PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 203, 23 September 1903, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

PEE PRESS ASSOCIATION. LEGISLAfI VE COUNCIL. Tuesday, Septkmbek 22. The Council met at 2.30 p.m. Tbe Attorney-General moved a simiir solution rosppctiag tha retirement •f Mr Chamberlain as was passed by be Uouko. I Hod, J. P. Ormond seconded tbe I action, which, after some discussion, ivaa carried on tbe voices. Tbe Arbitration Act Amendment Bill S T o. 2 passed all stages. The Police Offences Bill was read a hird timu and passed, lOUSK OF ".aXKKSENTATTVES. Monday, Septembkb 21st. * After the Telegraph Offico closed the 3ush and Swamp Crown Lands Bill passed its final stages on the voioes. The House rose at 1,15 a.m. Tuesday, September 22, The House met at 2.30 p.m. The Arbitration Court Ktnsrgwrey Bill was introduced by Mr Seddon and is a matter of urgency passed all its stages. , The Military Pensions Aet Amendment Bill (Seddon), Public Domains lot Amendment Bill (Duncan) and \ Oity of Auckland Empowering and Reserves Exchange Bill No. 2 (Kidd) we introduced and read a first time. Mr Seddon announced that the (onference between managers of both Houses on the amendment in dispute"' ' in the Counties Bill had arrived at * settlement. The report of the Conference was agreed to. The Poukawa Native Reserve Bill (Carroll), and Native Township* AAmendment Bill (Carroll) were read a second tima and referred to the Native AfLirs Committee, SHIPPING AND SEAMEN. The Shipping and Seamen Bill was further considered in Committee,. Mr Massey moved that tha period for qualification as A.B. should be two years as ordinary seaman on a steamship, or two years as apprentice on* square rigged ship. This was agreed to. A proviso was added allowing greasers, firemen, and trimmers to be | employed in other oapicitioa when any boilers of a steamship are not in use. It was also decided tha): subsection 5 shall not apply to vessels plying within, i river or extended river limits. Clause 51 was altered to provide m fine of £lO for entering into an agree* ment with an urquaLfied ceimu, Clause 53 was altered by giving th» Minister of Marine power to exempt hulks, while btiag towed from one port to another' from the provisions of th» section. The Housa rose at 5.80 p.m. ( Kvkhinq SmnKK The House resumed at 7.30. p.m. In.Committee on the Shipping and Seamen Bill it was urged that a more substantial punishment for absence from a ship without leave should be allowed, Mr Hall-Jones considered the punishment provided by the olanae wassufficient. Eventurlly the clause wis passed unaltered. At clause 187 Mr Hall-Jones said be intended to adopt the suggestion of last year's committee and set up a commiesion to go into the whole qneetion of extended river iimits. At clause 189 Mr iMiwuog moved an addition to the efleot that tbe master of a vessel shall be held responsible for non-observance of any of the collision regulations if any incompetent person is left in charge of the deck. Mr Laurenson's amendment waaleett by 33 to 30 and the clause teased' unaltered. Hon. Hall-Jones said he waa anxious* to get at any person who was responsible for the shipping of wool, fl«x, tow. ®r skins in such condition from dampness or otherwise as to be liable to spontaneous oombustion. Clause 219 was amended to provide bhat testing of the condition of wooL lax, tow or skin* hKaII not be necrs wry by the shipper; but reasonable nuans shall be t*)<«-n to assertion whether these articles are in each » nndition as to be liable to spontaneous lombustion, {Left Sitting.)