HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Feilding Star, Volume XVII, Issue 21, 24 July 1895, Page 2

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

[Per Press Association.] Wellington, July 23. PALMERSTON'S NAME. The petition re altering the name of Palmerston North was before the Petitions Committee to-day, when the member for Palmerston was heard at length in support of it. The Committee decided to recommend Government to accede to the request of the Palmerston Borough Council to give the name of Manawatu to the borough, if any alteration is to be made. TRUCK ACT. Mr Pirani has given notice to move a clause in the Truck Act Amendment Bill allowing road contractors to supply food, tools, ete , to their workmen engaged on a contract more than four miles from a atore. TIIE POLICE. Replying to Mr Meredith, who asked if the Minister of Defence would remove officers in charge of police stations at intervals of not more than five years to enable the licensing law to bo more strictly enforced, Mr Seddon admitted such a rule was a wise, one and it would assist in the onforcement of the law. When he had first taken charge of the police he had transferred all the inspectors, but the trouble was that directly he wanted to move a policeman' members of the House were the first to protest against bis action. The Department were considering the advisability of following some such course as that suggested by Mr Meredith. THE TOTALISATOR. Replying to Mr Carnell, the Premier said Government did not intend to take the question of introducing a Bill to prevent the use of the totalisator out of the hands of the member for Napier. Subsequently Mr Carnell gave notice to introduce a Bill to amend the Gaming and Lotteries Act in the direction of abolishing the legal use of the totalisator. IMPORTATION OF GRAPES. Replying to Mr Pirani, the Minister of Lands said the report of the experts la the Oulony had been against the removal of restrictions on the importation of grapes, and Mr Pirani gave notice for the production of those opinions. FAIR RENT BILL. The Minister of Lands informed a deputation this morning that the Fair Kent Bill would be introduced at an early date, and he would use every effort to pass it into law. MAIL SERVICES. Government intends giving a subsidy to the Vancouver route and to reduce the subsidy on the San Francisco route, but by way of compensation for reduction the San Francisco contract is to be extended to five years. SECOND READINGS. Mr Cadman moved the second reading of the Mining Companies Act 1894 Amendment Bill, to enable mining companies to dispose of their properties to English capitalists. He said the recent mining boom in the Auckland district had rendered the Bill necessary.—The second reading was agreed to on the voice?. The Asiatics and Others Immigration Restriction Bill was read a second time, pro forma, and sent to the Labor Bills Committee, it being agreed to take the debate on the measure on the motion for its committal. Hon. Mackenzie moved the second reading of the Fencing Bill, which was mainly a consolidation Bill, and related to the erection and repair of dividing and rabbit proof fences. The Bill applied to Native lands, and also declared that a rabbit proof fence may be legal. After a short debate of a friendly character the second reading was agreed to on the voices, and the Bill sent to the Stock Committee. ANIMALS PROTECTION BILL. The Animals Protection Bill (Mr Seddon) to prevent the introduction of reptiles into New Zealand was read a second time on the voices. THIS KVIDBNOS AMENDMENT BILL. The Evidence Further Amendment Bill was considered in Committee. Mr Reeves moved to strike out Clause 9, which made all confessions of prisoners to ministers of religion privileged. The clause was retained by SO to 29. The Bill was reported and read a third time and passed. UNIMPROVED VALUE BILL. Mr Ward moved the second reading of the Rating on Unimproved Value Bill to authorise rating on the unimproved value of land. He said the Bill would prevent a large quantity of land being allowed to remain idle as was the case at present in many places. Mr Duthie objected to the Bill. He thought it should be Jeffc to the local bodies to decide by a poll whether the rate should be levied on unimproved value of land, Government should cease to harass people in this manner. Mr Thompson regretted the Bill had not brea kept back until members had seen the Local Government Bill. The weakest part of the Bill was the clause compelling local bodies to take a poll, which would entail great expense. He supported the second reading. Mr Seddon said the House and the country had affirmed the desirability of en amendment in regard to our rating of land. Ho admitted.they bad no right to compel people to make improvements, but he thought Mr Duthie would admit that those who acted like a dog in the manger and kept a town back by refusiug to make any improvements should have to pay their share of other improvements. The present system of rating was unjust and the heaviest burden fell on the small farmers and struggling Government had np desire in this !E»UI to compel people to make improvement who had no means of doing so, and they did not want to make it a confiscatory measure, Mr Buchanan regarded the Bill as an attempt to inflict a great injustice on a large number of property owners in town aud country. The debate on the second reading of the Bating on Unimproved Value Bill was carried on at great length. Among those who opposed the Bill was Sir E. Stout who contended the Bill would make an owner of poor land pay more taxation than the owner of good land, and it would tend to create slums in cities. Several other members having spoken, the debate was adjourned. The House rose at 12.45.