PARLIAMENT.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1849, 1 September 1906, Page 3

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. VKKSS ASSOCIATION Wellington, last night Tho Council mot at 2 30 p m. AN ADJOURNMENT

The Hon. Colonel Pitt moved that tho Gounod, at the riling, adjourn until Writ - no-May wank. Ho explained that the Fioanoial debate in tho otbor Chamber would prevent measures beii g sout to tho Council. Tho motion was oarried. POSTAL CONFERENCE,

On tho motion of tho Urn. Mr 13 lillio, a roiolution apprioia'ivn of Sic J. G. Ward’s services at tiio Posin' Co.ihio-ioo at it me,

aid expressing n Inpo that universal penny postage would soon biatopted war oarrio f, after oulogistio roforonoo to the Pojlmastor-Gouora! had been mad) by Llonr. J ns, Wigram, T. Kelly, H.a’dy, Macdonald, anl Baohan. It war or Isred tb tt a o.ipy of tho resolution bo forwarded to Sic Joseph Ward TOWN DISTRICTS.

The Hon. Colonel Pitt moved tho second reading of tho Town Distriois Rill Amend ing Aot of 1881. Ho explained tho pro visions, which, briefly, are : The Governor may constitute any town district under authority of tho Town D striots Aot, 1904 ; every main road or couuiy road within the limits of such district to be under tho control of the Town Board. Apportioniu°ut of liabilities and a-sots are provided for, tho Board and County Council to determine the mtttsr, for which the Gavornor may appoint nay tit person to tnskr nn award. Section 7 of the Town Districts Act, 1831, is repo tied. Where a town dislrioi becomes a borough the corporation of such borough in resfeet of all property rights, claims nud obligations for all purposes shill bo deemed to be tho same oorparatiou as that which existed before its constitution ns a borough. Tho Hoo. Mr Smith said that the Bill was very much required, and he hoped it wou d become law. Ono groat advantage was that it would do away with a separate rate.

The Hons. Biidy and Fsluwlek licit ..y supported the Bill, which was oa.-tiod on the voices.

FIRE ARMS.

Tho Hon. Coloael Pit! tnovod the second reading of tbo Eiro A'Ois B 11, to prohibit the solo of fire arms and ammuoi t o-’, aod tbo use thereof by youths uudor 16 years of ago. Tbo mover said the measure was nesersitited by the numorous accidents which cc urrrd through ihi use of fire arms by youth’. Lawful n o of tiflss or ammunition by eohool otdots would not bo prohibited, After a general diseussirn app'eoiitive of the proposal, the Bill wai rea i a seooud time. SALE OF EXPLOSIVES.

The Hon. Colonel Pitt movod the seoond reading of the Sale of Explosives Bill, to make better provision for regula i-'g the sale of explosives. Tuo Minister explained that the object was to make dealers mero careful, and to ensure regie (ration of sales. Paoksg sof explosives ware to be marked with the word‘‘ix plosive,” and sales are to be prohibit!d to any person under 18 years of age, or any straDger, except on the reoommendaicn of seme witness who is known to tbe vendor.

Toe seoond reading was agreed to. FISHERIES CONSERVATION

The second readirg of the Fisheries Conservation Acts Amendment Bill was moved by the Hen. Colonel Pitt. It amends the Aot of 1903 so as to prevent the pollution of rivers and waters, and provides for regulations restriotmg tho ssla of fisb, whether feczeo, chilled or not, during the olose season ; for the iaspec? tion of frei zing ohambers and refrigerating wo.kt, and for prohibiting or regulating the export of trout, salmon, or otbsr acolimatised fijb,

The Hon, Mr Jeokinson protested Shat the B II conserved the interest of a few people to tbo detriment of fa mere, mllere, e:c.

l’be second reading was agreed to,

IMPREST SUPPLY.

This Bill was received from tbe House, aud passed through all stages.

