PARLIAMENT.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 51, 14 October 1911, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. (Per Press Association 1 Wellington, October 13. The Legislative Council met at 2.30. The committee which considered tiie Field Divorce Bill reported that it had aucied new clauses providing for the decree nisi to be granted l>y live Supreme L-ourt on proof that Hie allegations in the preamble were correct. The (jiuardian Trust and Executive dm was also reported on by a Select Committee. Several new t-mUj.es \> c. .(Utied providing for an audit by the Auditor-General and the proper legal status of the company. A letter was read irom the widow of the late Mr. I 1 hitman, ex-JW.T., tnanking the Council for a resolution passed lay it on the death of her liusuand. Tne Attorney-General moved the second reading of tlio Administration Hill, which is intended to remedy some defects in tlio existing Land Bin in connection with the administration of estates. The ilill was read a second time and the Council rose. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Civil S2tvic3 Classification. Mr. Arnold asked the Premier to furnish a roll to indicate the positions or ui il servants in tne classincation list. At present, ho said, there was great difficulty in finding positions on me list. Sir Joseph Ward said a nominal roll would be issued as soon as possible. A Sheaf of Bills. Sir Joseph Ward then gave a list of tne Pills he proposed gomg on witn tnis session, following is mo list;— Auckland University College Amendment Bill, University of Otago Council Bill, Tramways Amendment Bill. Methomst Oilmen of Now Zealand null, Arnitration and Conciliation Bill, Christchurch .District Drainage Amendment Bill, Elingamite iienearing Bill, Parapara Bill (.iron industry;, Dunedin Technical School Site Bill, Shipping and Seamen's Amendment Bill, Tinting Amendment Bid, Band Tax and income Tax Bill, Public Works Amendment Bill, Widows’ Pensions Bill, Old Age Pensions Amendment Bid, i\ew Zealand State Guaranteed Advances Amendment Bill, -New Zealand Notes Bill, Education Reserves Amendment Bill, Auckland Grammar School Site Bill, Coal Mine Amendment Bill, Farmers’ Bank Bill, Railway Authorisation Bill, Land foi Settlement Bill, Stamps Adjustment Bill, Local Elections and Polls Amendment Bill, Government Railways Bill (increase of railwaymen’s wages), Legislature Amendment Bill, Native Land Adjustment Bill, Workers’ Compensation Amendment Bill, Mining Amendment Bill (dealing with oil industry), Municipal Corporations Bill, and possibly a tew others. The Local Elections Bill was to provide for those people who were admitted to the polling' booth for tno purpose of voting, buv who were prevented from exercising that right uy closing time being called before tne voting paper could be served. Only a few of the measures were at all contentious, and if members applied themselves to their work, tho business should be completed by the end of next week. With regard to local Bills, he was willing to give a morning for that purpose. In reply to a question, Sir Josepti Ward said ho did not intend to circulate a Local Government Bill this session. A measure had been drafted and contained some 500 clauses. He was of opinion that tho Bill would take a whole session to debate. The Bill would be introduced next session. Ho was convinced that in the carrying of local goods it was desirable that it should bo done on an entirely different basis to anything contemplated so far. Ho was informed by the Chairman of the Mokau Enquiry Committee that a report of the enquiry would in all proDauility lie presented to tho House on Wednesday. Ho did not propose to go on with any Bills which would not come into operation until after next session. This course would enable tho House to expedite tho more urgent business. Mr. Ross asked the Premier to put an end to tho hole-and-corner waj in which the native lands are dealt with. He hoped the Government would make provision to acquire all native lands which were not being used to their full capacity. The Prime Minister said tlio matter would ho dealt with in the Land for Settlement Bill. EVENING SESSION. Tho House resumed at 7.30. Tho Auckhnd University College Amendment Bill, University of Otago Council Bill and Methodist Church of New, Zealand Bill were read a third time and passed. The Christchurch District Drainage Amendment Bill was road a second time. ELINGAMITE REHEARING BILL. Sir Joseph Ward moved tlio second reading of tlio Elingamite Rehearing Bill, which provides for the rehearing of the investigation held in 190203 into the wreck of tlio ship at the Three Kings, if within three months after the commencement of tho Act application for a rehearing be made by or on behalf of any person who at tho time of the wreck was a master