PARLIAMENTARY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2155, 10 August 1907, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

Press Association. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, WELLINGTON, August 9. The House inet at 2.30.

The Fire Brigades Act 1900 Amendment Bill (Mr. Carroll) was read the first time. The House went into committee on ho Reserve Fund Securities Bill, which was put through the committee tages without amendment, read a child time, and passed. The House went into CoiHlhittee of Supply. On the. Public I?fi£'dings ;nJ Domains Estimates Mr. Mtoseoy said the item £2OOO appeared agsßpg •.he Parliamentary Buildings last war. £1595 was spent on the buildlie's, and he desired to know what the Iterations were going to cost. Mr. Aitken referred to the buildng operations at present taking place a connection with Parliamentary and Jov nrnment buildings. In each case lie stated tho Municipal Buildings bylaws were not being observed. The Hon. Mr. McGowan, replying :o Mr. Massey, said the amount appearing on the Estimates for the maintenance of the. Parliamentary imildings had nothing to do with the additions being made in Sydneyctreet, but merely referred to the usual maintenance expenses incurred from year to year. He denied that Mie Government was infringing the by-laws in connection with the Government buildings on Lamibton Quay. Che addition was merely an exteniion of an existing building, which it was hoped would serve the country for the next 15 or 20 yearn. Replying to various members, he stated it was altogether impossible to gather ill the Government buildings of any city into any one place. Mr. Massey urged that the expenditure on Parliamentary buildings should be set out in detail, as members had a right to know how such a large item as £ISOO was expended. He did not think members should be asked to vote on items totalling a cost of £2C(OO and £6700 without first of all receiving information as to details.

The Public Buildings and Domains vote, £39,009, was passed unaltered, and the House adjourned at 5.30 p.m.

THE FARMERS AND THE ARBI 7 TRATION ACT.

(Special to Times)

WELLINGTON, August 9. However much the socialistic land legislation proposed by the present Government may have been objected to by the farming community, there is no doubt that it is still more alarmed at the prospect of being brought within the pale of the Arbitration Act. The fact that over 7000 farmers were tho other day cited to appeal’ before the Court in connection with an alleged dispute lias made a profound impression in the country.

To-day a deputation representing 'Canterbury farmers arrived in Wellington and waited upon the Premier. The deputation consisted of Mr. Jones (the Farmers’ Union representative), Air. Grigg (Longbeach), Air. Shea-t, and Air. Evans. Che proceedings were not open to the press, and. there is great difficulty in obtaining any account of what took place. I understand, however, 'hat one of the principal matters that brought the deputation to Wellington is a proposal that agricultural laborers should be exempted from the provisions of the Arbitration Act. The matter, I have reason to believe, was brought before the Premier, but what his reply was I have not been able to gather. The deputation also had an interview with the Leader of the Opposition, but here again no account: of. the ..proceedings is being made public.