PARLIAMENT.

Gisborne Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1570, 28 September 1905, Page 3

PARLIAMENT.

Per Press Association. Wellington, yesterday. In the oourse of his reply on the Workers’ Dwellings Bill, Mr Seddon said the Bill was intended to operate over the whole colony, and was never intended to apply only to large centres. There was just as much necessity for the system proposed in the Bill for some of the smaller towns as there was for the big cities. The Government might have to spend large sums of money, bat he did not hesitate to nrgo them to make the experiment. If they housed the workers at a loss of 1 per cent, he did not consider it would be any loss to the colony at all. He had hesitated to pnt the State into a position of letting houses at a weekly rent, but there was a good deal in the contention that the floating population had to be considered, and an amendment of the Bill would have to Jje made to cope with the propose'. He was prepared' to move in oommittea to provide for a weekly tenanoy. When in committee he would do his beat to preserve the policy contained in the Bill as intro* dueed. Aftsr further debate, the second reading of the Bill was agreed to on the voioos, and the House rose at 1.30 a.m.

AFTERNOON SITTING, .(Per Press Association.) Wellington, last night. 4 The House m9t at 2.30. r-Tha Maori Land Settlement Bill was introduced by Governor’s message, and gave rise to a lengthy disoussion. Mr Taylor asked whethor this was the only phase of the laod question that was to be considered before the session closed, or whether the House would be given mother opportunity of dealing with the land proposals of the Premier. Mr Seddou said Mr Rhodes’ amendment must come np again, and an opportunity would be given the House to deal with it. The Bill was referred to the Native Affairs Committee.

AN OPPOSITION DEFEAT. [(Per. Press Astociation.) Wellington, last night. Tho House roeurned at 7.30. On the action to go into Committee of Supply to consider ths usual monthly Imprest Supply Bill, Mr Massey moved as an amendment that the altitude of the Government with regard to tho land question was not satisfactory to tho House. This was negatived by 39 to 21. The House then went into Committee of Supply, but deferred consideration of the Imprest Supply Bill uutil some more of the Consolidated Estimates bad been dealt with. Votes for tho Public Trust, Government Insurance, Government Accident Insurance, and State Fire Insurance departments passed unaltered. The House then proceeded to deal with fcbe Imprest Supply Bill.