PARLIAMENTARY.

Gisborne Times, Volume X, Issue 1035, 30 October 1903, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, last night. The Council met at 2.30. The report of the third conference on the State Fire Insurance Bill was under discussion until the 5 p.m. adjournment. Tho Council resumed at 7.30. The deadlock on tho State Fire Insurance Bill was removed by tbe Council deciding to return the Bill to the House in tbo form in which the House desired it. The Products Export Bill and Local Bodies Loans Bill passed the final stages. Tho Shipping and Seamen’s Bill -yaa further amended in Committee.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

The House met at 2.30. An Imprest Supply Bill was introduced by Governor’s message. On the motion to go into Committee of Supply, Mr Massey moved an amendment that this House is of opinion that the Government should early next session introduce and give Parliament an opportunity of passing into law legislation providing for the reform of the Legislative Council. It was the system, he said, whfch was wrong and required amending. The qualification for a seat in the Council was subservience to the party in power.

In the course of a lengthy discussion, Mr Seddon said that as Leader of the House and Liberal party ip IJew Zealand, he refused to bo pledged by the leaders pf the Opposition to bring down a Bill which ho believed to be inimical to the best interests of tho colony. He would this session ask tho House to calmly and deliberately consider something tangible, namely the abolition of the Upper Jlouso.

Mr Massey’s amendment wes pegatived by 44 to 23. The House resumed at 7.30. '

Tho whole evening was occupied with tho Jmprest Supply Bill, which provoked a lengthy discussion, covering a variety of subjects.