PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 174, 25 July 1903, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Thdjrsday, July 23. After the telegraph office dosed on Thursday night the debate on the second rending of the Elective Execu- ! tive Bill wus ail jour nod, on the under!st>ndi~g that the resumption of the di-b.itn will be made the first order of ' iho clay fur 7.30 on August 6tb. | Tne Uoui-e we a< 12.40 a.m.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, Friday, July 24. The Council mot tu 2.30. Hon. J. movid for a Comroilt- e to Jrq'i'ie en to the inc'u-ion nf at Ingram horn Rilij litis, Htndmatsh & (Jo. in the report of tht proceedings f the Committee on Tied Houses, 1902, when that Committee determined iha; such documents should not be ao incuded. The mover contended a committee of enquiry was necessary, as a oreaob of the privileges of the Council had been committed, and the person responsible should be punished. The motion was carried unopposed. The First Offenders Probation Bill passed its final stages. Jhe Attorney-General moved th» s ; cond reading of the Inebriates Institutions Bill, providing for an institution for the treatment of curable ineotiatea npirt from incurables. Ha said provision for incurable cases was a mit tar for future consideration.

The second reading was agreed to. The Attorney-General moved the second reading of the Interpretation Act Amendment Bill, a short technioal measure, which was agreed to. The Commissioners Bill (AttorneyGeneral), defining the powers and privileges of Commissioners appointed by Order-in-Council, was also read a second time, and the Council adjourned.

HOUSE OP REPRESENTATIVES.

Fhidat, July 24. The Houaa met at 2.30 p.m. The Grand Lodge of Freemasons of New Zealand Trustees Bill passed ita final stages without discussion. Tho Medical Practitioners Registration Bill IMr W»ri), kna TotaiUator Aoulition Refrandum Bill (lir Ell) were introduced and read a first time.

Sir Jot< ph Ward gave notioe to introduce the City Single Electorate# Bill.

QUESTIONS. In reply to quaations, Mr Seddon stated that to pay civil servants fort* nightly instead of monthly would entail a vast b mount of extra woik on this Truusuryand Audit Departments, and the Government did not feel inclined to make the alteration; that the Government were considering what steps oould bo taken to check the importation of shoddy woollen goods; that ao'u&tiil inv. s igation wop, at the present time, being made into the publio school teachers superannuation scheme, and it would depend upon the result of that ic.res' igation whether a Bill wou'd be brought down this cession ; that it waa the intention of the Government to set up a sessional comm ttee on education which could consider questions afficoting the primary, secondary, and University systems. (Mr Seddon indicated that he had under consideration an alteration in the curriculum of primary schools); that a conferenoa of Inspector* of the public schools of the colony was being convened for January next; that it would be for Parliament to decide whether Europeans resident in the King Country should be treated differently than Europeans in other parts of the oolony in reg trd to local option. (Mr Baddon remarked that he still Held to tha opinion that in prohibition districts tha' importation of liq'ior should be absolutely prohibited, even in private houses). That a superannuation scheme to embrace the whole civil service would hava to be taken into consideration on tha bisis of oompulsory life insurance by Oivil Servants, tbe State to pay a proportion of the premiums; that step* would be tak«n to ascertain tha view of m<mbers bs to the advisability of submitting to the House a resolution «f protest against the importation of Asiaio contract labour into South Africa for woik in the Rand mine*; that legislation dealing with the question of admi sion to secondary schoola wou'd ba introduced this session; that in tha book on health to be is«ued to public school?, reference will be mada to the evils arising from the excessive use of alcoholic liquors; that it waa tha> intention of the Government to incur small expenditure in order to give tuition in public schools on the flora and. fauna of the coloiy. The Hous9 rose at 5.80.

Evnnxo Simxa,

The Housi resumed &t 7.30 p.m. Oa the motion of Mr Seddon th« Workers' Compensation for Accidentia Amnndment Bill was read a sreond t me pro forma and referred to the Labour Bills <'ouim : ttee. C /UNTIES BILL. Mr Seddon moved the second read* ing of the Counties Act Amendment Bill which he explained would meet the difficulty in regard to alteration of boundaries of a read district or riding tf a caunty. It nlso gave increased rating power to counties.

Mr Mnssey did not altogether like the Bill and would move aa amendment in committee. He pointed out that it proposed to double the rating power fo far as Oounty Oou oils wc coccerned. He hoped something '!j be dor.e in the way of a ' "j* 0 ? j subsidy. Stated Ju tho course ol cor<-' . ~ eion that followed ». J, f erabl ? d,9cu usj ?cted to the que- . mei, ? berß ob " mentreform' local governmeal fash' „ jWD * alt wlth ] u P l f?r rates • ' ' . o erß ur rf 6 d that if Bho ,, "ere increased the subsidies aid also be increased. It was generally agreed that extended rating powers i should bo given to counties, but a difference of opinion existed as to what extension should be grunted. Mr Seddon, in replying, said he had brought down a comprehensive Local Government Gill, but it had to be laid f aside owing to the diversity of opinion that existed, He vssp'eptred to again submit the scheme, as he recognised; rha 1 : locil government had run to seed! ;in this oun'ry, There ivere far toomany local bodioa. The machinery provided io this Bill had been asked for i.y lojal bodies, and it would be unfair for Parliament to decline the request, T:ie s cor.d reading was agreed to on the voices. KOAD AND TOWN DUTRICIB KATIKO. Iq Oommitt- e on the Road and Town Diaries Kiting Bill, Mr Mascey urged hi* pnym nt of gra-luited subsidi-s to looal bodies. > Mr Beddw uid th« nittir «m-

enti.ely outside tbe province cf this Bill, bat he recognised that it required to be gone into carefully, as to give wealthy bodies the tame subsidy as straggling bodies cerrainly s-emed an unfair proceeding, and the whole question would be reviewed. At clause 2, which providej that the maximum general rate to be levied in any year in any road or town district •hall be three half-peace in the pjund 00 the capital value or its equivalent 0& the municipal value, feir W. Russell moved to make the rate one penny. j Mr Seddon opposed the amendment, •ad said he thought the local bodies ■hould be trusted in the matter. In the course of a lengthy discussion •everal members of the Opposition asked for proof of the a c s?rtion that these local bodies had demanded in- «( creased rating power, Mr Symes suggtsed tW. the Bill before beirg passed should be submitted to the local bodies. Mr Seddon said the Bill had been telegraphed all over the colony, and if local bodies dissented they would hare notified to that effect. Sir W. Russell's amendment was negatived by 36 to 15. On the motion ot the Premier an addition was made to the clause to provide that the rate may be levied on the basis of 2s in the £ on the capital value, and the olause as amended was agreed to. (Ltf; Sitting.)