PARLIAMENT.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2315, 7 October 1908, Page 3

PARLIAMENT.

MONDAY EVENING’S SITTING

[Press Association.]

WELLINGTON, Oct. 0. In the House, after midnight, tlio debate on tho new Parliamentary Buildings was continued at length. Mr. F. IV. Lang’s amendment was negatived by 33 votes to 19. The Premier, replying, said the different members wanted widely different schemes adopted, and there had been an extraordinary amount of misrepresentations' in order to produco the impression that some extraordinary extravagance was proposed. Replying to Mr. Massey, ho defied any member of tlio Opposition to prove that tlio cost would be anything like half a million. He proceeded to show that the total expenditure by the Government would not exceed £225,000, and at 7 per cent £264,000. Tho present value of the Government Buildings site would uroduco £ISO,OOO per annum. Tho report- was adopted on the voices. . . A Bill was introduced providing for tho extension of tlio railway in tlie Tadmor Valley (Nelson), and the Houso rose at 1.50 a.m. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. AFTERNOON SITTING. The Council mot at 2.30 p.m., and immediately went into committee on the Old Age Pensions Amendment Bill. A proviso to clause 6 was deleted, and a new proviso inserted making it permissible for a magistrate to estimate tho income an applicant for a pension will probably earn in tho following year, instead of, as at present, estimating the income of the preceding year when considering the application for a pension. The Bill was reported without further amendment, and was set down for tho third reading to-morrow. On the motion that the report of tho Joint Committee of both Houses on the Parliamentary Buildings site be agreed to, Hon. J. E. Jenkinson urged that about- two chains of Lambton Quay from Quinton’s corner should bo purchased by tho Government in order to give a greater frontage to Parliament Buildings on Lambton Quay. Hon S. T. George urged that- the Government- should erect the Government Buildings in stone for the protection of records. He wont on to say that there was plenty of time for the erection of Parliament Buildings, but the erection of the Governor’s residence was an urgent matter. He suggested that the Mount View site of the Mental Hospital was the best site in "Wellington for the purpose. , , Hon. C. M. Luke endorsed Hon. George’s views. Hon. IV. IV. . McCardte regretted the absence of landscape gardens in Wellington, and urged that something in this direction be taken in hand in connection with the Governor’s residence. After Hons. J. Barr and IVi 1 ere had spoken at great length, the report was agreed to, by 20 votes to 2, Hons. Reeves and Wi Pere voting against at. The Council adjourned at 4.40 p.m. till to-morrow. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. AFTERNOON BITTING.

The House met at 2.30 p.m. Hon. J. A. Millar moved the second reading of the Monopoly Prevention Amendment Bill, which extends the operation of Part I of the principal Act until the end of the vear 1910, and also provides for the repeal of tibe clauses inconsistent with this extension. In reply to questions, the Minister said that the Act prevented unfair competition on the part of the International Harvester Trust and other foreign companies. The Bill was read a second time on the voices. . Hon.- G. Fowlds- moved the second reading of the Education Reserves Leases Validation and Empowering Bill, received from tho Council. The second reading was agreed to. Tho Mental Hospitals Reserves Bill to give effect to tho;exchange of land for a fever hospital site at Wellington, was read a second time by 38 votes to 18 The Gore Public Library Bill (Hon. R. McNab) was read a second time. On tho motion of Sir Joseph Ward, tho Hauraki Plains Bill, a machinery measure, was put through the second reading. , , ... The Railways Authorisation Bill, providing for the further construc--1 tion of 12 miles of the Midland railway, was read a second time, on the motion of Sir Joseph Ward. • Hon. IV. Hall-Jones moved- the second reading of the Public Works Amendment Bill, which provides tor two small alterations in sections 14 and 119 of the principal Act, and also embodies proposals of the Government with regard to the development of water power by private individuals, as referred to in the Governor s Minister explained that as the Crown did not possess funds available for the exploitation of water-power, it- had! decided to amend the law m the direction of enabling private enterprise to do so. _... Mr. IV. F. Massey said the Bill embodied a distinct new departure m policy, and he objected- to so important a measure being brought down so late in the session. The House might well consider the Bill for two Various objections of a general and committee character were- raised by members. Hon. IV. Hall-Jones, replying, said that the Bill would confer a very groat benefit upon the public. Tbe second reading was agreed to on the voices. Hon. J. A. Millar moved that the amendments made in the Arbitration Bill by the Council be agreed to, with the exception of those in clauses 29, 32, 33, 54, 57, 60, and 61. The Minster'explained the nature of the amendments with which he'- disagreed. The Council had provided for a sole assessor to be appointed who need not belong to the trade concerned in the dispute. They also empowered members of Parliament to sit as assessors, which he felt was undesirable. He also objected to Commissioners being empowered to have a vote in everything but the recommendation. The Council had struck out the proposal under which the Court had power to notify an award in certain industries. These amendments the Minister moved be disagreed with. The motion was agreed to.

EVENING BITTING

The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. Hon. R'. McNab moved tho second reading of the Defence Amendment Bill, making certain amendments in tlie mode of electing officers, and providing that dismissals shall be by the Council of Defence instead of by the officer commanding the. district, the latter only having power to disrate. Alter some reference by the Wellington members to an alleged case of wrongful dismissal, the Bill was ■reatl a second time. The Council signified its concurrcr.ee with the House in the adoption of tho report of the Parliamentary Building Site Committee. . Tho Land and Income Tax Bill, introduced by Governor’s message, was read a first time. - ’ The reasons prepared by the committee appointed in the afternoon for disagreeing with the amendments made by the Council in the Arbitration Bill wero adopted, and ordered to be transmitted to the Council. The House then went into committee on the various Bills dealt with during the afternoon sitting.