PARLIAMENT.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1866, 21 September 1906, Page 3

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

TRUSS ASSOCIATION

Wellington, last night, The Counoil met at 2 30 p.m. THIRD READINGS.

The Firoanns Bill and Fisheries Acts Amendment Bill were read a third time and passod.

SECOND READINGS.

Tho Horowhenna Block Bill and Payment of Jurors Bill were put through, the second readings being agreed to without debate The Municipal Corporations Amendluont Bill (Attorney General) was read a second time, pro forma, and referred to tho Statues Revision Committee. THE FIRE BRIGADES BILL,

The second reading was moved by tho Attorney General. Hon. Mr Wigram was opposed to tho Bill, which ho considered went too far. Thero had been no demand for such a mcasuro. It had not boon asked for by local bodies or Insurance Companies. Fire Insurance Companies wore not concerned in the Fire Prevention Bill. It was considerably wrong also wrong from tho fact that it established another local body. There were too many such bodies already.

Hon. S. T. George considered the Bill tlio most illogical over brought into legislation. It required a Fire Insurance levy to pay the large proportion of cost of lire prevention, a matter in which tho companies had no concern. It would have the effect of minimising insurance business Ho indicated that in Committee lie would move amendments to the provisions re • lating to constitutions and powers of tho Board.

Mr T. Kelly moved general support to the Bill.

Mr B.ehan ongratulatsd (ho Mini-tar on bringing in the B 11, wh oh was one in the right direction, and hr, been asked for for many years. It was part of tho business of insurance companies to support brigades, for they saved the o mpaoies many thousands a year. Mr Janes oontendsd that the Bill bad not been asked for. The Municipal Con fsreoce bad opposed it. The brigades had been well conducted, but this Bill set up an autooracy.

The Attorney-General said the whole BOtn and Bubstancs of the obj -osious raised was that the insurance companies were oalled upon to pay a jus* contribution to Bupport brigades. He oiuld quite understand Mr George’s objeo.ioos, ai the companies did not wish to minimise risk to an extent which would minimise insurance business. The seoond reeding was agreed to by 21 to 6. THIRD READINGS. The Arbitration Act Ameudmeni Bil' passed through Committee without emend ment and was read a third time. The Napier Athenaeum and Mechanics Institute Empoweriogßdl, and the Napier Hospital Site Extension Bill were reported from Comm’ttee without amendment, read a third time and passed. The Ooonoil rose at 4.30.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Tbe House met at 2 30 p.m. FIRST READINGS.

Auokland Girls’ Grammar Sobool Bill, Napier Harbor Board Bill, Civil Servioa Buperamnation Bill, Sayings Bank Profits Bill, National Annuities Bill, Training Ship Bill (now olause), Sale of Explosives Bill, and Arbitration Act Amendment Bill were read a first time. IN COMMITTEE.

The New Plymouth Borongh and Tara-* naki Sobool Commissioners Exchange Bill, the Havelock Athenaeum and Mechanics’ Institute Bil l , and Waimamu Stream Drainage Bill were tsk-m in committee. All three passed through unamended. These Bills were reported, and by leave of the House, given on the Premier’s motion, were rei'.d a third time. SECOND READINGS.

The Vincent and Maniototo Iloapital Districts, O;ago Dock Validation, Otago Dook Aots Amendment, Greymouth Harbor Board Loan, Waimakariri Harbor Board Loan, Auckland Bavings Bank, Education Bpecial Donation, Duns dm Distiiot Drainage and Sewerage Act 1901 Amendment, and Otago Boys' and G rls’ High Schools Board Empowering Bills were read a second time. Dates ahead were fixed for the committee stage of all these, VALUATION OF LAND ACT AMENDMENT BILL. Oo the motion for the third reading, Mr Massey thought the Bill ought to have been taken up by the Government. The Premier thought the Leader of the Opposition should have been very grateful for the assistance given by the Government, without which his friend’s Bill would have been impossible. He proceeded So explain that the association of the county olerk in these valuations would have to be very carefolly watobed, and that the proposed olassifhation of lauds would in view of the varying values throughout the colony be exceedingly difficult. He denied absolutely that the Government is a siogle-tBX Government or opposed to the farming interest. The Government was prepared to trust the people, and to protest agaiost misrepresentations. . The Bill was read a tbi-d time on the voices.

OTHER BILLS. The Local Government Franchise Bill (Mr EH).—The aeoond reading was lost by 85 to 25. , Bating on Unimproved Value Amend ment Bill (Mr E l).—The seoond readiog was refused by 88 to 20. Town District Bill (Mr F.a’miD) — Tnc seoond readiog was passed on the voioes. Laod Agents Bill. The second reading wa3 moved by Mr Witty. The House adjourned for dinner at 580.

EVENING SITTING. The House resumed at 7.80. LAND AGENTS BILL. After a brief disoussion the seoond read ing was passed on the voioes. CONTINGENT VOTE BILL.

The seoond reading was moved by Mr Lewie, who explained that he had only taken up the measure after ho had ascertained that Mr McNah had no intention of repeating his service of last year. Ha explained the machinery proposed for seleotiog in oaee of failure of all candidates to seoure a majority of the votes, the two hading candidates dividing the other votes csst between them according to thei contingent directions of the vote: on the ballot papeis, for which direct’on the Bill proMr Laurenson and Mr Davey, as supporters of the absolute majority vot', would vote with the mover. They preferred, however, the seoond ballot system as more likely to get a selection on a straight out issue. Mr Massey pointed out that the Bill was on all fours with the Bill introduced in a former session by Mr MoNab, and the same practically as is in force in Qaeonsland, where it is working well, as ho had been assured by many competent wit-

nE TheHoD. Mr Millar disliked the Bill, as the voters could be got to manipulate their votes to the detriment of the majority principle. The present ayatem. bo contended, did secure the feeling of the majority, even if tho elected person sented a minority of the votes oust. Personally he was not interested, as he had been elected by a very largo majority. Mr Wilford said he could say the earns. He agreed that the vote could be easily “ rigged ” under the proposed system Ho thought that tho satisfaction given m Queensland was probably due to the faot that people had got accustomed to »be syslem, and ho urged the inadviaabiiity of making any alteration in the revising syetem to which people had get ac enstamed. ~ t In reply, Mr Lewis said ho could.not see how the voting could bo * ggea, and he did not see that the otuer side baa shown bow it oould be done. If a were put up neither side, ho ‘kough ' would derive any advantage. However, it was a Committee objection, and he -nnnifl lrn.uA li to the Committee,

The House divided. Ayes 21, Noes 33. Tho Bill was lost. GOLD DUTY AMENDMENT BILL, On tho motion of Mr Colvin, tho member iu charge, tho Bill was discharged from tho Ordor Papor. NOXIOUS WEEDS BILL.

Iu Committee Mr Tanner moved an ad dition to oiauso 3 “ after providing for tho ordiuaty annual expenditure." Tho member in charge did not acoept the amendment, and a long discussion aioso.

On a division tho amendment was lost by 18 tn 32. M: Jennings tuovod to add nfior the words 1 to clear ’’ tho words 11 by means ol Angora goats." The Chairman ruled the amendment out of Older as trilling with tho committee Mr Jennings maintained that ho was ee ious. Tbs Chairman rofusod to ncoept the om-ndm, u’. Mr Jinni.' gs movod in the usual way to appeal to to Spoakor, and was boaton by 20 to 22. After further disoussion progress was reported, and tho House adjoumod at 10 25 p m,