PARLIAMENT

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 30, 30 October 1919, Page 6

PARLIAMENT

SALARIES OF CIVIL SERVANTS

THE LAND BILL EVILS OP AGGREGATION The Legislative Council met at 2.30 p.m. yesterday. A NEW BILL, Sir Francis Bell gave notice of the Industrial and Provident Societies Amendment Bill. A RULING OF THE SPEAKER. In accordance with report* of the Joint Committeo on Bills, the Hon. the Speaker ruled that the Trustee Amendment Bill and the InvereargiDl Bonmgh Boundaries Extension Bill were private Bills, and not local Bills. COAL MINES. The Coal Mines Amendment Bill was received from the Lower House, was road a first tiane, read a second time pro forma, and referred to the Mines mitteeBILLS PASSED. Tho Marriage Amendment Bill, which was reported from the Statutes ficviaion Committee,, without amendment, was put through its final stages and passed. The Greytown Borough Loan Empowering Bill was put through all stages and passed without amendment. Thn Hawke's Bay Rivers Bill, as amended at Tuesday's sitting, was read a third time and passed. ELECTRIC POWER WORKS. Tho Electric Power Works Loan Bill was received from the Lower House anil read a first time. RAILWAYS BILL, Tho Railways 'Authorisation Bill was received from the Ixiwer House. The Bill passed its second reading. BOARD OF TRADE BILL.

The Hon. ,T. BARR reported that tho managers appointed by fho Council had conferred with those appointed by the House upon Hip amendments made bv the Council in the Board of Trade Bill. The conference had failed to reach an agreement. A renupst for a further conference was received from the House, and was agreed to. Sir Francis Bell, and the Horns. O. Sitmuel and J. B. Cow were appointed niiinaj.'CTS for fho Council.

At 10 p.m. Sir Francis Bell presented tho repnrt of the managers deputed to attend Ihp second conference. The following agreement had been reached: The Council did noi- insist on its amendment to clause ,1.1. and the House mrreed to Hip council , ' amendment of clause 23.

Clause 33 of the Bill is that which contains special provisions to deal with profiteering. The Council so amended (he clan.so as to make it necessary for the Board of Trade to decide on the basis of specific charges (instead of on avoraire profits taken over the whole of a business) the question whether a firm was guilty of exceeding a fair rate of commercial profit. Clause 23 was so amended by tho Council as to provide that the revocation of Board of Trade regulations should bo performed by resolution of both House. The clause, when it first fame before flip Council, required a resolution of the Lower House only.

"The. nipaninsr of the agreement," snid Sit Francis 8011, "is Hint v,v njriw to pxcian Hie words 'in l'Mnerl of such (roods' from clause 3.1. being assured that fho section -n« it ■HnudH, and the power of Hip Board of Trade to mnkp regulations is sufficient,- nml the House siyps way upon its objection to our havine an'equal sharp with it in the matter of regulations." The Council rose at 10.10 p.m.