House of Representatives

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 165, 16 July 1904, Page 2

House of Representatives

FRIDAY, JULY 10, 1904. The Hon. the Speaker took the choir at 2.80 p.m. AN INTERLOPER. Mr A. D, WILIJS (Wanganui) uskud by whose authority tho Prohibitioniat newspaper had been placed on inembers' desks in the House, Mr SPEAKER said his permission had not been asked or given, and ht would make inquiries into the matter, LEAVE OF ABSENCE. Another week's leave of absence was granted to Mr Moss (Ohinomuri) on account of family bereavement. FIRST READINGS. The Hospitals and Charitablo Institutions Act Amendment BUI (Itutberlord) and Public Contracts Act Amendment Bill (Ell) were Introduced and read a first time. I LAND DRAINAGE BILL, Hon. T. Y, DUNCAN (Minister for Lands) moved the second rending ol tho Land Drainage Bill, which ho said was almost solely a oonsolidating measure. It contained a few slight amendments, one of which was that no part of any borough should bo included in a drainage district. He would aicept reasonable amendments In committee. | Mr MASSEY (Leader of the Opposition) did not quit* see the necessity for tho provision relating to boroughs. Ho considered dralnngi boards should be subsidised by the Government. After a short debate tho second reading was agreed to on tho voices. FERTILISERS BILL. The Fertilisers Bill (Duncan) was read a second time pro forma, and rota-rod to tho Agricultural and Stock Committee. DOMAIN BOARDS, Mr DUNCAN moved the second reading of the Domain Boards Bill, which was greatly required as the management oi domains was not at all satisfactory. The bill proposed to empower tho Goveinor-in-Council to appoint domain boards, and enabled locul bodies to assist such boards with funds in ceiaain cases. Tho bill was agreed to on the voices, MIXING COMPANIES, The Mining Companies Bill (McGowan) was read a second time pro forma, and referred to the Mines Committee.

COUNTIES ACT AMENDMENT, The Counties Act Amendment Bill was committod. Somo discussion took placo ob clause 3, which pro vides that a copy of eveiy byo-law pasajd by a county council providing (or the licensing of vehicles plying for hire shall be sent to the Ministei (or Public Works within a week, and that the Minister may disallow such bye-law at any time thereafter. Several members arguod that this clause would really take tho power of making bye-laws out of tho hands of the counties and put it into tho hands of tho Minister, Against this Sir Joseph Ward l>oiiUc>d out that at present thi scale of fees could be amended by tin Uovernor-in-Council at any time, and yet the Minister could only disallow the bye-law for twelve months. .This clause would make the position logical. Alter considerable discussion, on Sir Joseph Ward's motion the clausv was amended to prouido that tlu period within which the Ministei may disallow a bye-law shall be two years. Tho Houso rose at 5.30 p.m. EVENING SITTING. Tho Ilousa resumed at 7.30 p.m. COUNTIES ACT AMENDMENT, In committee on the Counties Aai Amendment 11111, on the motion oi Mr Houston (Hay of Islands) a new clause was added providing that anj bye-luw maido under tho principal act may provide for the licensing of billiard rooms, and for payment ol reasonable license fees. A new clausv was added on Mr liuchnnon's (Wnlrnrnpa) motion enabling counties to levy rates not only for the construction but also lor maintenance of water races. Jir Witty (Ritcaiton) moved a new clause making it an oflence to erect uny pig-slyo or fowlhouse within 25 links of any public water-race. This was agrecti to, win, a proviso that it should not appl> to any water-race in a goldfields district. On the motion of Mr J. C. Thomson (Wallace) a new clause empowering a county council to vou up to £3O a year for cemetery improvement purposes was agreed to. Mr Harding (Kaipora) moved a new clause providing that after Slsi March, 1905, all road boards with a revenue of loss than £3O a year shall be merged in the county in which they aro situated, or Into the adjoining road boards as tho ratepayers shall determine. After a lengthy discussion Mr Hardin.,' withdrew his proposal. STUD IJILL. The Stud 11111 w;is committed. Mr Maseoy and several others urged that tho previsions of the bill should be made optional Instead of compulsory otherwise it would coiase very serious trouble in the country. Mr Duncan opposed tho suggestion, but said he was <juite willing that the bill shoulu not apply to racing stock.

Tho subject was debated at vcrv great length.

At 11.20 Mr Vile moved to report progress on tho bill, in order to give tho Minister an opportunity of bringing down a bill containing optional instead of compulsory provisions. Mr Duncan said tho bill was of vital importance to the whole colony, and he urged that tho House should make progress with It.

After further discussion ld> Vila's motion was lost by 85 votes to 17*