FIRE INSURANCE

The Minister, replying to Mr Jones, said that no arrangemeot had been entered into with the Underwriters' Association re-pectiog fire ioeurano cha gos. He declared that the establishment of the Deparlmmt had iff e'.ed a saving to the ptopla of the ciloray of £15,000 The Counoil adjourned at 4.15 p.m. to Wednesday week.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

The House mot at 2.80 p.m. PETITIONS. The following petiticn preaaotsd by Mr Jennings was read by the Clerk: ‘‘The undersigned humbly petition the hoo. House to inquire into the methods of the New Z raland Pre33 Association, it 3 uss of ihe E outiic L r nes Act, .1884, and the means it employs to limit the memberab'p. The petitioners affirm that the said Association ia a dose corporation ; that in faot the management in some cases baa dictated prohibitory teimi of membership by votiDg a heavy entrance fee and sub, and newspapers which would otherwise contribute to the telegraphic revenue of the colony have been shut out. They believe tiiis to be an injustice to the papers and the community, and they contend that in the public' concessions in respect to press wires the State should see that no abuses prevail in respect to the dissemination of news through the medium of any existing agency. They ask that if the Association’s charges cannot be reviewed, the copyright under the Electric Linos Act should be removed, and that in any case the general methods of the agency should be reviowed. , ' The petitioners are the proprietors o. Gold Fields Advocate, Karangahakc; I Mount Ida Chronicle, Nascby; Kawhla Settler, Northern Luminary, Pclorus Guardian, Huntervillc Express, Manawatu Farmer, Waimutc Witness, Mount Berger Mail, and the Balclutha Free Press. Mr Jennings suggested the reference of this petition to a special committee to be sot upMr Massey saul there was a precedent for this course, adding that it was high time something were clone in the direction n cheated. The Premier said ho wou d consider toe CIIVIRMANSHIP OF COMMITTEE, The Premier rnovod the appointment oi M* Roderick McKecr/e, Mr Jennings moved an omeiomert in the direction of Bubst luting the cane of Sir W Steward in the resolution, The House divided or th i question of retaining tie name of Mr MMGnzie, aod the name was retained by 41 to 37. Mr McKsrzio thanked the Houso for the honor done him. Ho premia foirnesi aod justice to all, and hoped he would have the support of the House. Sic W. Stewaid oongcatulatod the new ohairman, who, he war sure, would fulfil tho du ios with credit to bimselt ar.d the satisfaction of the House. At the s.mr time he was bound !o ray that the number rco.rded for h m on the divisi.n lisi nroved that he wa* justified in assenting to the roquost of a largo number of metnfco s to a'l )W himself to be nominated Tho division showed that but for iho vote? of the Government itself the m-jrrity would have been in his favor. Personally ha was sorry that be had found himse.f in opposition to the nominoe of a GovernJont with whoso members ho had worked SO IOEg. ADJUSTMENT OF REPRESENTATION.

Oa the mo'ion for going into Committee nf Supply, Me Massey called attention to tbe important question of readjustment of electoral boundaries in accordance with fas provisions of the Itopn B.cta 1 n Aot. Hs did not know if any report had yet been mads, but bo reminded the Government that within three months after the presentation of a report from the Registrar-General, the Representation Commission must sot to work to adjust I jjbo electorates. Accordingly, ho hoped

that when that lime c.auio tbo Comtuis sioners would pay more attention than heretofore to tbo oommunity of intorcsl and natural boundaries.

Mr T. Maok.-rz'o complainod of tho want of community of intoroet uudor tlio prosrut ainngrment s . Tho Premier eaid that noroports had as yet beon rendered, and that when they wore there, the Commission! ri will no doubt know their duly, and thoy a:o by law in a posi ion of independence.

IMPREST SUPPLY

A-i Imprest Supply B 11 for .£016,00' was put through all its stages tvithoti uueiutuun*, and with almost no d sous

STAMP DUTY AMENDMENT BILL The Hon. Mr Carroll moved tho siOJnd

reading c.f this 13:1 L Moms 11-id. Han nan, ii-uoliy, and Massey discussed tlio moasure, th i ohi-:f obj otioa being to tho sixth olnu >e, increasing th r duty on ojutraota or agreements for sale from Is per tiansnctio.i to 15 per oont. on tho value, ami pr. posing a duty of 10s on any farthor instrument rrqui:el to ov donoo tho title of tho purchasers.

