THE HOUSE.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1882, 16 October 1913, Page 4

THE HOUSE.

Save for the presentation of a few , petitions the whole of yesterday afternoon was spent by the House of Representatives in discussing tho question of converting tramway cars' from the sidestep model to tho control passage typo. -The discussion is reported elsowhoro in this issue. "

LAND TRANSFER BILL. 'At tho evening sitting soveral amendments made by tho Legislative Council in tho tan d'l'rahsfer Amendment Bill were dealt with.

Tho .amendments made by the Council with the, exception of the amendment mudo in Clause 3 were agreed with. Messrs. Statham, Wilford, and tho Hon. A. L. Herdman wero appointed a committee to prepare reasons,for,disagreeing with the last-named; amendment/

l'oca lelections. The Hon. A. L. HERDMAN oxplained the ampndmqhts. made by tho Legislative Council in the Local Elections and Polls Amendment Bill.

Mr. T, M. WILFORD (Hutt) mentioned .the .voting . machine recently placod on exhibition at the House, and said that tho Prime Minister, had

promised to havo a look at it. It was estimated, Mr. Wilford added, that tho v installation, of the machine would cost somo' £15,000,, but. would effect a considerable saving to the State. Mr. G. M. THOMSON (Dunedin North) said that another voting machine had.been oxhibitcd somo years ago and .as. far as ..lie ..knew had emerged successfully from every test. .There was no reason why any particular machine sliould-bo,advertised.in tho House. Tho.'iimendmcnts made by tho Council wero . agreed to.

- RIVER BOARDS. The, Hon. A. L. HERDMAN moved tbj second reading of tho River Boards Amendment BiJif , ' . Tho discussion, while it was directly in point-on the Bill, mainly concerned matters of detail in the workin" of rivor boards,Jiiitl the member for Xvon and othors opened up the whole question of the need for Local Government reform. In reply to what was said on this, subject, the' Minister said that tho Government could not in their short career of fiftoon months bo expectod to deal with - tho huge subject of Local Government reform, in addition to bringing down t'ho many important Bills they had. brought before the House. However, they would probably' turn tbeir attention to Local Government presently. The second reading was agreed to on tho voices. WATER SUPPLY. The Hon. A. L. HERDMAN moved the second reading of the Water Supply Amendment Bill, and explained tho provisions of the measure. The Bill was read a second time almost t'ltl'lJit debate. RANCITAIKI DRAINACE. Tho Hon. W. F. Mnssoy moved the Bccoiid reading of the Ilangitaiki Drainage Amendment Bill, which, ho said, was rendered necessary by tho changes in the financial methods of tho Government introduced by tho present Administration. It simply empowered the Ministor to raiso tho monoy rcauirod instead of tho Suporintondont of

tlio State Advances Office. Tho Bill did not empower tho raising of any more monoy. In fact, no more money would be needed this year, hut next year tlio Government might havo to ask for more. With regard to tho actual drainage works, ho was glad to bo able to say that they wore progressing satisfactorily.

Tlio second reading was agreed to on tlio voices.

COUNTIES AMENDMENT BILL. The Hon. A. L. HBBDMAN moved tho second reading of . the Counties Amendment Bill, a measure by which this proposed to make » number of amendments ill the law regulating the administration of counties. The Bill, as Mr. Hordinan explained, embodied a number of recommendations from counties' conferences.

The Bill was rend a second time on the voices, and referred to the Statutes Revision Committee.

POLICE FORCE BILL. Tho amendments made by the Committee in tho l'olicc Forco Bill were agreed to, and the Bill was set down for ; tho third reading next sitting day. Tho House roso at 11.54 p.m.: