PARLIAMENT.

Gisborne Times, 18 October 1906, Page 3

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL,

On tho motion of tho Attorney General the Wellington City Reclamation and Empowering Bill, Ekotaluma Borough Bill, and Dunedin District Drainngo and Sowerago Act Amendment Bill were road a second time. Tho South Island Landless Natives’ Bill was read a third timo and passed. Tho Bank Shares Transfer Bill was reported from Committee and passed. In Committco on the Savings Banks Profits Bill considerable discussion ensued on clause 4, payment of trustees for attendance at mootings, Hons. Thompson, McLean and George objecting to tho clause, and lions. Riggs, Bakiev, find Jonkinson approving of the principle of payment Hon. George eventually moved to strike out tho clause, which was lost by 10 to 8- Tho Bill was reported with minor amendments and passed Tho Bank Shares Transfer Bill and Jubilee Institute of the Blind Bill passed the final stages. Tho Private'Hospitals Bill was put through Committee with verbal amendments and passed. The Workers’ Dwellings Act Amendment Bill was reported without amendments and passed. The Council adjourned at 4.35.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,

REPLIES TO QUESTIONS

The House mot at 2 30 p.tn. Questions wore answered this afternoon, the principal answors being to the following effect: — In re police suporanuation fund—the actuary’s report has just been compiled. It will bo presented to Parliament in the courso of a few days. It is no) proposed to incr ,aie the graduated land tax th : s session. To a qoestion by Mr T Maokaozie, for giving the oountry poopla the sam) wask end advantsgo as the town peoplp, tie answer was that the oountry people do not rrquiro the issua of rcksta for this purpose, as they live in healthy surround* inga all the year round, and whan travelling for business purposes oao afford to pay the low rates whioh are charged oo the New Zealaod Government railways. To a question (Mr F sher) whether by reason of the proposed endowment policy the operations of the Land Act would be stopped, the Minister replied that the matter of opening Crown lands for selection is in the hands of the various land boards, and the Government will carry ont the provisions of.the existing law, namely, “The Land Aot, 1892," until it hat been aaaeoded or repealed. ■ In the matter of the 11 Psyche B ith ” oases (Mr A, L. D. Fraser), the prosi c «

tions were instituted by the local police without referenoe to headquarters, and with the objaot of deciding aa important question of law, msrely as to how fa? the indiscriminate sale of such pio'ures is allowable. The cases ware brought forward for deoision in the ordinary way, and there was no question of bringing our oourts of jastioe into ridicule. Tbe question of a reduction in the inland parcel post rates is now receiving the consideration of the Minister, who hopes to be able to effect a considerable reduc-

tion at an early date. It has boon decided to oall the Representation Commission nest month for readjustment of electorates and definition of the boundaries of the sama, It is proposed to include the counties of Rotorua and East Taupo and the southern p-rts of tbe counties of West Taupo and Piakn in a new aoolimatisation district, and p aoa it under tbe control of tbs Tourist and Health Resorts Department. In re the cadet abandonee at Christchurch, the exact terms on which cadets will be permitted to attend the Exhibition have not oeen finally settled, but when they are full publicity will be given. The question ef concessions or allowances is under consideration, as is also the possibility of utilising the Tutanekai. It is a faot that the Railway D pariment has advocated tbe shipment of Newcastle coal. The coal was offered as a result of the blocking of the West Coast harbors by bad weather, aud had it not been fer going to outside markets tho railways would have been unable to keep faitu with tho public in the running of Sraius, etc. Taore is sufficient oca! to supply tho ordinary requirements of the Railway D.-parimont and the coal depots, but it frrquently happens that tonnage cannot be pre cured in the time required for tbe various ports, and.oonsf quently other arrangements have to be made. It is unlikely that tbe slack time whioh occurred a few days ago at Feint Elizabeth mine will be recurrent . In re tbo term "bad debt" due by the Department to the State coal “ oe, the explanation of the item is that e Stale Coal Department obarged the ailway Department a higher rate per ton or ooal than the Railway Department fell ustified in paying, on account of the quality of the ooal supplied not being up } e An adjustment was / 6^*0 v*d at between the two Departing <s> A.|„s)ot nntil after the bcoks had lad. Ocmequently the differ'•V c ’^. / 'H an ,fmount3 oharged and paid bad %, Waerded for. Tinlrtfition of mining ompanies 7r*i4aw as it et present stands companies are only liable to intax on one-balf the dividends paid to iareholders, There oan bB no doubt that ois is treating tbe shareholders in an xceptionally liberal manner as compared vith other taxpayers. Even under the Amending Bill these companies will still oe treated wel 1 . The provision as to laxiDg tho full dividends will only apply no highly prosperous ooncerns, and oven under it Buoh oompaDies will not be liable to pay tax on nearly es muoh as they would if their inoomea were received from otherjjouroes than mining. * ’ SELECT COMMITTEES AND THEIR WORK. Tbe Chairman of thß S anding Orders Committee brought up tho report of the Commiltoo seoommending that tho proceedings of any CommiHoo may be declared partially or fully opao to tho press ; that if after that any journalist breaks the Standing Orders he may bo exoluded from the gallery during the pleasure of the House, MINISTERIAL STATEMENT.

