PARLIAMENT.

Feilding Star, Volume XIII, Issue 37, 24 September 1891, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

Tuesday, September 22. ' "' The Hon Dr Grace reported that the conference on the Electoral Bill had not been able to come to any agreement.— The, report was agreed to. '■ The Hou W. Stewart informed the Council that no agreement had been come to with the House of 'Representatives on the amendments in the Land Bill. The Railway Authorisation Bill went through committee with only one amendment, and subsequently passed its final stages without discussion. ~ The Naval and Military Settlers' Land Bill was further considered in Committee. On the motion of the Hon Sir G. Whitmore, a new clause was added to the Bill, giving the Governor power to make regulations for the purpose of the Act. — On the motion of Dr Pollen the Bill was recommitted. — The Hon G. McLean moved to amend clause 2 by making the remission certificates nontransferable, which was carried by 10 to 9. The Council rose at 10.50 p.m. Wednesday, September 23. After the telegraph office closed the discussion on the Public Trust Office Vote was continued till 3 a.m. The item of i£64B, fees to commissioners, was attacked in several ways, and eventually it was reduced by £124: 10s, which represented. The total vote as reduced was then agreed to. Audit office was carried. The Supplementary Estimates were next taken. The item, for Post-master-General's salary for six months, provoked considerable discussion. It was generally conceded that Mr Ward ought to be paid for his services, but objection was taken by some members to the amount being placed on the Estimates instead of being provided for in a Bill. The vote was agreed to by 29 to> The Supplementary Estimates were ajl passed without reduction. Thus the whole of the Estimates have passed .through without a single reduction being made. To-day will probably see the close of the session of 1891, which has established a best-on-reeord so far as the size of Hansard is concerned. The majority of members leave Wellington to-day. The Electoral Bill was dropped in consequence of the Council refusing to give way on the one register clause. The Premier moved the second reading of the Hamerton Penson Bill, to grant a pension of i'2so a year to Mr R. C. Hamerton (ex-Public Trustee), for life. The Bill was reported without amendment and put through its final stages. Thursday, September 24. The House met at eleven. ) In replying to Mr Rolleston, Mr Ballance said, at this late period of the session the Government were not prepared to press the last clause in the Public Works appropriation Bill, providing that moneys appropriated tor railways may be expended under the control of the Ministers for Public Works. Several members called attention to the urgent necessity that existed for the establishment of Bureau of Agriculture in the colony, and impressed upon the Minister of Lands the desirableness of taking some steps in that direction during the recess. ' The Hon. Mr McKenzie said he had been seeking information on this subject from other countries. He was also doing his utmost to encourage the dairy industry and fruit cnlture, and if he could find an expert for the latter industry he would be willing to appoint him. Public Works Appropriations Bill, Committee was considered in. clause eleven, to which Mr Rolleston took exception, when the House met, was struck out, the Bill was reported, read a third time, and passed. The Appropriation Bill passed through committee with verbal amendments, the third reading being set down for this afternoon. The Hospital : Trustees Bill, to provide for the appoint-, meut of Commissioners in case of the resignation of the whole of the Trustees ' of the separate institution, was put through its final stages. ,