PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 216, 8 October 1903, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

PSB PBESS ASSOCIATION. LEG ISLAfIVE OOONOIL. Wednesday, Octobeb <5, Th< Council nut at 2.30 p.m. Oa tliii motiuu of the Hon. J, S. JdnkiuHOP., i* was resolved that the report of the Potitio g Oommifc'ee on the petition of U>r>on and others in reference to winding up the Colonial Bank be referred to the Government, with a recommendation that the report be given effect to. The Committee'* ieport recommended the Government '.o appoint a commission to inquire into the master. Amendments made by the House in the 'Oommißdionet'd Bill were agreed to. An amendment made in the Intestates B;lt f-duoing the per osntaga p.yub'e to a widow in cburge of an in;.es'a<« es'ate from 4 to 3£ per oent. in estates over £SOO wait disagreed »i ( h. The State Fire Insurance Bill mi read a third tim n , aud passed. I The Native Townships Amendment | Bill was read a second time pr» forma. The Council adjourned at 4.45.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Tpesdat, October 6. After the Tel*<fraph Office closed the Municipal Corporations Bill patted through Committee. The House ro'e at 1.4 a.m. Wednesday, Ootobeb 6th. The House met at 2.30 p.m. Mr Arnold gave notice to ask the Premier whether he will take steps to set up a Joint Committee with the object of putting members of the Parliamentary Press gallery on a mure ! definite and satisfactory basis. REPLIES TO QUESTIONS.

in reply to questions stated that the same facilities werj given a year ago to returned troopsw and others to go upon the land as hav# been mentioned in the advertisement* in the United Kingdom newspapers; the Actuaries of the Government Life Insurance Department had reported that the scheme omitained in che Teachers' Superannuation Bill was financially unsound, the contribution fixed by the Bill prepared last session being, in their opinion inadequate, the amount required to be contributed to place the fund on a sound financial position was more than the tetehera could well pay; that the advisability i adopting the American system of graduated schools in country district# might, be considered in N«w Zealand; chat if some of the waste areas of land were stocked with big gams the colony would obtain a very valuable asset, and that the Government had derided to introduce the elk and buffalo from America, and were inquiring with regard to other speoies of big game; 'hat 18,000 acras on the slopes of Mount Uook had been reserved in order to preserve the Alpine flora, and it was proposed to ustrve another 14,000 when the present lease expired, it being of the utmost importance that the Alpine scanery in the vicinity of the hermitage should bo carefully preserved for all time; that it had come to the knowledge of the Customs Department that white cino it imported marked '' genuine," but on iixamiuation io found to be adulterated, and cha". action will be taken if it can "> legally sus aiaed. ihe Fisheries Enoouragnmiint Bill ms introduced by Governor's msaaaue, and r ad a first time. i'ne Testator's Family Maintenance Amendment Bil l , Pdioe Offences j Amendment Bill, and General Assembly Library Bill were put through hei' fiual stages. The House adjourned at 5.30. Evening Srmsa. The House resumed at 7.30« The amendments made in Oommittee in the Municipal Corporations Act Amendment! Bill were agreed to, and the Bill was put through its final stages. It was decided to insist on the amendments mad* in the Intestate Estates Bill and man- gers ware appointed to confer with managers from the ■Council.

The amendments marie by' the Council in the State Fire Insurance Btll were set down for consideration next day.

SKA FISHERIES. The Sia Fisheries Act Amendment Bill was committed. Clause 2 "all fishing boats to be licensed" was amended to mike the provision apply to all boats used for taking fish or oysters for sale. _ Clause 1> was altered to read "It shall be unlawful for anyparsen to open and bottle systers for sale on any oyster bed." At clause 9 " License fee* to be paid into Consolidated Fund," Mr Massey urged that the fees should be paid to locii boding. Mr Beddon said he believed looal bodies would get more than before. The clau«e was retained by 42 to 21. On the motion of Mr Hoaitcn anew cl-uee was inserted to provide that the open season for rock oysteis shall be from 31st. May to 31st October. On the motion of Mr Hall Jones a new clause was added to provide that owners of licensed seafishing boats, and fi~h shall make returns to the viarine Department of all fish caught or cured! by them, and that failure to furnish returns shall be met by a fine no i xceo'ling £lO The fol o ving new clauses were idled on t! o Miniscer'a motion: "Ao hing in 'hi-) Act shall affect any xistiug M tori rights. WATMt p WEKB.

The 'Wat-r i*ower Bill was oommii.vej. A lengthy discussion took plaoe on -iih-sfctioQ 1 of clause 2, which vides 'hat ni"ject to rights now bel i, the «ole i ig .to uso water in falls and -iveis for n the Crown, Eventually the subnotion i iiltere 1 t>y striking out the word " uuw " and woid " lakes" inserted. Sub section 3 of the eame clause, reiaMi t> to dams and reservoirs, wu jxcia»d. < 'I iu-e 3 wis f> mended to give the Govori or pownr to to any local au'hority the right to use wat.r [fur g neratirii; el-c'ricity. I Clause 4 was .1 en-d to provide that the Ac shall not >.ffect the um of vat«r for ir. Ration tf farm lands, or l'o r utricle. A i • h "lmiHo wa«i g'ving tha >li amor, uulhulu a tnitiii<g district, paw. iMo fji-inn t ) any pe'sin or comI■ <t",y lif I'viit t 0 lire, w.terfor «an.>raubg oiuctticity for thu bubiiidM; or for

driving machinery for purposes other than the generation or storage of electricity. A new clause giving power to restrict the operations of the Act to certain streams was agreed to. COASTWISK TRADI. The Coastwise Trade Bill was committed. At Clause 2 Mr Seddon moved an' amendment, to provide that the restrictions should only be imposed " so far as treaty obligations entered into by His j Majesty ptraiit. J Mr Duthie moved a prior amend- j ment to provide that carrying passen-1 gers as well as goods should be pro-j bibited. Agreed to on the voices. I (Left Sitting.) j