PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 199, 4 September 1903, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

PEii J'illWl ASSOCIATION,

LEGIBLE..Vi; rg THURSDAY, oKPIUHUEH 3. _^'". The Goui'c'il ruo'' i\t 2 20 p m. Tho Wei b g'on llairiour Boird Emi-ovvxring Biii (Feasor), and City of <Hiri.tchui'oli Hpuoial Lain Enabling ]{;)! (Wigrum) w. re road a second lime. Ttie Council adjourned at 4.45 p.m. ( HOUSE OH 1 REPRESENTATIVES. Wednesday September 3. After tho Telegraph Oflica closed Mr Field's Drama'ic Copyright Bill pisserl through Committee and tho House rcse as 12.45 a.m. Tjiuusday, September 3, Tha House met at 2.30 p.m. Toe Otago Harbour Board Empowering Bill (Millar) Was read a first time. Fh3 Public Petitions Committee referred to the Government for favourable consideration the petition of Thonm Bell fjr compensation on account of being dispossessed of land he had occupied at the Kermadec IsUnds. Mr Maseey urged the Government to give effect to the recommendation.

Mr Seddou said several Governments had had Mr Ball's claims before them, but if compensation was given in this case it would ba establishing an unwise precedent. The lengthy discussion which ensued was interrupted by the 5.30 adjournment. Evening Situnci. The Housa returned at 7.30 p.m. Sir Joseph Ward moved that the House disagree with tbe amendment made by the Ooutcil in the Wireless Telegraph Bill, exempting from the operation of the Bill any installation oi the sytem not nude for Lire and profit. He pointed out that this provision would enable the establishment by business frnu of wireless telegraphy between their various branches, wbioh would be prejudicial to the best interests of the colony. Sir W. Russell considered that after the experience they bad had of the way the Government conducted private telephone lines, the Home should not prevent tho installa'ion of v-irelcas tdegrapby by private enterprise, Mr iSsddon pointed out that if the exemption were retained a foreign power could establish a station her* and communicate wi h the outside world without the Government being able to interfere.

The m>Vion was carried on the voices and manager a appointed to draw up reasons for disagreeing with the amendment. The consideration of amendments made by the Council in the Counties Act AmeDcim-m'. Bill provoked considerable discussion, and it was deoided to disagree with the Council's smond ment in the clause dealing with fp;cial rates.

Mr SeddoQ moved that the House agjee to the action of the Council in striking out the provision " that no public billiard-room shall be kept opan' after 11 pm,"and it was eventually decided to disagree wi h the Council's anundment in this clause and managers wtre appointed. The amendment nude by the Council in the Daity Industry Act Ex'ension Bill te prevent the pollution of streams by dairy factories wasdiaagreed with, and managers appointed. 01T7 SISGLE ELECTORATES. Sir Joseph Ward moved the second reading of the City Single Electorates Bill, which abolishes city electorates in Auckland, Welling tor, Ghtistchurch and Dunedin, and substitutes single electorates iii' those cities. He said the Government had brought in a Bill to meet what they believed was the desire of the great majority of members of the House. It was never contemplated when city electorates wero formed that "p'umping" would be ctrricd on to the extent which the figures proved it had been practiced in recent elections, and there was a concensus of opirji'on that plumping had bean worked up to such a scientific point that a minority by aj:idio : oui combinotion could return a member. Under-the present system ci'y members lost their individuility to a certain ex'.ent by having to act in conjunction with the other two city representatives. 4s to the quo'a, he did not think that any readjustment was neceesiry. It was not intended to alter the boundaries for licensing election?, as any alteration in this direction would bring ibout a very anomalous state of things Mr Millar coatended that there was a communi'y of interest binding city tu'inbeis together, and it would be impossible by creating Vt.iuVial biun daries to say '.ha" one m. would not represent the whole The oidv results of the single electorates would ibs to split up the 1 Lour vote in the citi.s and make it non-eff ctive. It vas only by combina'ion that the labour popula'iou could make their voice beird, and on their behalf h> protes'ei against the Bill. Mr Davey sfcroruly supported 'h< Bill, and hoped plumping would u uiadfl il'egal. Mr Fuwlds objected to the Bill, and urged that they should g< oup the el c torates. (W si i> e.)