PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 217, 9 October 1903, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

PEK PKKSS ASSOCIATION. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Thursday, October 8, The Council met at 2.20 p.m. The Property Law Consolidation Bill was recommitted. The Attorney Goneral explained that She Bill ooiisolid '-tcd the law relating to real properly, and embodied certain provisions of the English Uw, The Bill wan reported from Committea with vorb tl am-Midrofints. Tha Council u<ljouri:< I at 4.15.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,

Wednesday, October 7th,

APt r the Telrgr.'ph Office closed the Coastwise Trade Bill was amended in Committee io provide that the carrying ot passengers as well as goods should be prohibited, and also to make it clear that the 'JSVisco mail boats can carry goods to Australia until the Commonwealth passes a similar Act, The Military S-'ensiona Act Amendment Bill passed through (jjommittee unamended, The House rose at 1.25 a.m. I Thursday, October Bth,

The House met at 2.30 p.m. Mr Ehodes was granted throe days leave of absence on account of urgent private business; and Mr Moss one week on account of illness. LICENSING. Mr McLachlan asked the Fremier'if he was aware that copies of a Bill entitled The Consolidating Licensing Bill were in circulation in Wellington, and whether the Premier had given bis consent to the circulation. Mr Seddon said he was astounded at the information. Mr Tanner: I believe it is quite correct, as I have had similar information, Mr S addon said that such a Bill had baen in c6urse of preparation, but was not completed, and had no right to be outside of the law draughtsman of the Government. He would > make in-1 quiries into the matter, as he considered a grave breach of discipline had been ; cammittsd. j Mr Mas gey: Is the Bill p.inted? Mr Seddon: Yes. I may say at once that it will not be gone oq with 'hid session. GROWN LANDS. It was decided to disagree with the amendment made by the Council in clause 2 of the Bush and Swamp Crown Lands Settlement Bill, dealing with ihe disposal by a selector of his interest in (he land.

The S s a Fisheries Act Amendment Bill and Water Power Bill passed their final stage*.

COASTWISE TRADING. On the motion for the third reading of the Coistwise Trade Bill, Mr Massey •md New Zealand should have let the Imperial Government give us a lead in this legislation, but the P emier was ilways anxious for an advertisement from an Imperial point of view. It was very doubtful whether the Bill would receive tho Royal assent, and he hought it would be a very great pity if it did.

Mr Du'-hie thought it was a piece of meaningless presumption to pass such i Bill, as theolony had no means o? •mforcing clause 3. Mr Millar hoped the measure was mly the stare of a similar movement in' every part of the Empire. I Mr Baurne considered the colony had no pawer to legislate for the whole of the Empire. Mr in replying, said he woul 1 lujer on bring iu a Bill to compel foreign ships coming to the colony' <ir leaving the colony to observe our law in regard to the load line. Qn the subject of coastwise trade, the oon-j farencs of Premiers was unanimous. There was no necessity for us to wait for Imperial Parliament to take action. The iritiation of this question came from New Z9aland, and it would follow as natural tequenoa that New Zealand should move first in the matter of legislation. As to the suggestion that the Bill I was brought forward for the sake of self advertisement, the Premier said he did not think this colony had suffered, or would suffer by being brought prominently into, notice in regard to its socialistic legislation, The advertisement the colony had received was of a kind that lifted New Zealand to a higher pinnacle of fame. In face of the unanimous resolution passed by the Premiers' Conference, he did not think His Majesty wonld be advised to disillow the Bill. New Zealand was leading in a way that would tend to promote the solidarity of the Empire, and this Bill would keep the oolony -ka it had been hitherto in the van of progress and reform.

The third reading was carried by 41 to 23, and tho Bill passed its final stages.

The second reading of the Hutt Road Bill was agreed to on the voiceß. The House rose at 5.30.

Eve sing Sitting,

The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. Mr moved the second reading of the Local Bodies Loans Amendment Bill. He said that one of the clauses provided for a recount in the event of a disputed poll, and that under clause 7 no loin under part II of the principal Act; could have a longer cur'rency than 32 years. Mr Massey said that clause 7 not ordy did awaywith the 41 years term of loans, but made is impossible to borrow at 31 per cent', and there would ba great reappointment at the proposed alteration. v

Sir Joseph Ward said the Government could not ba expected to iucur loss by continuing to 1 <ud as at present.. However, by extending the number of years, local bodies would still be able to borrow at 3|, 4, and 4£ per cent. The rate of interest had gone up outside of the colony, and the difficulty of the position must ba apparent. , Mr J as, Allen suggested that the amendment in clause 7 should only be operative for two or three years when it was hoped the money market would be easier. i Mr. T. Mackenzie thought a Board should be sat up to allocate money in accordance with the neecU of the various districts. After several members had spoken, Mr Soddon said that in the past the loans under the Act had provided cheap money for the wealthiest local bodier, but those which had not enough money to carry on with could not get the advantages provided by the Act. It was a question whether local bodies that had money lying on deposit at banks, and local bodies that had not rated up to their lull bgrrowiog powera,

aiould bo allowed to take of toe Au' : , u.-u u.uiio twu «ii'cumst ac )H gooulii be taken into consideration in the allocation of loim moneys. The second reading wan agioed to on the voices. Mr S.-ddon moved tbe second reading of tho Qoeen'n Scholarships Bill to remove curtain difiicultiea in connection with th& Queen's Scholarships of Victoria College. (Left sitting.)