PARLIAMENT.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIII, Issue 28, 1 October 1915, Page 7

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, Per Pituss Association. Wellington, September 30. The Council met at 8 p.m., when the Railways Authorisation, Gaming Amendment, and Auctioneers' Amendment Bills were received from ilio Lower House and read a first time. Amendments in the Finance Bill ,vere agreed to, and amendments in c\» by the Statutes Revision to the amendments of the House of Representatives in the Births and Daatlw Registration Amendments Bill were agreed to. The Mortgages Lxiemion Amendment Bill and Discharged Sddiers' Settlement Bill were put through committee. On the Law Practitioners' Amendment Bill, Hon. Sir F. H. D. Bell moved to strike 'out the clause, inserted in the Lower House, prohihiting King's Counsel who may hereafter ho appointed for practising as solicitors, or of having a partner so acting. He contended that the clause would prevent qualified members of the profession from participating in the honor already conferred upon certain members of the Bar. Hon. 0. Samuel opposed the motion, and asserted that the present system was calculated to create invidious distinctions amongst members of the legal profession. He strongly hoped that the clause would be retained. Hon. J. D. Ormond supported omission of the clause, and Hon. J. T. Raul spoke against the motion, which was eventually carried, on a division, by 1G to 9. Hon. Sir F. D. H. Belli moved the second reading of the Gaming Amendment Bill, under which the Governetit would be able to regulate the permits for art unions in connection with patriotic funds. Hons. G. Carson, T. McGibbon, A. T. Maginnity, J. W Aitkcn, and G. Jones opposed the Bill, and Hons. R. Moore, Sir W. Buchanan, and C. H. Mills supported it. Hons. W. Earnshaw and W. Beehan supported the Bill, while Hons. W. Hall-Jones, J. Parr, and Fisher opposed it. The mover replied, pointing out that the art union principle was not to be used for personal advantage, but only by those who desired in this way to help patriotic funds. On a livision the second reading wa s carried by 16 to 11. The Auctioneers Amendment Bill was read a second time. In committee on the Gaming Amendment Bill, Hon. J. Barr moved in effect to strike out clause 2, the principal clause of the Bill, but this was lost on a division by 14 to 10. On the motion of Hon. J. T. Paul a new clause was added to the effect that the Act be deemed to be repealed immediately on the declaration of peace. Hon. Sir F. D. H. Bell moved a now clause to extend the number of racing days now allowed under the Gaming Act, from 250 to 251. Ho explained that the Wellington Eating Club was prevented from holding its meeting by reason of the stand being occupied as a hospital by the Defence Department. There was an arrangement that one further day should be given in lieu of the mooting they had lost, and the amendment was to provide for it. A lengthy discussion took

place, and at 12.35, Eon. Sir F. H. D. Bell moved to report progress. The Railways Authorisation, and the Auctioneers' Amendment Bills were passed, and the Mortgages Extension Bill and the Law Practitioners Amendment Bill also passed the final stages, the Council rising at 12.40 a.m. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. WHEY BUTTER. Wellington, September 30. Hon. W. I). S. McDonald moved tho second reading of the Dairy Industry. Amendment Bill, which i.s intended to prevent the exportation of butter containing mor (! than sixteen per cent, of water. During the debate members complained of the sale of "whey" butter as ordinary butter, also of the butter that, is offered for public sale. The Minister, in reply, said that there was nothing in the Bill about whey butter. Whey butter was good butter, but the trouble was that it will not keep. Even after it had been graded, and sent Home in the refrigerator there was no guarantee that it would arrive in England in good condition. It was originally exported as "dairy butter," but when it was found to be of an inferior quality it was deemed advisable to change the name. He agreed with the suggestion that dairy produce shoull be accurately branded, but, in the meantime, this Bill was an attempt to prevent the export of butter with an undue proportion of water. The Bill was read a second time. VARIOUS BILLS. When the House resumed this evening, a message was received from the Governor transmitting amendments to the Finance Bill. Sir J. G. Ward explained that the amendments were of minor character. The principal one dealt with mortgages to banks on current account, and the proviso was to enable the Commissioner of Taxes to make rebate where the amount fell below a certain sum ; in fact, it was a provision to prevent clients being overcharged. The amendments were agreed to. The adjourned debate on the amendments of the Legislative Council in tho Expeditionary Forces Bill was next taken. Hon. Jas. Allen briefly explained the amendments, and moved that they be agreed to. This was carried on the voices. The following Bills were read a second time without discussion: Prisoners' Detention, Mining Amendment, Coal Mines Amendment, New Zealand Society of Accountants Amendment, and Local Elections (Proportional Representation) Amendment. ' The House then went into committee on the Bills; and the following passed the committee stage without amendment: Dairy Industry Amendments, Prisoners' Detention, and Destitute Persons Amendment. The Counties Amendment Bill was taken in committee, but as a large number of amendments brought down by the Minister were not circulated in time to enable members to give them adequate consideration, the Bill was withdrawn, on a. protest from Dr. Newman, the Premier suggesting that the House should meet on Saturday morning to discuss the Bill . The Footwear Regulation Amendment Bill passed without amendment. The Miners' Pthisis Bill was then taken. Mr H. Poland complained that miners would not be as well off under tho Bill a s under the old law, but the Minister said the Bill was not the last word on the subject; it was only a tentative measure., lie had gone very carefully into tho statistics of the question, and he could not see his way to increase the relief given, if the industry improved, or the number of recipients decreased, he would undertake that next year the pension could be increased. He could not do it this year. The Bill was passed, after clause 8, providing that no person receiving relief under the Bill be outitled to a pension under the Pensions Act, was struck out. The Mining Amendment, Coal Mines Amendment, Local Elections, and New Zealand, Society of Accountants Amendment Bills were reported without amendment, read a third time, and passed. A TARANAKI PETITION. The Chairman of the Public Petitions M to Z Committee, this afternoon reported on the petition of M. O'Neill, of Te Wera, Taranaki, praying for compensation for land taken by the Public Works Department, and for other damage. The chairman reported that in the opinion of the 'committee the petition should" be re[ferred to the Government for further [consideration and inquiry. \ A lengthy debate, lasting for the remainder of the afternoon, took place. Opponents of the report contended that the petitioner had been repaid for any loss occasioned by the fact that a railway had been put through his property. The debate was interrupted by the dinner adjournment.