PARLIAMENT.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1914, 25 October 1906, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

PRESS ASSOCIATION Wellington, yesterday. After midnight of Tuesday tbe Aid to Public Works Bill passed through Committee without umendmsnt. Hon. HallJoneß, doaling with the critioißms of Otago members, said that token altogether Otsgo compared very favorably with publio exptndilure in other parts of tbe colony. Tbo Bill passed through all stages without amendment, und the House rose at 1.35 until 230 this afieruoon, when Government business is to have preiertnoe.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Tho Council met at 2,30 p m. The Municipal Coiporations Act Amendment Bill and Immigration Restriction Act Amendment Bill were read a third timo and passed. Tbo following local Bills were put through tho final stßges : —Auckland Girls’ Grammar School (Thompson), Wellington City Reclamation (Jenkinsou), Timaru Publio Library (Feldwick), Gladstone Streets Vesting and Empowering (Feldwick), Sandy Point and Grasmere Domain Vesting (Feidwiob), City of Ohrisichurob Municipal Offioes (Jenkinbod), Hokitika Harbor Act Amendment (Holmes), Timaru Harbor District (Jenlcineon), Borough oi Port Chalmers and Olago Dock Truot Exchange of Land. The Council adjourned at 7,30.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House met at 2 30 p m. QUESTIONS. ' In answer to questions it was replied— That “ a suitable memorial to the late Right Hon. Mr Seddon is under consideration." That designs for an official coat-of-arms for the oolony are now before the Government. but that it is not desirable to exhibit them before a decision is arrived at. That it is too late in the session to discuss a motion for Home Rule for Ireland. That there is no intention to out ofil telephone subscribers during currency periods, but some subscribe.-s have been informed that their connections would be cancelled on the ground that their telephones were being used for gaming and betting purposes, though as yet no disoon□cctioQß bad been made. That the question of making arrangements for enabling railway employees to visit tbe Christchurch Union is being looked into with a view of seeing if it is possible to do anything without injuring tbe requirements of tbe publio service. That it is not possible to make the second expresses of the Hurunui Bluff system connect beyond Dunedin without injury to the general convenience. That Government is not prepared to offer a bonus for tbe cultivation of New Zealand flax, but experiments are being conducted at the Government experimental farms, tbe results of which will be very useful. WORKERS’ DWELLINGS. The Hon. Minister for Labor announoed that the dwellings constructed at Eilerßlie have been over applied for. VARIOUS BILLS. In the Juvenile Offenders Bill tbe amendments made by the Council were agreed to, Gaming and Lotteries Bill.—This Bill “ for the regulation of gamiDg, betting, and wageriDg, restricting the number of raoe meetings and licensing racecourses," was read a first time. Tbe Premier hoped that when tbe Bill was circulated tbe country would recognise it bs a sensible effort to control a difficult subject, Stampt Act Amendment Bill.—Amendments adopted and Bill passed, Tbe Police Offenoes Amendment Bill was passed through Committee. The Offensive Publications Bill was passed through Committee with one i amendment, namely the addition of a provision requiring any sale or distribution to - have taken place within three months of i tbe information. , The Mining Act amendment Bill was further considered in Committs?. Clause g, extending the Minister’s power of granting certificates (for any reaBOD), was struck out. A new clause was added, fixing the wages for holidays and Sundays at time and a half. Another new clause (Mr Guinness) was added, giving preferencs in goldmines to unionists. The House adjourned at 5 30. ! EVENING SITTING. The Conncil resumed at 7 30. Tho adjourned debate on the Parlia- ' memory Privileges Bill was resumed. . The Attorney-General opposed tbe Bill, i The object of the Bill, he said, was to i allow Bellamy’s to bo opened after 10 o’clock at night, and the method adopted was not a very happy one. Parliament had closed olubs, and could scaroely a«k > that it should have tbe exceptional priviI lege Bought by the Bill. He.was unaware that any inconvenience had arisen from : tbe operation of the law relating to the i dosing of Bellamy's at the hour clubs were closed. Hon. Mr Reeves said that after tbe - remarks of the Attorney-General, he was willing to withdraw the Bill. Objeotiou was raised to this course. Hone. Jenkinson and MoLean thought that the convenience of members who were de'ained late at night was entitled to consideration. Hon. G. Jones strenuously opposed any reversion to (he former condition in regard to Bellamy’s. Hon. W. M. Bolt did not think members of Parliament suffered any inconvenience under the existing conditions. Hod, W. Beehan said the Oonnoil had passed the clause relating to Bellamy’s on the spue of the moment, and if they had had time to oonsidar it, they would not have passrd it. Hon. 8. George said that the Hon. G,

Jones did not propose to curtail any privileges whioh he himself favored; bnl he proposed to abolish other people’s ptivi* leges. What happened now was that after hours there were 40 or 60 bottles produoed, oaoh labelled with the owners’ names. Thie question was brought forwal’d by a member of the CouDoil at the express wish of the Joint House Committer. Hone. B. Harris aod H. A. Baldey were unfavorable to any alteration in . the present condition of affairs. Hon. H. F. Wigcam supported the object of the Bill, while regretting tho measure had come forward in its pceeeDt form.

Hon. W. Carneross pointed out that the looker system meant that members were praotioally limited to whisky, as it was impossible to keep a variety of liquors,

including light wines. The second reading was lost on a divii sion by tho casting vote of the Speaker, i the voting bemg 12 on either side. !f The Speaker explained that he gave his vote against the Bill owiog to the late period of tho session. The Government Advanoee to Settlers Bill was read a third time and passed. Tho Local Bodies Bill passed through all stages without amendment. The Testators’ Family Maintenance Bill was further considered in Committee, and was amended by amplications' suggested by Judges Denniston, Edwards and Cooper. It was then read a third time and passed. The Aids to Public Works Bill was put through the final stages and the Council at 9.30 p.m- adjourned until tomorrow at 2.30 p.m. The House resumed at 7 30. The new clause was lost by 38 to 27 and the Bill passed through Committee’ ADOPTION OF CHILDREN. This Bill was taken in Committee. Mr Baume’s motion to report progress was defeated by 41 to 21. Clause 2 was amended so as to present the acceptance of premiums for adoption without the permission of the Stipendary Magistrate. The Bill passed through Committee without other alteration, In the Motor Car Regulation Bill clause 6 was amended so as io provide for the □otification of new by-laws of local bodies three times in a newspaper circulating within their districts. This was adopted instead of the obligations to notify in dangerous places, bridges, etc,, whioh obligation the House thought would io* . plve too uuuch Bxneuse,_.