PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 203, 12 September 1903, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

PEU PRffiSS'AY3OOIVriON.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Friday, Septemusr 11th. j Tha o'iU'ici! mst at 2.30 p.m. I Tht -irij)uined debito ou tho State Fii-' Insu>ancs B:ll w«s resumed by the \lm W. T*omey, who siipp rted the tneai-u e on the ground tha'. it. was ueuessary in the face of tho insuiaoce. combination vrt.ich was iuimical to the interests of the people. He combated the statement that insurance business wasunprofitible, iostancing dividends of the South British, New Zsaland National and Standard Companies, »he aggregate dividend of which f< r Direreeu yeirs were 111 per cent. In answer to o> j actions to the borrowing provision Mr Twomsy declared the clause was unnecessary. Wi'h Stite cipital to go up hi a reserve fund neid not be p-ovided under circumstaoc-'S. Hon. Lee-Smith considered ths circumstances warranted tbe Bill. The combination of insurances had enormously increased rates and carried on business in an ucsoientific manner. There was no better paying business than fire insurance and it was an in controvertible fact tint life insuraroi offered mu:h greater risks than fire insurance, the BillrcqliresamnnHng in several directions to make it eff o- • iveandhe had pepared amendm nts to that end. He did not believe in cutting rates. Let the. Government carry on upon company lines, but jjiva the insurers a good slice of the profis. The Bill would be good for the country and would not interfere with private enterprise. Hon. H. Wigram said there was a prima facie cm f>r the Bill, but he would like to know whether it would bs put in cparation if passed and when also whether the G ivernment was going to join the Association. A sub-section 2 of clause 13 provided tint for the purpose of reinsurauca the State office may have associated with it any fire insurance ompany in or out of N<iw Zealand. Reinsurance was the whole question and if they were going to have reinsurance the Government must make rates the same as the Association.

The Attorney-General: " We give half profits." Hon, H. Wigram asked was it likely ihe Ooonpwes would rarsure und r the circumstances. The Government were doing an extensive fire insurance business at the present time, though &o5 under lha designation of an insurance office. H« would like to see an acuarial Btatunent of the business done mw. He suggested a provision might be inserted ia the Bill enabling tho Government to insure properties of iocal bodies throughout the colony. Fhis would give an excellent class of business on tbe moral as well as the physical aid.) and could within roason able limits be done without reinsurance. Hon. F. Traek supported the Bill. On the motioo of the Hon. Mr Boh the debate was adjourned. The Council roso at 5.10 p.m. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Thursday, September 10. After the Telegraph Office closed, after a lengthy debate, Mr Harding's amendment to recommit the Oity Staple Electorates Bill was aegatived by 38 to 29, and tbe Bill passed its final stages on the voices. The House rose at 12.10 a.m. Friday, September 11. The House met at 2.30 p.m. A week's leave of absence waF grantfd to Mr McLachlan on urgent private business. Mr Seddon announced that Judge Oonolly's resignation had been accepted and that Mr .Frederick Ohapman bad been appointed a Judge of the Supreme Oourt. Mr Seddon tmderod his oongratula tions to Mr Massey upon having be6n selected as leader of the Opposition, adding that Mr Massey'a election would be conducive to the good conduct cf tbe business of tbe House, and ho hoped the good feelicg existing woul) continue. Mr Massey expressed his thanks for the Premier's congratulations and for his kindly sentiments. It was th duty of tbe Opposition to especially look after the finances and to keep the Government up to the mark, There would be no factious opposition from that sida of the House. He regretton that the present Opposition pai-y wi>r n»mercally weak, hut, th ugh the\ would hit hard, he c uli p'omixe ther *ouM be no att mpo to hit b.lo v the belt. The Public Petitions O.immittee reported th it it h*d no recommendation to make upon the petition of Dr W. H. B.tkewe'l, of Auckland, who aeked for pavmnn" of allow >ncis du« tj him as in'-dinal officer dtm"g the Boer war. Mr Nftddin stat d that the Imperi-tl lUthorities had cabled to him oo Saturday insrrucing him to piy the moiny mid is was sent on Mood iy. Tbe Grown Grants Ant Amendment Bill, ond Testators' Fimily M intenance Bill w«r6 introduo d by Governor's* raos-age and read a first time. The Native Township Amendment Bill (Ouroll) was read a fiist time. The Opposition entered a strong protect against the postponement of questions o:i the Order Poper, and consid »ral 1 > discussion took place. Mr Seldun said there was not a question on the Order Paper that was worth printer's ink. The postponement was carried by 31 votes to 29. The Bush and Swamp Crown Settlement Bill was considered in committee. M r M ssey doubted whether it would to wise for tho Bill to tpply to small grazing runs. Hon. T. Y. Duncan urged that it rvßs neeresary the Bill should apply in such cis r s. In reply to Mr Bollard, ho stated t hat the measure would not ■ pplv to tnnants who took up land twelve months ago. Mr O'Meara suggested the Act shou'd ha made to apply to all who had taken up this clusa of land duri, g the; past fivo years, i Mr Syms declined to support retro-! 'speniivo legifhtion, even ;it the ru.k of; turning ttio Government off the Tiea- > fury B'» dies, '•'he discussion wis interrupted by ihe 5.30 ad journal etit. j EvENI-iG SITTING, j The Huso resumed at 7.30. j In Committee on the Bush and Hw'mp O.own Laivis Settlement Bill a lengthy dipcnesion took p'ape on clause 'it tho roiin clans ■•■ • -■'' th- 1 Bill. Mrßuehauari ui v■ .' :- mnrr r?m--«t ■op! ice-, ii> resn-.'"*; of > on-pnymet.t of tatec, 6W«mp k»ds on the fame level as

bush lands. Hon. Duncan wiutd rot Accept this a-Tionduaent, which was rejected by 30 to 27. The Bill proposes to give to Land Boa'da disoretionary power to deoide whether a tenant disposing of bis leatf within seven ye*rs thai I or shall not have o pay the re.it remitttd during the Brut four years. Mr Houston said that the Auckland Bond was incapable of administering the A<it, and he moved to plaoe the discretioa and responsibility on the Minister of Lands. Hoi. Duncan s«d this wi too grea* a burdm to place on the Minist»r,aod it was the duty of the Boards to ex»r« cise a discretioa that hinged on loul conditions.

(Lefo sitting.)