PARLIAMENT.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVI, Issue 84, 13 August 1913, Page 3

PARLIAMENT.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 12. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Wellington, August 12. The House met at 2.30. •''The Commercial Bank of Australi; Ltd. I5il! i.Mr Myers), and McDougal Timst Estate Bill (Mr Lee) were rea< a second time. The Local Bodies' Loans Bill, aiu State Advances Bill were read a thin time. The Methodist Union Bill was pu through committee and passed.

PUBLIC TRUST OFFICE

The Hon. A. L. Herdman moved -tin second reading of the Public Trus .Office Amendment Bill. He stated tha the Bill was based on the recommenda tions of the recent commission, and if passed, would make for the effici oncy of the office and tho security o the public. After., .discussion the Bill was rea< a second time on tho voices. .;.; MUNICIPAL CORPORATIONS l-Uri-, AMENDMENT. tTho Hon. A. L. Herdman movec' tho" second reading of tho Municipa" Corporations Amendment Bill, which he said, embodied tho proposals o the municipal conference. The mos' important proposal was-the altera tion of tho method of the election. o'< the mayors of borough councils. Tlk Bill proposed that the Mayor shal be elected by the Council from anion; its members at a meeting held o; tho first Wednesday in May in ever; year. The cost of tho last contested elections for Mayor in the four princi pal cities was Wellington £317, Christ church £317, Auckland £235, DuWedii (estimate) £loo. That expenditur< did not reprosent the cost of mayora elections. There were all the small or towns to be added. The Bill pro vided for tho constitution of' nev boroughs, and the alteration of boun claries of boroughs. Provision wa also made for the removal of ambigui ties in tho present law.

Mr T. H. Davey said that lie differ od from the proposal to elect th mayor from the councils. He favor ed the election of the mayor by th people every second year. If tha election took place at the same tim< as the election of the. council, th' mayor would naturally come in, am go out with the council. - He hek' that the provisions of-the -Bill wit! regard to impersonation at polls Weil? impotent,' inasmuch as no provisioi Avas made for t,he imposition of .penal tics. ~ ..... . ......

Dr. Xewman .objected ■■to'the elec lion of mayors-by,councils. ~-The suggestion the,-municipal;con': ference which j-ivas composed purely pi' councillors., r who were -anxious ffcf get the appointment in their owr hands.

Mr T. K. Sidey failed to see why the present system*- of election of mayors,! which had- stood the'test'of time, should be altered.

Mr A. L. Meyers moved the adjournment of, thoiiflebate at 4 <1T.'35, the House rose! «0 ;;! ■■ ■ ■u , '-