PARLIAMENT.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1887, 23 October 1913, Page 7

PARLIAMENT.

A DAILY SUMMARY. \fho House of Representatives discussed a great many subjects yesterday, but much of tho talk was in tbo naturo ot beating the air, aud time was wasted over uioro than uno wrangle that led nowhere. The first development in the afternoon was tho raising of what proved to be quito, a covey of questions without notice. Ausiyorina' Mr. .Robertson, tho i'rimo Minister said that lie hoped to proceed with -the Industrial Conciliation, and Arbitration Amendment .Bill, if only for the sako of correcting the gross misrepresentations'.to which that measure had been subjected. Questioned by tho Leader of the Opposition, the Primo Minister said that jho was cn-, deavouring to promote a settlement of tho striko at Huntly. Mr. Ci. W. Russell stated tfeat the old messongers who were retired on pension at tho beginning of the session had not yet received any payments, although Rome of them wero destitute. The Prime Minister said that the Treasury had been asked to arrange for tho payments if possible, pending tho authorisation of the pensions by Parliament. _ ._ "When the Defamation . Bill i was reported from the Statutes Revision Committeo, it was bitterly assailed by Sir Joseph Ward, who asserted in his capacity of Leader of tho Opposition that it would not he allowed to pass this session. The statement was ridiculed by. tho Hon. A. L. Herdman, who is in charge of tho Bill, and was formally resented by the Prime Minister. The Judicature Amendment Bill was reported from the Statutes Revision Committee, and there was some strife •regarding the increase in tho number of Judges. _ Party strife was stilled for a few minutes whilo the Prime Minister told tho House about the success attained by New Zealand dairy produco exhibits at the Islington show (in' England), but it lifted its head again_ when the Lands Committee presented its report upon the disposal of a section at Cheviot (Canterbury). It had beon alleged by some Opposition. newspapers that poll- . tical influence had been brought to bear upon the transaction. The report of the committee (which was unanimous) was to the effect that these allegations were without foundation in fact._ _ Tho debate upon the report was unfinished wlion the House roso. at 6.30 p.m. ; At the evening sitting _ three Bills were read a third timo in about five ; minutes. These were: —Tho River Boards Amendment Bill, the Water Supply Amendment Bill, and tho Rangitaiki Land Drainage Amendment Bill. , The third reading of the Police Force Pill was debated for over_two hours, but was carried on a division by 44 votes to 20, just before the supper adjournment. .' The only other measure dealt with was the Tramways Amendment Bill, providing that all tramcars must be fitted with centre-aisles by M&rch 1, 1914. The Prime offered tho Houso au opportunity of referring the Bill to a committee, but Mr. Davey objected, and, as unanimous consent was required, the committee proposal was , perforce dropped. The Bill was then committed, and tho Houso'entered upon a long and somewhat complicated dobate. Only mild opposition was offered to a proposal to extend the timo allowed for altering the cars from four months to nine, and an amendment by Mr. Davey to this effect'was carried by | 41 votes to >21. Other details, how- ' ever, were loss easily disposed of, and I the House was obviously hampered, by lack.of export information. _ Several amendments wero approved, including one moved by Mr. ■ Witty, which provides that .tho lowest step of a tram-' car nhero there,are'two must hot be ] more than 14 inches from the ground, and that the distance from step to step ; must not exceed 14 iuche3; _ ' i The Bill was reported with amendments, and the House rose at 0.40 a.m. , The Legislative Council sat for nearly two hours and a half. The Victoria College Amendment Bill, the Stallions Bill, ai'd tho Publio Works 'Amendment Bill wero read a second. : timo, and the Publio Trust Office ; Amendment Bill was read a third timo. .