PARLIAMENT.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVII, Issue 55, 5 November 1913, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

THURSDAY*, NOVEMBER 4. $ LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. [Pee Press Association.! Wellington, November 4. The Legislative Council met at 2.40. THE LAND BILL. The Hon. F. H. Bell moved the recommittal of the Land Bill for tne purpose of inserting the following ne., clause:—46A, part IV., of this Aei shall not, nor shall part 11. of the Lane. Laws Amendment Act, 1912, nor shal section 59 of that Act, have any application to the Cheviot Estate, admails kered under part IX. of the Land Act. 1908. He explained that the clause was intended to make it quite deal that the Cheviot Estate did not come under the operations of the Bill. The clause was added.

An amendment moved by the Hon. J. Rigg, dealing with this mode 0. acquiring large estates was rejected, The Hon. F. H. Bell, who moved the third reading, in reply to speeches, predicted that the doleful anticipations of the opponents of the Government on the relaxation of residential conditions would be falsified. He did not agree with Mr Samuel regarding endowment lands. It was a settled policy of the Government to retain these intact. Regarding borrowing and advances to settlers', he felt confident that whatever Government was in power there would never be enough State money to meet all demands for loans. The Bill was read a third time and passed. THE ACCOUNTANTS’ ACT. The Hon. F. H. Bell moved the second reading of the New Zealand Society of Accountants Amendment Bill, providing that resignation from the Society should not take place unless with the concurrence of the society. The Bill was road a second time. The Council rose at 4.10. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Wellington, November 4. The House met at £.30 p.m. SPECIAL CONSTABLES. Mr P. C. Webb endeavoured to put .'a question to the Minister of Justice regarding the conduct, of special constables at Mount Cook, but was stopped and requested to put his question on the Order Paper, MUNICIPAL CORPORATIONS. ' The House then proceeded with the Order Paper. The amendments made in committee to the Municipal Corporations Bill were adopted, after the House had divided on the question.

Mr T. K. Sidey moved an amendment to re-commit the Bill, to re-dis-cuss the clause providing for biennial elections of mayors, j The division resulted: Thirty-one for /the Bill, twenty-four for the amendment. The Bill was read a third time. SHIPPING AND SEAMEN. Mr Fisher moved the second reading of the Shipping and Seamen’s Amendment Bill. He explained that the majority of the provisions' were,, the outcome of a conference between delegates from the Seamen’s Union and the Shipmasters’ Federation. One of the main suggestions was the opening of the ■ Seamen’s labor bureau, where seamen could get fair treatment. A clause was embodied directed against crimping, to prevent men being victimised. Another clause provided. Tor the jnaking of an agreement .between the masters and men which would be binding at law.

The Bill was read a second time. PUBLIC REVENUES AMENDMENT The Public Revenues Amendment Bill was considered in committee.

On clause 3, amending clause 29 of the principal Act in the direction of authorising the Paymaster-General, instead of the Minister, to pay unclaimed deposits transferred to the Consolidated Fund to any claimant who ,can establish his right thereto, Mr H. G. Ell contended that, this relieved the Minister of the responsibility be. ought to retain., He called for a division op,.the! clfttifso, which was carried by 35 votes to 2,7 i • . All clauses which contained this principle of relieving the Minister of responsibility were -challenged,,i»ut the Government was able to maintain a majority of from 8. to 10. ~: ;j The Bill was reported with minor amendments. LOCAL AUTHORITIES’ BILL. The House then' went into committee on the Local Authorities’ Indemnity Bill, which was reported without amendment. The Bill was read a third time and passed. _