or any certificated officer of that steamship. Sir Joseph Ward said it had been found that the Three Kings were several miles out of position as charted, and this fact may have been responsible for the disaster. Mr Poole congratulated the Minister on introducing the measure, and mentioned that the time had arrived when it was necessary to place a sum on the Estimates to provide for an exhaustive survey of the coast of New Zealand. Mr Luke advocated an extension of the time allowed for application for rehearing. Some of the witnesses necessary for the rehearing might be many miles away and unable to gel hero within the prescribed lime. Mr Laurenson said the survey of the coast of the country was now more important than ever, as shipping was now drawing much deeper draughts. T he Hon. J. A. Millar, in reply, said it was a pleasant feature to find tho popularity of tho Bill. It must ho understood that the Bill was not promoted for tho purpose of exonerating Captain Atwood, hut simply to grant a rehearing of the inquiry. Evidence would be taken as in the former hearing. In connection with the three months’ notice, this' meant that application must be made within that time, not that the case must bo heard within that time. With regard to the surveying of the coast, he said it was refreshing to find members alive to the necessity for work. Some time igo, he continued, a thoroughly qualified mail was brought out for this purpose, but his services wore not accepted lay tlio House. The cost of a survey ship would bo £32,000, and tho cost to run it £15,000 a year. The; last time the Government undertook) a thorough survey of the coast the scheme was subjected to scathing criticism by tlio other side of tlio House,

who maintained that the expenditure would have been put to a better purpose had it been put into roads and bridges. The Prime Minister said he believed tho Admiralty would ho prepared to help in a survey of the coast. He would again refer the matter to the Imperial authorities. The Bill was read a second time. OTHER BILLS. Tl io Dunedin Technical School Site Bill (Hon. T. McKenzie) was read a second time. The Hon. J. A. Millar, in moving Die second reading of tho Shipping and Seamen’s Amendment Bill, said tho chief clause of the Bill repealed the clause in the principal Act relating to the power of the Government to collect a percentage on bills of lading in the ease of ships carrying coloured crews. The Homo authorities objected to tho New Zealand Government having any authority over lulls of lading issued in England. Tho Imperial assent was given to the original Act on condition that the portion of tho clause relating to Homo bills of lading was repealed. Tho Bill made this undertaking good. The Bill contained a clause providing that where seamen are left on shore in New Zealand by reason of illness they arc deemed to no discharged ; also provisions ensuring tho deposit of certain sums of money for the maintenance -of seamen left on shore ill. The Bill was read a second time. The Hon. D. Buddo moved the second reading of the Rating Amendment Bill, which provides chat where on the taking of a poll in any district the system of rating on unimproved value is adopted, the system shall apply to water rates, gas rates, electric light rates, sewerage rates ,and hospital and charitable aid rates, leviable under the principal Act of the measure. The second clause provided that in any district where the system was in full force on the commencement of this Act, a poll may he taken on the proposal that the said system shall apply to the said rates. At the suggestion of Messrs Wilford, Witty and Fraser, it was agreed to make the second clause mandatory. Mr Allen failed to see that a sufficient reason had been given for a change in the system of rating. Ho thought that for water purposes it was unfair that a largo supply should be let off in proportion, and a smaller building should have a larger rate imposed. The same applied to sewerage rates. Sir Joseph Ward, said the voting system was working unsatisfactorily in connection with pastoral runs, and Parliament would be asked to alter it tliis session. Mr Newman referred to the caso of holders of small grazing runs in the North Island. The runs were, he contended, taken up on the inducement that the rates were particularly light, whereas the Act of last year greatly increased the vates. In some rates were quadrupled. They had the worst tenure of any Crown tenants, 21 years leases with no certain rights of renewal. Tho Bill was read a second time. The Land and Income Tax Bill was road a second time without debate. Bir Joseph Ward moved the second reading of tho Death Duties Bill, exempting gifts not exceeding £IOOO from duty. The Public Works Amendment Bill was read second time without discussion. The House rose at 11.20.