THE HOUSE

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 8, 4 October 1917, Page 6

THE HOUSE

The Houso of representatives met at 2.30 p.m. ' The Social Hygiene Bill was introduced and read a first timo. WAR PENSIONS BILL. / SCHEDULE TO BE KECONSIDERED. ' Amendments to the War Pensions Bill pie introduced by Yice-Regal Message. The clauses wore addo.d ■ to the Bill in Committee, and progress was reported forthwith. The RigSt Hon. W. F. JIASSEY Eaid that it had been discovered . that _ afternoon that sorno of tho items in the schedule would *have to be reconsidered, and it was thought proper that the schedules should ho put in proper state before the House was asked to deal with them. He would not ask the House to p;o on with the Expeditionary Forces Bill until the Pensions Bill "was dealt with. Mr. T. M. WILFORD (Hutt) suggested that on the following day the House nvigEt consider, -the regulations providing for allowances. If this were done, lie thought the Bill would go through with very little debate. Mt. Mnssey sivid. that tlio sujsestion was all right, but unfortunately it was hot practicable. The regulations had not yet J>een dealt with fcy Cabinet.

LOCAL BILLS. KAEOBI BILL REJECTED. The House then proceeded to the 'discussion of local Bills. ' The Waimakariri Harbour District and Empowering Amendment Bill (tho Hon. Mr. Buddo), which was set down for committal, was postponed. The Wellington City Trading Departments Reserve and Kenewo.l Funds Bill, the Wellington City Empowering Bill, the Day's 'Bay Sanitation and Watersunsly Bill, the Tauranga Harbour Amendment and Foreshore Bill, the Mαnawatu County Loan and Hmpowerinst Bill, and the Western Taiefi Land Drainage Bill vren.t through' aUI stages, most of them without a word of discussion. The Napier Harbour Board Empowering and vesting Bill was postponed at the request of the' menibei in charge (Sir John Findlay). ... There was considerable opposition to the Borough of Ka.rori Empowering Bill. Mr. R. A. WEIGHT (Wellington Suburbs) moved ithe second reading\of the Bill. He raid that the Bill had been unfavourably reported upon-by the Local Bill Committee. ' There was a conflict between the electors of Karori Borough and the residents of. the district of Northland. The Karori electors wanted the Bill, but the Northland electors opnoeed it. The HON. A. Lr HEEDMAN: (Wellington North) said.he regretted )■ that he would have to oppose the Bui. When, the Karori tramway was first of all initiated the district of Northland was in Karori Borough, but later Northland was taken into tho city. Then the electors of Kaxori were in this peculiar position, that whilst Karori was responsible for the running of the tramway, the people of Northland were rated.for the running of the tramway without having any voice in the control. Tho Borough Council of Karori had endeavoured to establish n fund known ae a "Replacement Fund." The Northland electors objected to tho establishment of thie fund, on the Bronnn tnat it was contrary to law. Homo little time ago the matter wae treated in the Court, and fho Court held that the Borough of Karori had no business to establish this fnud. and eo burden the people of Northland. " Tho question, l.ad been litipftied upon, awl the decision hud been in favour of the Northland people. It was, ho suggested, unfair for tho Karori people now to try to Ret past this decision by special legislation. Mr. G. V. PEACE (Patea) said that the Local Bills Committee had carefully considered the Bill, and had come to a unanimous decision that the Bill ought not to bo allowed, .to proceed for the reason that the subject matter of; tho Bill was practically before thei Courts The Northland people said that they had beon overtaxed already to _ the amount of X2OOO, and they were going to take action in the Courts to.have the money refunded TJnder those circumstances tho .committee thought the Court should be allowed to settle the question before the H D r T f IwMAN ate (Well"niton East) urged the member in charge to withdraw the Bill until nest year, by which time matters in dispute wight have been adjusted. ~, . ~ ~ Mr WJUGHT (replying admitted that tllβ the Northland people was neculiar,, but he did not withdraw the B The second reading was lost en the "After discussing Ministers' answers to questions, tho House rose at' 10.34 p.m.