PARLIAMENT

Hokitika Guardian, 10 September 1926, Page 3

PARLIAMENT

[by telegrapn—per press association

THE: COUNCIL. WELLINGTON, September 9. Tlie Legislative Council met at II a. m. After the Imprest Supply Bill No. 3 bad been put through all stages and passed the Council adjoured until 2.30 p.m. when the Reserves and Other Lands Disposal Bill and Local Legislation Bill were similarly disposed of. The Council rose at 3 p.m. until 10 a.m. THE HOUSE. The House met at 2.30 p.in. The House passed the Stamp Duties Amendment Bill through all stages. The New Zealand Agricultural College Bill was read a. second time after considerable opposition, hut in committee progress was reported. A number of local bills were passed. The House rose at 1.45 a.m. till 10.30 a. in. < WELLINGTON, Sept, 10. Tlio Legislative Council met at 10 a.m. to-day. Stamp Duties Amendment Bill. Auckland Harbour BTird Empowering Bill. Tutukakn, AVlmngnruni and Wlinnnnaki Harbours Control Bill, Lyttelton Harbour Board Loan Bib. Petone Borough Council Empowering Bill, Kuituna River District Bill, and Napier Harbour Board and Borough Enabling Bill, were received from the House of Representatives. All local Bills being referred to the lineal bills committee.

The Council adjourned at 10.7 a.m. until 2.30 p.m. The House met at 10.30 a.m. On the third reading of the Motor Omnibus TiOffic Bill Mr A. Harris protested against the Bi l blit expressed a hope that the results would not be so disastrous as lie anticipated. Mr Holland (leader of the Opposition) drew attention to the charges made against the Government by Mr Harris. In clear language that member had made charges of commercial immorality against the Government, and if the Government did not turn him out of their party, they pleaded guilty to the charges. If Mr Harris remained in the party what was his position. The matter could not rest where it was. The Government must dear its character or Mr Harris must prove his case. Action should he taken one way or the other.

Mr Forbes did not regard Mr Harris’s charges as amounting to charges of commercial morality. They might have amounted to charges ol political “ p U || ”by a private company and the Government’s best answer to that charge would have been to have delayed the operation ol the bill until the people of Takapuna could express an opinion of it. and the next municipal electors. Takapuna had been made a special licensing district and the people naturally asked why the suggestion was that it was done because a gentleman at the heart of a private tramway company bad a “pull ” with the j Government. The Government should have granted Hr Harris bis request foi delay as be represented majority of the electors and might be expected to know the feeling in Ill's district. Mr Speaker said lie had not stopped .Air Harris when sneaking because lie did not regard bis charges as serious enough. If members thought differently” they should have raised a point of order at the time. To revise the matter now was to some extent a reflection upon his (Sir C. Stntlwm s) conduct of the business of the House. Mr Fraser declared the bill was a very fair attempt to meet a difficult position and the Government deserved every credit for the wav in which thev had overcome that difficulty. There was absolutely no ground for the suggestion that an unfair advantage had been given to the Takapuna Tramway Company. ,