PARLIAMENTARY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2152, 7 August 1907, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

Press Association. j LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. WELLINGTON, August 6. In tho Legislative Council, wine mot at 2.00, the Loan Bill passed all j St Tho‘ Attorney-General moved to place on record tho high services pex formed to the county by the late Mr J. W. Thomson and a vote or condolence with his family. Ihe lion. Messrs. McLean, MeCardle, and Bal dy having spoken in eulogy ?f the deI ceased, tho motion was carried. Council adjourned at 2.00 until tomorrow.

•HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. As a mark of respect in connection I with tho death of Mr. J. V• Tliomp- I son, the second reading of the UtaKi I and Porirua Empowering Bill was ad- I journed for a week. . ,1 The Maori Land Settlement Act 1 Amendment Bill and Reserve Fund Socurities Bill were brought down by Governor’s message and read the first I Premier moved a similar mo-1 tion to that in the Upper House in respect of the late Mr. J. W. Thomson. The motion was seconded by Mr. Massey, and spoken to by Messrs. J. Allen, Steward, Malcolm, T. Me-1 Kenzie, and carried. The House then adjourned as a mark of respect I at 4 p.m. until 7.30. . I On resuming at 7.30 the Apiaries I Bill was read a second time. I The House went into Committee of I Suddlv. The votes for the LegislaI five Departments £26,842, Colonial I Treasurer’s Departments £oo,/00. Post and Telegraph Department I £687 782, were passed unaltered.

GOVERNMENT FINANCING. (Special to Times). WELLINGTON, August 6. Tho maturing of tho Imperial Guarantee Debentures has necessitated ;lie introduction of a Reserve Fund securities Bill, empowering tne Colonial Treasurer to raise £BOO,OOO at lot more than 4J per cent interest. This money will be invested (m Lon!on probably) in gilt-edge securities, .o be available should the colony require the money a-t short notice in :imes of financial stress.

TOHUNGA SUPPRESSION BILL.

(Special to Times). WELLINGTON, August 6. The Native Affairs Committee has inserted an amendment in the Tohunga Suppression Bill, fixing the penalty for a first, offence at a fine not exceeding £25, or a period of six months’ imprisonment for a second or any subsequent offence. The amendment provides for a term of imprisonment not exceeding 12 months. In the Bill as brought down no distinction was made between first and subsequent offence, the penalty provided being a fine of £lO or three months’ imprisonment.

THE SESSION,

(Special to Times.) WELLINGTON, August 6. The session so far has been an extraordinary one, there being apparently little disposition on the part of the Government to bring on contentious legislation. Five weeks have gone past, and practically nothing of serious import has been dealt with. Members ai>pear to be taking it very easy, and so far there has been little need for them to indulge in hard work.

As the House was going into Committee of Supply this evening the Leader of the Opposition took the opportunity afforded to refer to what he tended the extraordinary manner in which the business of the country was being carried on.

Sir Joseph Ward,, in reply, alleged that he thought he was doing very well. They had got through two important debates, and several important measures had been introduced.

HANSARD,

Special to Times. WELLINGTON, August 6. According to Mr: Massey there is an increasing demand in the colony on the subject. To-night he said that members’ Hansard lists were growing yerv large, and that he had nearly a hundred names oil his own lists. He suggested that if people knew that Hansard was obtainable by payment they would be quite willing to pay for their copies; in fact, he believed they would rather do that than apply to their members to be placed on the free list. He suggested that a notice respecting the matter should be posted at the post, offices or other public places. The Premier agreed with the suggestion, and said that he would give effect to it.

“For my own part,” he added, “I find that the people in my district are always prepared to pay for Hansard, as they like to read my speeches.”

“They must be troubled with insomnia,” was Mr. Massey’s laughing rejoinder.