PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

Feilding Star, Volume XV, Issue 66, 15 September 1893, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

Legislative Council.

(per press association). Wellington. September 14. The Council met at 2.30. The Stamp Act Amendment Bill, Submarine Telegraph Cable Bill, and County Vehicles Licensing Bill, were read a third time and passed. The Alcohol Liquor Bill was further considered. i Amendments were introduced, all allowing the lessees of closed houses to have rent fixed by arbitration, and to prevent publicans selling liquor to children under 16 years of ago. The Bill was reported with amendments.

House of Representatives.

The House met at 2.30. The Legislative vote was passed. A long discussion ensued on clause 11, working railways £729,000, the Premier denying Government were responsible for the estimates. Messrs Rolleston, Fergus, and others contended tiie Commissioners submitted the estimates to the Minister the same as other departments. The Premier, they said, was continually attempting to discredit the management of the Commissionera, but had utterly failed. The Premier denied this and only wished to defend himself from the imputations so frequently made. Ultimately the item department ofticers was reduced by £o as an indication that the committee disapproved of the inciease of wages and travelling expenses and the granting of extended leave. The class, as produced, passed. Public buildings, etc., £54,775, passed. Progress was then reported. A Bill to allow the Treasurer to issue debentures for the purchase of the Cheviot estate was read a first time. The Native l<and Validation of Titles Bill, Native Land Court Certificates Confirmation Bill, Conspiracy Law Amendment Bill, Halswell River Drainage District Bill, and District Courts Jurisdiction Extension Bill were committed, read a third time and passed. On Mr Seddon's motion, the Mining Act Amendment Bill (No. 2) was read a second time, and referred to the Goldfields Committee. The Civil Service Insurance Bill was further considered in Committee. The Bill was reported, rend a third time and passed. Mr Reeves moved the second reading of the Infant Life Protection Bill. He said public opinion throughout the colony would endorse the introduction of a Bill of this kind, especially as facts were known to the police authorities, which rendered it neccs sary Government should legislate on this subject. The second reading was agreed to. The House rose at 10.25 p.m.