PARLIAMENT.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1888, 24 October 1913, Page 7

PARLIAMENT.

A DAILY SUMMARY. Following the usual custom of lato, tiro House o£ Representatives was very slow in settling aown to business yesterday, and takon as a whole the proceedings of the day were dull. A brief' debate upon the Bubjeot of 'Advances to Sottlers was opened up when the Hon. Jas. Allen tabled a couple'of returns. Sir Joseph Ward directed some rather involved critioism at the present Minister's control of tlra Advances Department, and drew _a somewhat Btaggering reply. Incidentally Mr. Allen told again tho story of what ho described as the "scatter-cash" ; spending of tho Ward Government prior to tho oleotions of 1911, when money was poured out by the Advances Department, for some months, at tho rate of £3,000,000 per annum. In contrast to this tho Minister placed tho methodical procedure of 'the present Administration. , Ho stated that going at last month's rato the Government would lend during tho twelve months of tho financial year practically the whole of the £1,500,000 which it was authorised to borrow for the benefit of settlors. . More than an hour and a half was spent in talking about tho report of the Lands Committee,upon the potition of Mr Matthew Honry. who sold 1420 acres of land in the Auokland district to tho Government some time ago, and now seeks a revaluation of the property with a view to securing some addition to the purchase prico. Tho Committee's report was referred to theGovernment for consideration. Particulars of the recent resignation of Captain R. J. S. Seddon immediately lifter returning from a period of military training in England were given in a return which was presented to tho House by the Hon. Jas. Allen. . The matter was not disoussed. Mr. D. Buick presented the report of the Railways Committee upon its inquiry, into the collision of trains at New Lynn (Auckland) some months ago. This dooument also was laid on the tablo without discussion. The Tramways Amendment Bill was iread a third time without discussion, at 5 p.m. The Hon. Jas. Allen then moved the second Teading of the Education Amendment Bill. VhWli 'he . described as an instalment of reform, and a prelude to legislation dealing comprehensively with matters of moment to teachers, which would bo introduced next session. The' debate that followed was long drawn out, and had very few bripfrt patches. Members-drifted out. singly and in pairs as it ran ita placid course, and just after ten o'clock there wore only four Opposition members in their places. The-e was hardly a hint of the animated party bickering that took place earlier in the session on the subject of teachers' salaries.' Tho debate dragged! on until 1.20 b.m., at which hour tho House agreed to tho second reading on tho voices. Tho House rose at 1.24 a.m. The Legislative Conn-cril had one of its busy days yesterday. The second reading of tho Land Bill was moved by the Hon. H. D. Bell in a speeoh that was very largely an explanatory review of tho Bill. He did-, on occasion, however, indulge in some comments, very restrained and _ dispassionate, but none the less telling, on the Government policy, which found expression in the Bill. The Hons. J. Anstey and J. Rigg also spoke on the Bill. A number of Bills already passed by tho House were read a first time. The CoUncil rose at 9.52 p.m. ■ i'i —- .