a.m. The Legislative Council sat for a quarter of an hour. The Local Elections and Polls Amendment Bill was read a third time, and notico was given by tlio Hon. H. D. Bell of three small Bills. •