PARLIAMENT

Hokitika Guardian, 23 October 1924, Page 1

PARLIAMENT

[by TELEGRAPH—PER Pit ESS ASSOCIATION

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. WELLINGTON, October 22. The Legislative Council met at 8 o’clock last evening. The North Shore Boroughs (Auckland) ’Water Supply, t'lie Auckland. City Abattoirs and Bctune Borough Bills Were reported from the Local Bills Committee with amendments. ’Hie Communes Empowering Bill was read a first time on the motion of Sir Francis Bell.

The Wellington City Empowering Amendment Bill was passed through all stages and the Education Amendment Bill was read a .second time, pro forma, and referred to the Education Committee.

The Council rose at 11.30 p.m. tili 2.30 to-morrow. HOUSE OF !!EBJtESENTATIYES. THE.GAMING BILL. After the transaction of formal business the House went into committee on Hie Gaming Bill and then commenced the second stage of the struggle which may render the session of 192-1 remarkable. The first clause was debated with a persistency which bore all the appearance of a. well organised stonewall. The debate was carried oil mainly b.v members of the Labour Bai ty, aided bv two or three Liberals and a. few

Reformers. Its opponents, who are objecting to the measure liceause it j increases racing permits and makes no provision tor the betterment of those employed in the industry, declare that , they can, and will, carry oil the obstruction to the Bill until midnight on Saturday next. At 8 a.ill. the House bad expended ,something like 51 hours in discussing the measure at at a cost- of over three thousand pounds. The Chairman then left the chair till <1.30. WELLINGTON, Oct. 23. , After the telegraph olliee closed the discussion on the Gaming Bill proceeded unabated. The Chairman gradually began to rule out certain topics which were being discussed with great persistency, but the stonewallers as speedily found new topics so that attempts to limit tile debate bad but little effect. At 4 a.ill. Sir George Hunter relieved Mr Young in the chair, while a majority of members in the Chamber continued their slumbers for several hours. The discussion centred around the suggestion made by Mr Harris that tlic' question of additional permits be made the .subject of a referendum since the ilia Iter, evidently, could not. lie settled by the House it should lie referred to the people direct. The question of an inquiry into racing conditions during the recess was also discussed, the speakers declaring that they would have none of it unless the personnel and order of reference of • the Commission were first agreed upon. As the opponents of the measure were gradually exhausting their right to speak on the short title, at 5.2 D a.i11.. Mr Mcllvride moved to report. progress on what Mr Tsilt deserilied. “this wretched and contemptible little Bill.” The discussion then look a new turn, •the speaker switching on to the reasons why progress should be reported. At 8 a.ill. it was estimated the House bad expended 51 hours discussing the Bill at a cost of C3OGO. The Chairman then left the chair till 8.:i0 a.in.