PARLIAMENT.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1883, 17 October 1913, Page 7

PARLIAMENT.

A DAILY SUMMARY. Tlio Houseoorf r Representatives discussed a varioty of topics yesterday afternoon, soini of them important. Tho whole of the ovening sitting was devoted to a third-reading discussion on the Land Bill. In'tho afternoon tho Hon. W. Fraser favo notice to introduce tho Tramways mendment Bill, providing that all cars must, within a stated time, bo fitted with central passages. The Cook Islands Government Amendment Bill (Dr. l'omare) was read a, first time. . ' •, Avnilablo information regarding the recent flotation of a loan of £3,500,000, in London, was supplied to tho Houso by tho Hon. Jas. Allen. He stated that the loan would be applied wholly to tho renewal of existing loans, mainly to the ronowal of short-dated debonturea issued by the late Administration. Questions wero called upon at 8.40 p.m., and between. 1 that hour and the adjournment at 5.50 p.m. debate ran high upon a number of interesting topics. Thore was some very plain talk about the recent resignation of Captain R. J. S. Seddon from tho Defence Forces immediately after returning to the Dominion from a period of training in England. Anothor interesting topic was Legislative Council reform. The Prime Minister stated very definitely that he hoped to place the Reform Bill, which has been rojectod by the Upper House, upon the Statute Book,' before the expiry of the present Parliament. OtTier subjects dealt with werei The payment of stipendiary racing stewards, appointments to Land Boards, and tho necessity, of improving the quality of cheese exported from the Dominion. When the House resumed at 7.30 p.m. the' Land Bill was recommitted, on the motion of:tho Primo Minister, and a clause designed to safeguard the State's interest in minerals in the Hauraki mining district lands was introduced by Governor's Message. The Oppositioit object-ed strenuously to tho concession of the options of the freehold in respect -of tho pastoral lease; lands to which tho now clause applied. At 10.45 p.m. n division was taken upon a hostile 'amendment moved by tho Leader of the Opposition, and it was negatived by 36 votos to 33. Soon afterwards the new clause was passed, and included in the Bill, and nt 11.17 p.m. Ytho Primo Minister moved the third reading. ' The debate , that followed dragged wearily. At midnight, when Mr. M'Callum was declaiming against the Bill, thore were only six other Oppositionists in tho Houso, and two of them were recumbent on their benohes. .The dobato was adjourned, arid tho House rose at 1.55 a.m. The Legislative Council sat for two hours. Tho Public Works Amendment Bill was read a first time, and the Hauraki Plains Amendment Bill and the Public Trust Office Amendment Bill were put through Committee.