HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVII, Issue 39, 16 October 1913, Page 3

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

The House .met at .2.30. TRAMWAY FOOTBOARDS. A long discussion took, place concerning tmincars with footboards. The question arose over i the bringing up of jU resolution by the Hon. W. Fraser, to set up a Committee to go into the matter of preventing a recurrence of the lamentable accidoncts occurring to conductors on tramcars. Sir J. Ward failed to see why the House Sjhpuld delay in that most vital matter. tl He moved an amendment to the effect that the House was of opinion that human life was of greater importance than the convenience of the Wellington City Council, and that immediate steps should he taken to prevent the loss of human life. Several members advocated the passing of legislation giving ment power to refuse to license, or allow to run, any eqrs winch were dangerous to those having to work on them . ; - n( , t , . , Mr Fraser asked |ea,ve, to,withdraw his resolution,. He would prepare a Bill providing j tljat. no j cays should he allowed to run on New Zealand lines w|}ich endangered the lives of those ! working them, three months after kite passing of the Act. He would further .insist on so many cars being couyeyt,ecl each month. ’ After further discussion the motion was talked out. The House .resumed at 7.30. Mr Fraser stated that he intended to. accept the amendment moved by Davey during the afternoon as if been carried by the House. He proposed to ask his legal advisers if it were necessary to introduce legislation to deal with tram matters, if so, he would'diving down legislation' immediately. ‘ "THE DEFE^ H ‘.•■ln reply to ; - Sir Joseph Ward thq IVime Ministev rsaid'-the Covenuiie'iliti bad received .no , information condemn iiiig the suggested abandonment of The ■ Imperial Defence Conference. : i.: li ||| im'TO boards; ;■! > A. L. Hordman ni6vi?d {h£'second f Hiding of Hftf’River iioaVd ‘Atiiendn|it Bill, which provides'toi 1 ' an 1 iiftei'-’ ||ffm of diit'tiidfe oh'V pfititibn Signed by not less than 'one’ fourth b¥ 'thfe' ratepayers. In the event of no Board .being elected in a river, district the infty *apiioint l ‘Sufficient ‘ jfaeliihers to constitute a board, rates may bV levied on a graduated scale, accord- { to the classification of the land, which to’lie Jcomnutaiicf ssof ‘ttie Iramiament Act WTO aW&p&MJ. Ward objected to the'alteration fbf bdbtoUHcs'oi* fliA' a'lmfitioii ’of n district’ r dh ! AlHi/jol-tty Wt'e.-’ °* ‘‘ <H f air T. M':‘ Wiffbrd ’proposed to moyp

an amendment making' 'tlie''pvoportim?, two ■; thirds. '' l '' ," Mr'G.'WJniisselleaid that if life 'GovernmGtti to carry' out its promiseSHcV the people, if ought to stop this tin-pot •patching 'sy&teih, and deal 'wTtli'tho/"whole question in a comprehensive manner. Mr A. "L. Herdman, in reply,' said the present Government wotild one' day introduce a measure which would* deal more effectively with the whole question than- any Bill etfei* brought' before the House. The Bill was read a second time. SECOND HEADINGS. The second reading of the Water Supply Amendment and' Rangitaiki Drainage Amendment Bills' passed practically without debate. - - The Counties Amendment Bill, which embodies suggestions maCe from time to time by the Counties' Conference. After some discussion on technicalities'it was" read a, second time and referred to tlie Statutes Uevision Committee'. . \ The House rose at 11.55.