PARLIAMENT.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVII, Issue 81, 5 December 1913, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER i. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. [Peb Press Association.] Wellington, December 4. The Legislative Council met at 2.30. The Naval Defence Bill was read a first time. MUNICIPAL CORPORATIONS. .me V/uiduU t.-.iiw xxitU bOilUnlbxux; uil lilt .UUiUfl|JiU lIXCXIb ulxi, .1 cut use .whs auaetl giving local auiiiuiuies power cu routine me aueuuaiice or quiiaueci meliitsii at places or puulic enterlaminent. a new clause uxmg whicn roll snail oe used in tne event or an election i . 0,01 ore April r was inserted on tne motion oi cue Munster. Another new clause was moved by riie minister, giving to tne mayor or tne principal me brigade officer m a borough wnere there is no are board the same powers and immunity as m a case, where a lire board does exist, 'tins was, inserted, and sub-section 2 of section 258 of tne principal Act was consequently repealed., A new clause- autnorising councils to raise money for workers’ dwellings witpout first taking a poll, of the ratepayers was added pier a lengthy debate.,

The. Bill was reported.

BILLS PASSED

The Council went into Committee off the Footwear Regulation Bill, which was, passed vvitn minor amendments.

The Post and Telegraph Act Amendment Bill was also passed.

Both Bills were read a third time and .passed. ,f

The Hon. F. H. 1). Bell moved the second /reading, of the Land Agents Act Amendment Bill, which iwas designed to remove difficulties in the way of the registration, all licenses for the future to date from March 31. The second reading was carried on the voices. FIRE BRIGADES’ BILL. The Fire Brigades Act Amendment Bill which (1)' permits boroughs of 1000 inhabitants to form fire hoards; (2) enables fire boards in cities to borrow up to £20,000 and- (3) provides for contributions, to fire’ board? by those who insure with Lloycfs was read a second timey , 1 . ' ' , i.'-'ifi ()T 1 . ■'*'J. : , ■ THjIRD READINGS. On resdihirig after supper, the Land Agents Act -Ainendment. 1 B|fl, the Fire. Brigades Act 'Bill, the Patent Designs ‘ Act Amdndrhdnt Bill, Ule* Railways Constnibtioh and Law Act Amendment BiU,th&Stamp {fties Act Amendment Bill, the Fruit Pre-, serving Industry Bill,‘ the Wanganui School Sites Bill a'nd the Judicature Act Amendment "Bill were reported from committee, read a third time, and passed. The?Omamii adjourned at 11.55 p.fn.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. 1 = ; 1. .d I The House met'at f 4‘p.m'J ! ' The- af teenoou occupied in discussing reports . of-■’Committees. j PRIME MINISTER'S STATEMENT. ' ■\li ' ■ f •> < ■ - ■ After making a pronouncement re--girding licensing legislation, the Prime Minister said that the probabilities were that the Public Works Estimates would hd taken to-momw erenbig. He hoped to be able to finish tire session by Saturday week. - ' I THE RATING ACT. The Hon. W. H. Berries moved the second reading of, the Rating Act Ameiulrpe.pt Bill. He explained that the measure was mainly composed of recommendations of the . Local Bodies Conference, which were mostly of a npnor machinery character. He mentioned that sipaJJ gracing runs had ‘ bpen exempted from the operations ; of the, Bill, and that pastoral, leases , were brought under .it. After discussion the committee stage I of the Bill wasjjpstppnedNATIVE LAND BILL. The House then went into,,committee on; the, Native, Lapd Bill. Tbo Hon. A; Tj Ngata moved to,postpone the coming into operation of the Bill till March 1, 1914. This was rejected on division by 42 votes to, 22. On clause 21, dealing with the constitution of the Bopids, Mr Ngata pointed out that there was no provision for Native representation, on Native Land Boards. Dr. Rangihiroa protested similarly. Mr Ngata moved an amendment to provide, for . one. Maori representative, a, resident of the district, on each Board.

Sir James Carroll pleaded for Maoris having a voice in the, administration of their own affairs. At midnight a division was taken on Mr Xgata’s amendment, which wa,s lost by 33 votes to 20. A decision was taken on clause 61, winch was retained by 3,4 votes to 17. On the question, of the limitation of areas, Messrs Xgata and Forbes protested against the increase f«om 3000 to 5000 acres of third-class land, the latter calling for division. The larger area was retained by 31 votes to 17. TX THE EARLY MORXTXC. Wellington, December 5. After the Telegraph Office closed, Mr Xgata moved an amendment to clause 101, which would have the effect of taking Xa.tiye trust lands out of the operation of the Hill, but it was lost on the voices, Mr Para,(a moved an amendment

exempting CU-eymoutli leases from the Bill:.’ ' . . . ‘ . Mr Herries said the Native Affairs Committee had passed that the Crown should purchase tlio town of Grey if the Natives were willing to sell. If the Natives were dis-* pogkgfato sell, lie would he hound to buy, but there would be no compulsion. The amendment was lost. Mr Ngata moved amendments in the presence of a thin House with the object of limiting he power of the Crown to acquire individual interests, but all were defeated by considerable majorities. The Bill parsed the committee stage ate 2.45 a.mi, and the third reading was postponed. 1 " The Rating Amendments Bill was put through committee with machinery amendments, read a third time, ■ hnd passed.. The House l rose at 3.5 a.m. •>