PARLIAMENTARY.

Gisborne Times, Volume X, Issue 949, 23 July 1903, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

(Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, last night. The Council met at 2.30. The afternoon was occupied in debating the second reading of Mr Bigg’s Tied Houses Bill, to abolish tied houses. Most of the speakers were opposed to the Bill. The debate was adjourned. HOUSE OF, REPRESENTATIVES. The House met at 2.30 p.m. The afternoon was devoted to a long discussion on reports from the Public Petitions Committee, with regard to a retiring allowance and a recommendation that Government should defray duty on machinery imported for the installation of Christchurch, Dunedin, and Wellington electrical tramway systems.

FIRE INSURANCE. The House resumed at 7.30. Mr Kirkbride moved the second reading of the Mutual Fire Insurance Bill. He said that owing to the very high rates now charged on country properties by fire insurance companies not half of the property owners in the country had cover against loss by fire, and the bill proposed to allow these people to form co-operative fire insurance associations. Sir Joseph Ward expressed sympathy with the objects of the Bill, but suggested that it should be sent to a committee for revision. In his opinion these associations would not militate against large insurance companies doing business in the colony, and there was room for both systems. A long debate ensued. SECOND READING CARRIED BY, G2 TO 2.

WELLINGTON; midnight. The second, reading of the Mutual Fire Insurance Bill was carried by 62 to 2. TGTALISATOR ABOLITION BILL REJECTED. Mr Ell moved the second reading of the Totalisator Abolition Bill, to ■abolish the use of the totalisator. ■After a brief debate, the motion was negatived by 3-1 to Id, and the BiH was thus killed.