PARLIAMENT.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1916, 26 November 1913, Page 7

PARLIAMENT.

A DAILY SUMMARY. The presentation of tho Public Works Statement is an annual political event tnat usually overshadows other business in tho House of Representatives for tho time being, but yesterday it attracted less attention than tho continuation .of the party wranglo on tho subject of electoral reform. After T'iiE Dominion went to press yesterday morning consideration of tho Legislature Amendment Bill in Committee was continued until 3.0 a.m. 'l'hese early-hour proceedings were tame. Tlio clause ropoaling the Second Ballot had been embodied in the Bill, and very little interest was manifested, even by Opposition members themselves, in the sheaf of amendments of which they had given notieo in tho lirst ardour of obstruction. Finally a batch of'theso amendments was jettisoned by consent-; tho Bill was roportcd, and tlio House rose at 3.5 a.m. When tho Ilouso met yesterday Sir Joseph Ward questioned tho Prime Minister as to whether thero would bo an adjournment to enable members to attend tlio opening of the Auckland Exhibition. Mr. Massey said that if tho House adjourned at all for this purpose it would bo on one day only—Monday next. The Speaker delivered his delayed ruling iirrefcrenco to the right of a private member to move tho adjournment of the House. - The ruling was that a private member could take this ■action only in connection with the discussion of questions and replies on Wednesdays. Seme exception was taken by Opposition members and Nativo representatives on tho Opposition side of the House to tho introduction of the West Const Settlement Reserves Bill, which aims at enabling tho Native owners of an area of 18,300 acres of trust land to ultimately resume and work thoir lands, tho existing leases being extended meanwhile for a, term of ten years. Tho Hon. W. H. Hcrries, tho Prime Minister, and'several Government memoei's maintained that the arrangement proposed in tho Bill was fair to both parties—tho Nativo owners and tho pakelia lessees. Tho Bill having been read a first timo'was referred to tho Nativo Affairs Committee.

Another measure introduced was the Hospitals and Charitable Institutions Amendment Bill which contains, amongst other, things, a provision that Hospital Board officials neglecting to furnish' returns; required by law, at tho proper time, shall bo liable to a fine of £50. ■■.!■■■ An ( amendment to the Public Revenues Bill was introduced, by Governor's Message, which empowers the Government to float Treasury bills in London to tlio amouiit of half a million sterling in anticipation of a Public orks loan.. The proposal was referred to tho Public Accounts Committee. Tho Public Works 1 Statement and its accompanying Estimates were presented to tlio Houso shortly before 5 p.m. During the last half-hour of the afternoon and for tho remainder of tho sitting, the House was engaged upon tho Legislature Amendment Bill, which was down for consideration of report from Committee. Sir . Joseph Ward at once moved a hostile amendment—that tho Bill should be recommitted with a view to making provision for tho establishing of a system of preferential voting. This drew a„ vigorous reply from the Prime Minister, who said, in effect, that tho Secontl.Ballot-had.-becn.fois.tpd upon the country "by the present- Leader'of the Opposition, antl that tho country had a right to regard with suspicion an alternative proposal .eraanjitinf; from tlio same, source. • At 0.15 a.m. a division was. , taken upon Sir Joseph Ward's amendment and it was negatived bv 33 votes to 24. Tho House then entered upon the third readin:' debate. "Hris was .still in progress when ■The Dominion to press.. In tho Legislative Council yesterday a number of small Bills woro- advanced ft stage. ..