PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXV, Issue 182, 15 August 1903, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. | TfitJRSDAY, August 13. ] The Housfl met at 2.30 p.m. After tho Telegraph Office closed a large number of membi-rs took part in the debate on the second reading of the Bush and Swamp Crown Linde Settlement Bill, which met with general approval from both of the House. ' At 12.50 a.m. Mr Witheford said that having drawn attention to a very important question he had no wish to press his amendment, The amendment was then put and negatived on the voices. The second reading was agreed to on the voie'is. The House rose at 1.35 a.m.

Fbidat, August 14. The House.met at 2.30 p.m. Mr Taylor gave notice to ask the Premier whether, seeing that the opinion of the Orown law cfibers and other legil gentlemen as obtained by the Government on the proper interpretation of clause 3 of the Alooholic Liquors Ac*, 1895, proved entirely wrong, he thinks it right that thj opinion of such incompetent counsel should be allowed to govern the executive in regard to the prosecution of tho Bly-grog sellers in Newtown. Notice was given of the introduction of the following Bil's: Eleotoral Ao-. Amendment Bill and a Bill to amend the regulation of local elections (Ward), Native Land Rating Bi'l (Carroll), Mixed Cloth Bill, Orown Grants Bill, Lands for Settlement Act Amendment Bill, Teachers Superannuation Fund Bill, Referendum Bill, and Wine 3 Adulteration Bill (Seddon). The following Bills were introduced and read a first time:—Police Offences Amendment (McGjwan), Arbitration Court Emergency (Seddon), Companies (Ward), Masterton Hospital Contributors Empowering (Hogg), Law Practitioners Acts Amendment(Laureoson), Gaming and Lotteries Act Amendment (Lawry), Mr Seddon explained it was his intention to put the Arbitration Court Emergency Bill through the House on Tuesday as a mitter of urgency. Mr Seddon gave notice (o move that the ruling of the Speaker in sanding the Bush and Swamp Crown Lands Bill to the Lind Committee be disagreed wish, and the Bill ba restored to the order paper, Leave of absence was granted to Mr T. MoKeczie for seven days, and to Mr McNab for ton days on accouut of urgent privato business. REPLIES TO QUESTIONS. Ia reply to questions, Ministers stated that it was not; considered Ministers and members of the House were in receipt of too high salaries, the Premier at the present time being pud iIOOO 'ess than tin hpads of commercial fi-ms and insurance companie-; that it was considered the law ought to be amended to provide for the supervision anl inspection by State officers of all kstftuiions such as nursing homes, private hospita's, etc. NEWTOWN H3TELK KEPJSBB. Mr Qerdman asked whether instructions had been issued to the police not to prosecute the publicans in Newtown who had been selling liquor without a license since 30 h June. Hon. J. McGowan and he was not to ba drawn m that way. If the question was put on the order paper he would answer it.

At a later stage Mr Herdman alleged the course of justice had bean interfered with by tho Ministry. Mr Seddon printed out the serious position tint might ensure if publicans were turned out at Newiown and the Privy Ojuuoil decided they Wsire entitled to l'c naes,

Mr Taylor contended there was no doubt the Administration h*d stopped the course of tbe law as to ihi opei inc of the Newtown hotels. The whole evidence went to show that the Premier hud thrown hi? personal prejudice into the question against the interests < f law and justice, If tint sort of thing was allowed to conti me they might a? well abolish the Courts of Ju?tice altogether.

Hod. J. McGiwan fluid the suggestion that ths course of jus'ice had baen interfered with was entirely wrong, and he challenged Mr Herd man to prove his statement. The House rose at 5,30 p.m. Eviniso SITTDHJ. The House resumed &t 7.30 p.m. STATE FIRE INSURANCE. Mr Seddon mov d the second reading of the State Fire Insurarca Bill, wi ish he felt sure wou'd we' with el favourable reception. There wfts t nace-sity for tha State entering upon 1 Sro insur mce business became the iri-! v te companies did not provide \or wh>»t was rfquire l , and for what tKy did provide they were chorgirg nbrormally high rates. A. cmbination of companies, practically those outside, of the colony, had fixed premiums to be charged, aad many of cur people rawst have severely felt the effect of this arraagement. In certain localfii's these companies absolutely refused to insure riskc, which showed bo v wrDcg it was to allow this combination to esis l :. Mr Massey: What about the Accident loßU'»nce enmbiaation ?

Mr Sad don : Tbe Government Aceldest Insutance Department has to arrangement with any oth-«r company. As to whether fir a icsuranre business by the State would piy, he thought the huge profits shown by private insurance compani. s was a sufficient answer to that, and In considered the colony ran no ritk whatever of losing money in tho venture. It had been u"ged that a Government department would not b) ab'a to obtain reinsurance?, but he was assured by the Hxperts whom he had consulted that the department •vould have no difficulty in reinsuring under t'ie provisions of this Bill, although there w; ul 1 have beenadiffiftulty if the Bill had given tho Government a monopoly of the inHur mca business, Af er explaining the provi-1 sioas of the Bill, Mr Seddon said the Government Life Insuranoi Depirfcnnnt had renommended th it the fire J department ehould bi placed in charga ■>f a competent manager, ns the L;fe Department already had ifs h inds fu 1. He contended that the p r mte aompaniVa had not met tbe increasing 'iemandsind ri quirements of thecolonv, and there wis consequently room for a department. Mr Duthi* stid tho ris':B in a (kg business were so uncertain •ind ho involved that it was impossible !>•> foretell tkpea. He considered 'he tloufio should loiow mare ab <ut the expert advice quoted before it plunged inu> a busines< of this ki; d

13' 8tlori S'y supported the

Mr Willis considered that all classes

would benefit by the Bill. Mr Massey urged the House to pause before committing the colony to borrow a large sum te s f art the scheme. Mr Taylor was confident the experi* ment would, with care, result In success. Messrs Jas. Allen and Mobs spoke. Mr E. M. Smith cordially supported the Bill. The debate was continued by Messrs Hanan, Ell and Baume. (Left Sitting.)