Th ) Mtni-to.-, replying, pointed nut that this ohtuae win copied Born tho English st Gulp, and ho upheld its nocossity. Ho said ho would bo glad to moot a reasonable ntucnlment reasonably at the proper time, and promised to consider tho question of referring tho Bid to tho Public Accounts Oemcnitteo or a speoial oommittoo.

Tho Bill war road a seoond tiino, REGISTRATION OF BIRTHS EXTENSION

Tho Bill wai ojmmttsd and reportod with one amendment, namely, tho reduction of tbo reghtration foe from Tl to ss. Too amondmous war agrood to.

JURIES ACT AMENDMENT BILL.

Tho Hon. Mr McGowan movod tho second reading, ixp ; aining tho scope, namely, the txionsim So eivil oasis of tho provisions now in foroa on tho otiminal side,

Mr W.lford objre'el to the difference bolweon tbs amount to be pail in advanoo by litigants per jurymen (10-) and tho amount paid to jurymen for a full day’s sitting (8 ). also to tho reduction of the litter amiuat by four shillings for half' day sittings.

Too Ujuso ndj turnod for dinner at 5 30.

EVENING SITTING. Tho House resumed at 7.30 Mr Barclay and Mr Baumo supported the Bill with Committee reservations. The Minister replied and the Bill was read a second time on the voices

ADOPTION OF CHILDREN BILL. This Bill was committed. Mr Baumo said that he would like to report progress He did so because tho Minister refused to drop clause 2, which prevents adopting parents from receiving premiums, cte. lie said the elauso would absolutely prevent tho adoption of children in many deserving cases. Mr Barclay seconded the motion, not quite liking the clause Mr Reid suggested-postponing the Bill to a later hour.

Tho Hon. Mr McGowan had no objection to report progress, but would not drop

the clause. Mr Major urged the advantages of reflection.

Mr Fisher wished to know where the Minister would put the Bill on the orderpaper in case of postponement. An informal discussion followed on this point Ton o’clock was mentioned, The Prime Minister pointed out that

that would, in tlio absence of an understanding as to a reasonable discussion, only facilitate talking the Bill out. He objected to threats and obstruction, but not to reasonable discussion.

After further discussion on tbo point, tho discussion on tie motion to iopart progress proceeded. Mr Wiiford sa’d that every form of tho House would be used to prevent clause 2 horn prwsicg.

At 8-15 the motion was lost—ayes 21, aot s 41

Af or an unsuccessful proposal from tba Minister in cka-ge of the Bid to have the Bill postponed for awhile, Mr McLaob'an movol that tbo Chairman leave the oLalr at 9.

The motion was lost by 16 to 48,

Too fiat clause was passed, and on the motim of tho Minister progress was reported. JUVENILE OFFENDERS BILL.

This Bill was committed. All its clauses were passed, ani a new olause was aided, on tbo motion oi Me Izard, enabling (he Court to be eha-ed dunog tbe hearings of all but oeitain specified persons, Another eliu»o, moved by Mr Brume, giving magistrates tbe option of admonishing tie gmity instead of oonvioting them, was added to the B II after division by 29 to 20.

A clause moved by Mr Haonau for preventing publication of the namis of ofLmdirs was lost, aod tho Bui was ordered to be reported with amendments. OPIUM PROHIBITION AOT AMENDMENT BILL.

Tho Bill was committed. All clauses were passol without amendment, and ordered to bo reported.

EIRE BRIGADES’ BILL. Tsia Bill wa3 oommitteed, aod 19 clauses parsed, the list with au amendment prep ;scd by Me Fisher, making the board responsible for wilful or nrgligent damage in water m line, eto., during extsnoiiou of fires or fire drills, Too above B.ils were reported !o the House. The Home adjourned at 11.10 p.m,