PARLIAMENT.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXII, Issue 8964, 6 November 1907, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

Press Association. Wellington, November 5. In the Council, -which mot at 2.30 p.m., the Animals’ Protection Bill -was read a third time audjpasscd.

The Hon.,- Mr Rigg resumed tli debate on the second reading of UrnLand Bill and the Council ad jonrnedo at 5 p.m. until 7.30p.m.

The House met at 2.30 p.m. The Premier said that a Select Committee would ho appointed, to whom shall ho referred the Gaming and Lotteries Act Amendment Bill, as follows :—Messrs Harries, EH, Wilford, Poland, Poole, T. Mackenzie, Davey, Malcolm, 'Witty, Lawry, and. Ward. This was agreed

to. A long list of Bills to ho passed this session was read and the Premier said the only contentious measures wore the Gaming and Lotteries Bill, the Flour and other Products Monopoly Prevention Bill, the Tramways Amendment Bill, Native Land Bill, Civil Service Superanuation Bill, and Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration. Bill. Ho added that the Noxious Weeds Bill will ho kept till next session, hut the Bill deal-

ing with the restriction of the immigration of Chinese will bo gone on with. Tiio Premier intimated that the Public Works Statement will ho brought down on Friday, and hoped to take the debate on Monday evening. Continuing, he said that ns a number of measures had reached the third reading stage, and the majority of the* other measures wore uon-eou-tcutious, ho thought Parrlianient woul 1 be able to prorogue on November 20th.

A number of Bills, including the Gaming and Lotteries Act Amendment Bill and the Flour and other Products Monopoly Prevention Bill, were road a second time and referred to Committee. The Premier asked the. Speaker if ho would suspend the Standing Orders so that from now Bills could he put through at one sitting. The Speaker said if a motion was made ho was prepared to allow of this being done from to-morrow. The Committee amendments to the Government Advances to Settlors Act wore agreed to and the Bill was read a third time and passed as wore the Local Bodies’ Loans Act Amendment Bill, the Ilutt Railway and Road Improvement Bill, and the Post Office Savings Bank Funds Investment Bill.

The Agricultural Implements Manufacture, Importation, and Sale Bill was taken iu Committee, and ou clause 8, which amends tho Act of 1905 by omitting the words British manufacture, P and suhstitu? ting the words ! ‘f manufactured in the United Kingdom,” Mr Buddq pointed out that this practically de-. barred Canadian manufactured im. plomonts, and those were largely used in Canterbury.

The Hon. Millar said tho original Act was only intended to give prp« foronco f.o articles manufactured iu the United Kingdom, but when American manufacturers found that tho wording of the Act covered the colonies they started maun factories on tiro Canadian borders, and thug got over tho moaning of tho d ,,< ’ *• extends the* Act mpfi to 1910, was amended on tho suggestion of Mr Hcrrios to limit i tho extoutiou to 1908.

Mr Malcolm, referring to clause 3, urged that it should be extended to include the colonies, Mr James Allen said that now American manufacturers had established factories in Canada that colony should not bo penalised. Mr Aitkeu pointed out that Canada was given preference in certain, manufactures, and ho thought that preference could bo extended.to agricultural iurploments. The Hon. Millar pointed out that the measure was enacted to protect tho local manufacturers, and tho farmers were not being penalised by any duty; but if Canadian manufacturers, were going to dump down these implements tho local manufacturers would bo mined.

Mr Malcolm said it was recognised that when a bonus was granted to local manufacturers it usually ended iu tho putting on of duty. Mr Laurcnson said huge trusts had ruined manufacturers in South America and then had raised tho price of their implements. No bettor implements were made than those being made by tho manufacturers in Otago and Canterbury, but if they allowed these huge trusts to • dump their tho Dominion, then tho local industries would be ultimately crushed, when up would go the price of tho trust’s implements, and the farmers would suffer.

Mr Malcolm said native industries had proved again aud again that they could hold their own against foreign competition, aud lie had no fears in this direction, as tho local manufacturers had no long distances of carriage to pay for, hut had tho farmers at their own doors. Tho clauses passed by 44 votes to 8. On the motion of tho Hon. Millar a new danse was added enabling the Board of Inquiry to go on with its work, in spite of the absence of ouo of the members. Mr J. Allen moved a new clause to provide that when Parliament is sitting the report of the Board snail bo laid on tho table of tho House within ten days of the completion of the hearing. This was agreed toV The Bill was reported with amendments.

The Police Offences Bill was reported with amendments aud amendments to tho Fife Brigades Bill considered.

The amendments provide for tho contribution of £2OO annually by tho Government in respect of tho cities of Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, aud Dunedin, with an additional £2OO in tho case of Wellington, on account of tho Parliament aud Government Buildings. In all other cases the Government contribution shall be one-tenth of the estimated amount of expenditure, in no case, however, to exceed £SO. Tho remainder of the expenditure to be coutributd equally by tho local authority and tho insurance companies. The House then went into Committee on the Fire Brigades Bill. Clause 5 provides that the Govor-uor-iu-Oouucil, on application, may declare districts to be fire districts, one condition being that tho population of the district shall bo more than 50C0.

Mr Jas. Allen moved an amendsubstitute 1000 for 5000. Mr Field urged that tho condition, should be struck out altogether,' so that any borough could take advantage of the Act. If the Minister could not agree to the suggestion, thou ho might draft a clause to admit of several small bodies joining together so as to obtain tho benefit of tho Act. Aftro some discussion this amendment was carried by 83 to 30. The House then went into Committee on the Taumaruuui Town Council Election Validation Bill, which was reported without amendment.

The Scaffolding Inspection Act Amendment Bill was thou taken in Committee. The Hon. J. A. Millar moved an amendment to provide for tho inspection of scaffolding under 10 feet in height from the structural base or wheel scaffolding erected. This was agreed to on tho voices. The Bill, with its amendments, was reporteed.

The Coal Mines Act Amendment Bill, with its amendments, was reported. The following will he dealt with this session :—Maori Land Claims Adjustment and Laws Amendment Bill, Ngatimaru Landless Natives’ Bill, Government Advances to Settlers Bill, Local Bodies Loans Act Amendment Bill, Hntt Railway and , Road Improvement Bill, Post Office Savings Bank Funds Investment Bill, Agricultural Implement Manufacture, Importation and Sale Bill, Police Offences Bill, Supremo Court Practice and Procedure Acts Amendment Bill,* Marine Insurance Bill, Piro Brigades Bill, Tamuaranui Town Council Election Bill, Validation Bill, and Scaffolding lupsection Act Amendment Bill, Coiil Mines Act Amendment Bill, Gaming and Lotteries Act Amendment Bill, Sea Fisheries Bill, Tramways Amendment Bill, Indictable Offences Sum: iiiary Jurisdiction Act Ameudmofft,' Factories Act Amendment and the Christchurch Drainage Act Amendment Bill. Also, amendments to the Education Act, Hospitals Act, Pub* lie Health Act, Defence Act, Butter Export Bill, Divorce Act Amend* r Aleut Bill. Railways Classification, Post aucj Telegraph Classicfiation, Civil Service Classification, Infant Life Protectiou, Arbitration Act Amendment Bill, Beer Duty Bill, Bill dealing with packet licenses. Shops and Offices Act Amendment Bill, a Bill dealing with postage stamp machines. Reserves vesting Bill, Native Land Bill, and a few other Bills of local character. The House adjourned at 11.60,