According to promise Sir Joseph Ward made an announcement of the business the Government proposes to ask the House io carry to completion before the end of the session. The Bills to be proceeded with are : Government Advances to Workers’ Bill, Thtmes Deep Levels Enabling Bill, Firearms 811, High Schools Reserves Aot Amendment B;l>, Qjoen’s Scholarships Bill, Offensive Pabl cations 811, Pjlico Offences Amendment Bill, Adoption of Children Aot Amendment Bill, Motor Be gulation Bill, Mining Act Amendment Bill, Aid Public Woiks and Land Settlement Bill, New Zealand International Exhibition 811, Public Revenue Bill, Local Bodies Loans Act Amendment Bill, Habitual Drunkards’ Bill, Scenery Preservation Act Amendment Bill, Land and Income Assessment Bi 1, Customs Doties Adjustment B'l 1 , DRenoe Act Amendment Bill, Executive Council Bill, Plumbers’ Registration 8.11, Town Disincts B 11, Sea Fisheries B 11, TobuugaT Suppression B il, Arbitration Act Amendment Bill, Juvenile Offenders Bill, Apiarios Bill, Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Bill. THE LAND BILL.

Of the Bills postponed first came the Land Bill, This tho Premier eaid would be the first on the Order Paper next bse>» flion. Government would mike every effort to place it on the Statute Bock, Mr Massey : “ Will it bo the same Bill ?" The Hon. Premier said it would be ptaotloally the same Bill. He would tell his hoD. friend he was osrtain he would bB convince! cf the perfect character of the Bill by the arguments which would be

W PRESS ASSOCIATION Wellington, last night. Tbo Ooureil mol at 2 30 p m. ICho Roman Catholic Bishop of Anoka land Empowering Bill and Church Property Trust (Canterbury) Bill wore read a third time and passed. Tho amendments made by tho House . In the Fisheries Conservation Bill wero r agreed to.

Mr Massey wanted to know if tboy would bo anployod by Mr Lauromou, Tho Premier assured his friend that Mr Lrurenson was a very good hand at ox plaining Bills. Anyhow, joking apart, ho felt suro that the merits of tho measure and tho explanation it would reouivo would very greatly facilitate its passago to tho Statute Book after tho recess. OTHER BILLS.

Tho measure whioh would have prccodeuoo mxt afsor the Laud Bill next session would ho the Tariff Bill. (Cries of " hoar, hoar.") Ho had said nothing about tho Bills which wero before Couunuteos at tho pr -font m tu nt. Torso were tho Gaming and Lotteries Bdi, whoa wen d bo withdrawn to give plaoe to an anti Gambling Bill to bo presently oiroulatod. Thu Maori Land Setilt incut B 11, tho Aid to Public Works and Settlement Bill. Stamp Bid, Ha-bor Board Bill, L<ual Bodies, Subsidii s to Fublio Go dth, Civil S jivio? Super anntiiti.tn, and National Annuities. About nl th.so a sa'imaut would ho mails wi p--- each measure was reported from the com mi, to • Tim Premier said the PuMia Work)

Statement and Estimates would bo brought down on F. Jay night, and the debate could ho take.. uU Tuesday. Mr Ma -roy uouipluiuod that the Premier wanted io cram into tho next ten days more work than bad been done in the last eight or nias weeks. In the evening tho Government Advances to Settlors Bill was returned by Governor’s message and duly considered, and ths Adva: cos to Wcrkors Bill was taken in or.mmiitrc.