PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 220, 13 October 1903, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE Oif LIEP RESENT ATI 9153.

PEK PKBS3 ASSOCIATION".

Monday, October 12th. j The Houna m6t at 7.30 p.m. The Properly Law Bill was read a first time.

A Bill ( ;n extend tho time for payment of Tr.Ji'.uury bills, and a Bill to facilitate tho ronuwal of certain public loans wera read a fiivst time.

Mr Seddon movtd that the amendments made by the Council iu the State Firn Insuranca Bill be agree 4 to. Mr Massey raised the point that two of the amtndmpnts wore alterations of money clauses, awl therefore constituted an infringement of tho privileges of the House. Mr Guinness ruled that amendment in clause 24 was an infringement of übe privileges of the House.

Mr Seddon thereupon omitted that rliuse from his motion, and it was decided also to disagree with a technical amendment in another clause. Messrs Seddon, Massey, and Baume were appointed a committee to draw up reasons for disagreeing. The Military Pensions Act Amendment Bill passed its final stages. The Cook and Other Is'ands Government Act Amendment Bill was comI mi ted.

Messrs Herrie3 and Massay strongly obj-cted to the Governor having the power of raising or lowering the Customs tariff in the Oook Islands. I Hon. 0. H. Mills said there need be |no ft ar of any great' reduction or increase in the tariff.

Mr Seddon said the excessive duty! on tobacco was one of the points the natives complained of, and the Government wished to relieve them of it, but not altogether. After considerable discussion, Mr SedduQ moved to' amend the clause by explicitly preventing the Governor-in-Council from levying duties on New Zealand manufactured goods. This was agreed to. Mr Seddon moved another amendment providing that the Governor may, by an Order-in-Ctauncil, impose a duty not exceeding 10 per cent, on goods shipped in New Zealand, aod providing! for the payment of a drawback in New Zealand. Mr Harries moved that such order shall not have effect unless confirmed by the House before the close of the ensuing session.

After considerable discussion, Mr Ssddon added to' his amendment a provision that all Ordars-in-Oouncil shall be laid bsforo Parliament within 20 days after the commencement of eich si-Fsion.

Mr Hemes' amendment was lost by 28 to 24, and Mr Sedden's amendment as altered wan agreed to. The Huts Ro*d Bill passed through Committee with amendments, (Left sitting.)