PARLIAMENT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume III, Issue III, 22 August 1891, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

♦ ."■■■ - HOUSEjOF BEPRESENTATIVES. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 19. The Speaker took the chair at 2. 30 p.m. The Minister for Public Works, in reply to Mr Macdonald, said the Acting Engineer-in-Chief had reported that a recent examination showed that, though some of the joists might show signs of decay, the foundation piles, wall plates, &c, were in a sound state. Some of the piles, however, would have to be removed. He (the Minister) had made a further examination, and found that the piles had not been overhauled, and new piles would be placed under the building. Mr Duthie introduced the Welling-" ton Boys' Institute Bill, which was, read a first time. The Premier moved the seconp reading of the Government Loans to Local Bodies Act Amendment Bill, which is to enable the Government to advance money to local bodies to 1 enable them to carry on the work of colonisation, such advances to be a first charge on the proceeds of the disposal of land. , - ; The Hop. Mr Brycesaid the money so lent would have to be procured by- means of a loan, and the Government ought to have made it perfectly clear that such was the real state of the case. Mr Macarthur had always advocated that roads should be ; made through land before it was sold, and the cost of such, roads should be added to the price of land. Such in addition to the Bill would make jit much more satisfactory. Otherwise they would have to raise a loan in the London market to extinguish the debt which was increasing under this Act. > Mr Rhodes said the most serious objection to the Bill -was that dt practically gave, say £50,000 to the Minister of Lands to spend where he pleased. It was not asking him to buy votes, but it gave him more power than any Minister ought to have. .... : , Several other members 'having criticised the Bill, the said the idea of the Bill was that tipeGovernment could ) borrow at four per cent, lend out at five per ceijtyand so provide a sinking S mid. toTpiy off their own debt. * Replying ,tc? tfie : Hon Mr Bryce, he owned there.;,VM.' ;a. deficit ion the Land: Fund, ,b^ut W contended that the opening Up- jof fresh blocks of land could not ,pdssibly increase that deficit. In lactf; the more they extended thethe more revenue they would have for the land. . ..,■ The second reading was agreed to on the voices.

The amendments proposed in the Truck Bill by the Legislative Council were then considered, and agreed to after a short discussion. The^ Marriage Act Amendment Bill was re-committed, and, a slight verbal amendment made. The House went into committee on the Lunatics Act Amendment Bill. Clause 5, empowering a medical officer to bend a destitute dis* charged lunatic to a benevolent institution, was struck out. The mining Bill was further considered in committee. —The varr ous ; amendments ' proposed 'b£ th!e Goldfields Committee were agreed to with but slight verbal .amende ments. ' /^*y:>.^;.-%? Progress was then reported^ tact the Bills previously^considered. }in r committee .were, read a third time and pasaed. • . The House rose at 1.25.

THUBSDAY, AUGUST 20. The Speaker took the chair at 2.80 p.m. A discussion arose upon the Eeport of the Public Petitions Committee on the petition of Lt. Col. Humphrey. The report was ordered to be printed. Some new Bills .were introduced. The Palmerston North Hospital' District Bill, the Stratford County District Adjustment Bill, the Auckland Harbour Board Loan Bill, the Christchurch District Drainage Act, 1875, Amendment Bill, and the McCabe Land Grants Bill passed] through all stages. ."■■'• The Law Practitioners Bill was 1 reported with the amendments! agreed to, which enacted that females would , be competent to enter the profession. The Book Purchaser's Protection Bill passed through committee without amendment. The Friendly Societies A ct Amendment Bill was considered in committee. . The Gaming and Lotteries Bill as reported with amendments, which were ordered to be committed on Tuesday. The other Bills committed earlier in the evening were read a third time and passed. ■, , The House rose at 2.40. ..+ :V