PARLIAMENT.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2256, 30 July 1908, Page 3

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. AFTERNOON BITTING. [Press ' Association.] WELLINGTON, July 29. The Council met at 2.30 p.m. Hon J. E. Jciikmson moved that there be*laid on the. table the evidence given at the trial of Dempson at Invercargill anil the report ol the presiding Judge. The motion was agreed to. , ~ . ~ The Incorporated Societies Bill, was read a third time and passed. The New Zealand Society ot Accountants Bill was rc-committed, and minor machinery amendments wcro made. , „ The Council adjourned at Loo p.m. till Friday. BOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. > AFTERNOON SITTING. The House met at 2.30 p.m, . • Replying to ouestions, Alnnsteis stated that no one has been sent or authorised by Government to examine into the conditions of prohibition in tho United States or elsewhere. The matter of instituting searching inquiry into the timber industry ot tho Dominion is receiving attention. The Government, have made arrangements to .give employment to a large number of men on various railway works. The suggestion to issue free railway passes to Auckland and hack to Mayors anil their wives dimmer the visit, of the fleet cannot bo approved. The Government, cannot see its way to further reduce the tariff. The question of allowing a workman lessee to buy improvements in the same manner as provided m the Land Act in order to enable him to acquire the freehold is now under consideration. There was no need to refer to a select committee the charitable Aid Bill for the purpose of taking evidence. On the report of the committee recommending to the Government’© favorable consideration, the petition ot an olil honored Christchurch resident for an old age pension, from which he hail been debarred because he has a small residential property, a general discussion arose, showing that tho general opinion of the House was strongly in favor of an amendment of the Pensions Act in the direction, of not debarring old people from the benefits of tho Act because (1) thrift has enabled them to make small provision, (2) of not cancelling tho -elision foil syears for exceptional’cases of drunkenness, which is equivalent ‘to a fine of 10s weekly for that term, and (3) of not absolutely debarring old residents of good character simply because they are unable to produce documentary evidence of old ago. .. . The Premier, replying to criticisms of the administration of tho Act, spoke of the officer in charge as highly capable. As the Act was to be amended, lie would not now debate the subject.

. The report of the Petitions Committee on. the petition of John Freebody, who many years ago was wrongly imprisoned, and now petitioned for assistance until he reached the old age pension stage, was presented, recommending favorablo consideration. The Premier remarked All at tho case was an unusual one, that of a man who, 23 years ago, had been wrongfully imprisoned, and who now in his old age found himself in want. The representation made would receive favorable consideration. Tho Houso adjourned at G. 30 p.m. EVENING SITTING. The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. Air. A. AV. Hogg moved the second reading of tho Flour Duty Bill, and while admitting that the Treasury Bench and the front Opposition Bench formed too strong an opposition to enable him to hope to get the Bill through, lie would never relax ins efforts to abolish the iniquitous bread • (t The second reading was lost by 33 tO AIr. 11. AlcKenzie, for Hon. A- RGuinness, moved the second reading of tho Hours of Underground Workers Bill, the object of which was to limit the day’s work to eight bourn with overtime thereafter, and a halthour for meal time, these conditions to bo unalterable by the Arbitration Court- , Several members strongly supported the Bill, Dr Chappie averring chat underground work was injurious iO health. ■ Hon. J. AlcGowan, while agreeing with the principle of the Bill, pointed but that. it. was defective m parts, and that in some respects it was covered bv the existing law. . The Premier said he bad promised to submit- an amendment of the mining laws. He objected to clause 3, which was a reflection, upon the Arbitration Court, whether intended oi not. • Alessrs C. Lewis and F. E. Bauiue also objected to clause 3. The Bill was read a second time on the voices and referred to the Alines Committee. ■ , ~ Mr. F. AT. B. Fislier moved tho second reading of the Destitute'Persons Act Amendment Bill, providing that gra ml-pa rents or graiul-cliildren of any destitute person shall not be proceeded against for the support ol destitute persons until steps have been taken against other near relatives and have failed. - The Bill was carried on the voices. Air. G. AVitty moved the second reading of the " Auctioneers Amendment Bill, requiring auctioneers to take out licenses ill; the district where *tliey did the bulk of thoii business, <ind also to compel them to sell to the highest bidder. . Some members opposed tho Bill in its present form, but the second reading was agreed to on the voices. Tlie second reading of the- Local Elections Act Amendment Bill, .to .amend a technical defect in the principal Act, was moved by on- \v. J. Steward and carried on the voices. The House rose at 11.38 p.m.