PARLIAMENT.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXII, Issue 8880, 3 August 1907, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

House ef Representatives

XUr Press Association. Wellington, August 2. Tho House mot at 3.80. A number of local Bills were road a first time, and a motion was carried with tlic view of allowing J. O’Callaghan and others to have s* case of taking laud for Wellington Harbour Board reheard by the Oonir pensatiou Court. The Premier stated that after care* ful consideration of the Assessment Bill he thought it desirable that it should go to tho Public Accounts Committee.

After a short discussion this was agreed to. In tho course of tho discussion objeotou was taken to the fact that Mr Massey had not been appointed on the Public Accounts Committee, out of ton members of which only two are Oppositionists. The Premier expressed willingness to substitute Mr Massey for another member.

Mr Massey said ho declined to accept the position under such conditions. He thought tho people of the colony should know that the Premier declined to place the Leader of the Opposition on the most important committee of the House, that dealing with finances.'

The Laud Settlement Bill was taken in committee. At clause 4, providing that money be raised at a rate not exceeding 4)o per cent, Mi* Massey drew attention to a cable _ in fhe previous day’s press, intimating that New South Wales was raising a. loan at He considered New Zealand should be able to raise loans at as low a rate as any of the' Commonwealth States.

The Premier said a per cent loan could not bo raised except under a very heavy discount. Government had to pay £25,000 beyond par for a 4 per cent loan. Tho House adjourned at 5.30.

On resuming at 7.30 the Bill put through all its stages. Tho House then wont into Com* mitteo of Supply.