House of Representatives

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 163, 14 July 1904, Page 2

House of Representatives

WEDNESDAY, .ILLY 13, 1904. I The Hon. the Speuker took the chair at 10.30 a.m. GOVERNMENT BILLS. Tho following Clovernniont bills were read a first time : Land Agents, Fertilisers, Domain Boards, Alining Companies, Criminal Code Amendments, (laming and Lotteries, Tramways Act Amendment. I'AHIATUA SEAT, The PREMIER moved that a writ for the vacant I'ahintua seat be ordered to be issued. QUESTIONS. In answer to Questions Ministers stated that no well-grounded application for the effective equipment of technical classes in the colony hud been refused ; that the matter of i«croased capitation to cadet corps had not escaped attention, but no general demand had been made, and cadet corps should not be taught to rely too much on the Government, or they might lose their" self-reliant spirit ; that advertising for applications for labour made through the Labour Bureaux would be costly. The advertising bill of the colony was already £IG,OOO ; that the Premier would make inquiries as to what the cost would be if old age pensions were made universal, and what the increased amount would be If made payable to women of GO instead of 65 ; that an amending Land for ment Bill would be introduced this session ; that the Government could ■ot give notice to local bodies when loans are not available. They were well aware of the tightness 'of the present money market ; that the Government would not introduce a bill for the election of justices of the peace ; that ' Sir Joseph Ward wus willing to offer the Extension of Commerce Committee an opportunity of inquiring into the colony's trade relations with British and foreign .countries, and thought it would be advantageous if the report of the committee, with the evidence taken were forwarded to the British Board ot trade; that no hard and fast rule could bo laid down as to a minimum wage, of 8s for labourers in the Railway Department ; that the AgeatUmeral would bo instructed to give quotations for grain in his weekly market cable reports. J The usual adjournment was then moved ,n order to discuss the

AFTERNOON SITTCKG. The House resumed at 2.30 cm. ADJOURNMENT, -roe debate on a motion for adjournment was continued until 3 30 when Orders of the Day were called ABSOLUTE MAJORITY BILK Mr K. McNAB (Matour.,) moTcd u C . T" 1 ,-„ , ' L ' lKlin K °' U *' Majority Bill, explaining that ii v-I* the name as tho measure of last «'on It provided for the return of a ■'"•mber by an absolute majority ; without the necessity for a "^ (ballot At the last elections, the ■'■ over had found, thirteen single ! electorates return«i ? neml|er s Bon^of whom had a majority of the votes polled. I„ these thirteen electorates there were 13,040 votes rendered absolutely useless. Tho present bill , would obviate this „ n d secure, absolute majority representation in the I one operation.

Mr MASSEY (Leader of the OppoMtion) was afraid the system micht load to mutilation on the part of candidates not at tho head of the poll, lie did not see how the mousuro would meet the ills complained

Mr R, McKENZIE (Motuoka) did net think it possible to improve the present system.

Mr E. M. SMITH (Taranakl) opposed the bill, being satisfied te lit mat-tors go on as they were. Mr HANAN (Invercargill) support«t the lull, and urged the Government to take J tup. Messrs Sidey (Cftvcreham), Harding (Kaipara), and Ell (Christchurch Citv) also supported the bill, but tiho " latter saw dofec-ts in it, especially in regard to plumping. Mr SYMES (Potoa) considered tiho bill would mako matters worse than they were at present. The second reading was carried b>32 votes to 14, DIVORCE ACT AMENDMENT, lit- LAURENSON (Lyttelton) moved the second reading of the Bivorro Act Amendment Hill, to enoMo divorce to bo obbainod from a person who had boon continuously conlinea as a lunatic for seven years. The second reading was agreed to on the voices, without debate. MARRIAGE RESTRICTIONS REMOVAL. Sir William STEWARD (Waltakl) moved tho Marriage Restrictions Removal Bill, to legalise marriage between a man and his deceased wifo's niece, and between a woman and her deceased husband's nephew. The second reading was agreed to on the voices. f-AW PRACTITIONERS, The second reading of the Law Practitioners Amendment Hill (Laurensoiv), enabling any person of good oharacter to appear on behalf of an accused person in the Magistrate's Court was agreed to on the voices..

NOXIOUS WEEDS HILL. - Mr R. McKENZIE moved the second reading of bhv Noxious Weeds Amendmont Bill, to compel a local authority to clear lands and roads under its control.

The debate was inten-uptid by the 5.30 adjournment.

EVENING SITTING, Tho House resumed at 7.H0 p.m. NOXIOUS WEEDS BILL. After further debate Mr R. McKenzlb's Noxious Weeds Act Amendment Bill wan read a second time on tho voices. MUTUAL FIRE INSURANCE. Mr KIRKBBIDE (Mnnukau) moved tho second reading of the Mutual Fire Insurance Bill, to enable occupiers as well as owners to become member* of the Association. This was agreed to on tho voices. TOWN DISTRICTS BILL. In moving the second reading of this hill Mr LETHBIUDGE (Oroua) said ho thought it was a mistake, that (ho creation of town districts had been abolished, and that if small towns wore given local self-government it would prevent tho spltt'ting up of counties that tad ILeeu going on in tho past. Tho second reading w u s agreed to on the voices. SAVINGS BANKS. Mr BAUME (Auckland City) moved tho second reading of the Savings Banks Profits Act Amendment Bill, to enable Uio trustees of the Auckland Savings Bank to devote a portion of the profits to educational and other institutions. This was agreed to. BANK OP NEW ZEALAND, Mr SEDDON (Premier) moved tho second reading »f uho Bank of New Zealand Bill. Ho Bald it was a technical measure rendered necessary by tho action of tho London authorities in issuing a circular regarding tho renewal of existing' stock wlu'ch was rather in conflict with tho provisions of tho Act of last year. The doubt as to appointment of an auditor was also roinovcd, and this term of the appointment limited to soven yeara,

The second reading was agreed to without debate, and the bill was immediately committed, the Premier stating that he was desirous of putting the bill through all its stages before his departure for Auckland at midnight; At clause 2, giving the capital stock reforred to In the Act of last year priority both as to capital and dividend, aa against, the assets of the bank, over all the existing shares whether preference or ordinary Air .his. ALLEN (Bruce) |>oiuted out that this priority did not exist before, and he wanted to know why the State should take a second place in that respect. This meant there were three classes of shares—ordinary, preference, and those now in qiuestion, and tho alteration was necessary <on account of a blunder on the part of the Lolxlon authorities. Mr SEDDON argued that tho proposal only gavo the stock the same priority as was given bv the Act of 189-1. Mr ALLEN : Hut not over the preference shares. Mr SEDDON contended that it did not make any difference. The clause was agreed to and the bill passed through committee and its final stages. The House rose at 10.35 p.m.