PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXII, Issue 178, 4 July 1900, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

(PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.)

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. I Tuesday, July 3. < Tbe Council met at 2,30 p.m. i ADDUKSS-IN-KKI>LY. The members proceeded to Government House and presented the Address in-Reply to the Governor's Speech. The Council rose at 3 p.m. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Tuesday, July 3. The Htninb uiui &\. 2.30 p.in. TUB NEW MINISTER. Mr, HedUou luuumieU that theunsuibtr for Ctmnru (Mr. Duncan) had tbat day been sworn in by the Governor ah a uiombur of the Ex«cu ive. The portfolion allotted to Mr, Duucau Weri Minister for Linda, Agriculture aud Forests. He (Mr. Sediluu) believed the special knowledge of these subjects held by Mr. Dancan would enable him to discharge the duties with advantage to the colony. THE AGENT-GENEUAL'S REPORTS. Mr. Seddon laid upon the table papers from the Hon. W. P. Beeves, AgentGeneral, with reference to the charges chat his official reports of the progress of the war in South Africa savoured pro-Boer. He (Mr. Seddon) said he believed the charges were altogether unfounded, as was proved by subsequent and fuller information. FIRST READINGS. The Inspectors of Schools, Nelson Harbour Buard, Companies Act Amendment, Lmd and Income Tax Amende ment, Abattoirs and Slaughterhouses Amendment, Thames Borough Endowment Leasing, and Education Act Amendment Bills were introduced and read a first time. RETURNS ORDERED. Returns were ordered showing the report on the fire at the Cardiff Coal Mine, showing the number of totalizator permits issued during the year, showing the quality and value of exports of rabbit skins and frozen rabbits during the year, CHAIRMAN OF COMMITTEES. On the motion of Mr, .Seddon, Mr. Guinness was elected Chairman of Committees, in the course of which the former paid a cempliment to the manner in which Mr. Guinness had carried out the duties of his office in the past. Mr. Guinness returned thanks. SESSIONAL COMMITrEES. Various Sessional Committees were set up. -NEW ZEALAND SOLDIERS. Mr. Seddon read a report from the agent at Capetown reporting upon the condition of the sick members of the Contingents in South Africa, in the course of which he said an effort should, immediately upon the arrival of invalided members in the colony, be made to supply immediate necessities out of the fund that had beeu raised for the purpose. QUESTIONS. Replying to questions, Ministers said the capital sum standing to the credit of the Kaitangata aud Brunnertou Miners Heliof Funds should be exhausted before an appeal was made to the Mouse for relief to widows and orphans of miliars accidentally killed in the mines of the colony ; that the question of establishing a school for imbecile children was under considerition ; that a Public Health Djptrtment would be established under the control of a Minister of the Crown;. that the establishment of an inebriates' homo was under consi<ler*tien; that the Government will onquiro into i he circumstances attending His 1»8 of life on the North Island Ma n Trunk Railway, and would afLrd such reliwl as was deemed expedient; that if * suitable article could be manufactured in the colony they would give locallymanufactured khaki uniforms for volunteers; tbat the Government had no power over banks issuing soiled bank notes, but as attention tad been c illeri, no doubt an alteration would be made ; the Premier said if the oppressive mf at monopolies did not give sheep f mnoi* a fair price for sheep it was time someone stepped in, and if no one did so the State should take action; the use of trading stamps was an evil in the community, and steps would be taken to stamp it out; that the question of continuing the bonus on canned mullet was under consideration; that the question of aheiiag the Counties Vehicles Liconsiog Act was a matter far consideration when the Local Government Bill was under considers won; enquiries woul Jbe made cs to the advisability of allowing rabbit trapping on Crown lands; that tbe Government had no in-ention at present of appointing an additional magistrate and warden for the West Coast.

The House took the 5.30 adjourn inent.

EVENING SITTING. [ The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. ," IN COMMiriKP. (, On the motion to go into Committee on tho Chambers of Commerce and Mines Registration Bill, Mr. Pirani j moved that it be an instruction to the . Committae to include Stock Exchanges [ within the operations of the measure. , —Lost by 4'i to 15. , In Committee on the Bill, on Clause ! 2, Mr. Lewis moved an amendment , that the minimum number of members ' be 40 instead of 15, to constitute the Society.—Messrs. Carucross and Collins saw no necessity for the Bill.—Mr, Ward submitted that the only object of the Bill was to extend the influence and usefulness of Chambers of Commerce and give them a legal status, The Societies as at present consti l utod were simply Conservative Associations. —Mr. J. llutcheson objected strongly to the clause preventing the voluntary association of men for the purpose of furthering the commercial and industrial interests of the colony.—Mr. \V. liYaser pointed out that existing Chambers of Commerce never asked for the Bill, which was introduced because Chambers of Commerce had the independence to take a view of certain > measures which was not palatable to ' the Government.—Mr, R. Thompson I thought that something behind the Bill did not appear on the surface. He did not see any necessity for the Bill.—Mr. Wilford [said that with certain moiifiisatioi s the ; I measure wouM prove useful,—Mr, ,

Massey asserted tbat the varioo* j Chambers of Oommeroe were efdaM 1 the Bill, aud denied that the Chamber* at present were exclusive, and fat believed the Bill was a gross interfejgenoe with the liberty of the eubjecNaVMr. 0. W. Russell opposed the BUI, and asked what purpose would be gained by the Bill, It wes, he stid, quite competent for anyone at present to become a member of a Chamber <fj Commerce; indeed, the difficulty «*■■ to get peoplo to join.—Mr. defended the constitution of the Auckland Chamber of Oommeroe, which was far from exclusive; on the contrary, it r> presented all classes of the comma*eul and industrial community.—Mr, Witheford supported the Bill, while «duiiuing tbat the Auckland Chamber of Commerce had done good work.— Mr. Fwlier asserted that as far as Wellington was concerned the Chambered Commerce were hide-bound, Conservative, and exclusive. The Bill merely intended to widen the scope of the Chambers, with which object be entirely sympathised. Mr. Fowlds thought the Bill unnecessary and would oause a large amount of friction.

The House took the 10.30 adjournment.