PARLIAMENT

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 81835, 30 August 1906, Page 3

PARLIAMENT

THURSDAY, AUGUST 30. LEGISLATIVE COUKCIL. PER PRESS ASSOCIATION. The Council met at 2.30 p.m. The Hon. J- WGG moved for a r .turn showing the number of Chinese immigrants dunng the year ending 3 ut March, 1006, and since, and the number of Chinese who left the colony during the same period. The election of Chairman of Con» mil tecs was held in camera, and ir suited in the choice of the Hon. .Mi Reeve*.

Sir MAURICE O'RORKE moved ed the second reading of the Divinity Degrees Bill, to enable the Univer sity of New Zealand to confer dc gTees of divinity. He explained that it provided that the Senate should frame a curriculum of divinity de gTee, so as not to favour any particular denomination but to suit all re ligious denominations. No religious test was to be imposed on the profes•or/lecturer, or student. The study for degrees could be either at an affiliated institution or privately. On the motion of the ATTORNEYGENERAL the debate was adjourned until to-morrow.

The Hon. Mr LOUISSON, having spoken in reply to the debate on the motion for the Address-in-Reply, the Address was agreed to and the Council rose at 4.1 c. 1

HOUSE OF REPRESEMTATIVES. The House met at 2.30 P-m. . Leave of absence for a fortnigni was given Mr E. G. Allen on urgent private affairs. FIRST READINGS.

The following Bills were read a first time:—Habitual Criminals (Mr Sidev), Immigration Restriction (Mr Sidev), Landless Natives (Hon. ICarroll), Stamp Act Amendment (Hon J. Carroll), Fire Brigade (Hon. J. Carroll), Local Government Subsidies (Sir J. G. Ward). QUESTIONS. The replies to the questions were circulated. Among these are the following:—The rumour that the State Fire Insurance Office intends to join the Fire Insurance Underwriters' Association has no foundation in fact.. —The meeting of Parliament has been fixed for the convenience of members and the alteration suggested to meeting early in May would necessitate the change in the close of the financial year to the end of December.—The question of mating further provision for sanatorium patients at Rotorua will be considered „„- the completion of the new bath builtl'"* now in course cf * KCt!on ' The GV ,vernment nave every es ' re t0 .•ml f _ -ilitjes for the indigent poor who m ght b» benefited by the use of 3£ spring-*-—** Government will not introduce legislation to abolish special jurie*. & ** ■ Uw whichwas passed itf 1898, and which provides that no case or inquiry sha be tried by a special jury unless a.l parties consent thereto, or unless, in the opinion of the Court or Judge, expert knowedge is required, is quite efficient to protect the ««« es, »;>l all classes of the public— l.ne Friendly Societies Bill will be emulated at an early date.-The Government Railways Superannuation Fund to applicable only to persons who were permanently employed in the Department in any capacity at the time the Act came into operation, and to such other persons as have from time to time been put on the permanent staff since that date. Although the exigencies of the work ct the Department may necessitate the ■employment of certain members of the casual staff for a eonsidcrable period, such persons are nevertheless liable to be paid off at any time »hould the work slacken. No alteration which would disturb the Government Railways Superannuation Fund Act could be agreed to without we concurrence of every contributor to the fund, and it is not proposed to make any alteration in the direction indicated.—lt is not expedient to set up a Committee of the House to inquire into so large a question as the •neral effect of the Treaty of Wai- -- -v—The proposal to establish a J anfc . v bureau has been mooted tree lav but up to tne prefrom time . t to any sent there very great den. , if . n of such an public for „„„,<*, n or institution at the l- t . „ , v „ r k_ | has a practical schen. • , haU b( . Ed out. The Govern, to glad to give every cons . hich any suggestions on the subj. ,^,^ d | the hon. members may feel a ke to make.—lt is not intended to any change in the existing prac. as regards the payment of jurors 1. criminal cases.—The question of altering the scale of payment to jurors in civil cases is now engaging m> attention, but there are difficulties in the wav, as any increase in the cost mast either be borne by the Consolidated Fund or else fall upon the parties to the suit.—lf time wiil permit this session an amendment in the Shearers' Accommodation Acf will be introduced, providing that the inspector can insist on proper accommodation being provided for the ordinary station and farm hands, as well as for the shearers.—The potato duty will be considered when

the question of tariff is brnuK.it down. Steps have already been taken to prohibit the importation ot potateea affected with blight. The further question of preventing the planting of diseased potatoes will receive consideration.—A Bill wiU be introduced this session to amend the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act.—There is no intentim of introducing a Fair Rent BUl.—The Government have not received any communication from the University of New Zealand recommending that free tuition at University Colleges be provided for all persons who have obtained credit at the University exams, for junior scholarships. The matter has, however, already been tunder the consideration of the Department for more than four year-;. out the great increase, in the expenditure for education in other ways has led to the postponement of this matter; indeed, the first holders of free places in secondary schools will only now have reached the stage at

which they are ready for University education. The question of giving immediate effect to the principle involved is being considered by the Government.— Applications for enrolment on board the Sparrow must be addressed to the Defence Department.—The question of a reduction on the Sheep Tax is under consideration.—Government have no intention of setting up a Royal Commissin to enquire into the fishing industry. A' ?r*at deal of money has been spent* «» c last few jxars on cx P erl " mVntal trawling, importation of sal. mo^and-**" fish, and on tac establishment and maintenance.* - marine fish hatchery, and it is proposed that the jmport of such ma should be gone »».f\f/ ' other suilabl* food tf»he» shall be introduced from Great Britain and America if possible. The question . nf duties levied on arteks required byfishermen will be considered when • the tariff is being revised. Ihe takng of trout at the mouths of river-i will b" dealt with finally at an car-y 'date.—A question asking for free school books was answered by quoting fie answer given to Mr ri-'d < n September. 100;. to a »imdar que--«in. viz.. that the course proposed would bf verv expensive, t ia' the

"books would be inferi- r to tho*c now , applied in such gr eat varytv. tic • f v «r would never be up to date, an' that ' '' '' a maUor for , ' du *- ;,,1 " n hotn S to deal with. The , tl ' ms ' adjourn"d at 5.30 p.m.