PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 81849, 21 September 1906, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

By Telegraph.—Press Association, f he Council met at 2.30 p.m. Ihe Firearms Bill and Fisheries Acts Amendmont Bill were read a third time and passed. Pavrn e em H ° f ro T VllenUa B ' ock Bili «">

FIRE BRIDGADES BILL' too far. The™ " nsid Vent fesuciralt^^cle^ asked for by local bod, - companies v?JL • or ms "ranw ies were not tion. the mu m fire P rev «- •wrong, and alio ™ /"""""ally sarfsasas would have the effect 0 mn '• ■ U ■ the board u " on8 > an£ l P.owors of si H trj- B r ygavea^a' j "-uraL^oS f s t bUSinS brigade., fo r they saved th ° SUpport -man ythos / nd 7 a ed y^c Ol n P anB/:aftirr«r that Tn? Conference" had r oppi l he autocracy d set U P » n wsm b reading was agreed to ou^amendment^ndwasreadarhird

The Council rose at 4,30 p. m . K°USE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House met a t 2.30 p. m . z , .FIRST READINGS * Auckland Girls' Grammar School Bill Naprer Harbour Board BUI, twl Service Superannuation Bill Savings Bank Profits Bill, National Annuites Bill, Training SMpsßUi (new clause), Sale of Explosives Bill. Arbitration Act Amendment Bill. ti m IN COMMITTEE. The New Plymouth Borough and faranaki School Commissioners Exchange piil, Havelock Athenaeum and Mechanics' Institute Bill, and Waimumu Stream Drainage Bill were a 1 passed through unamended. These Bills were reported, and by leave of the House, given on the Premier's motion, were read a third time. GOVERNMENT VALUATION OF, LAND ACT AMENDMENT

On the motion for the third reading, Mr Massey thought the Bill ought to have been taken up by the Government. ,

The Premier thought the Leader of the Opposition very ungrateful for the assistance given by the Govern- "^

nient, without which his friend's Bill [ would have been . impossible, /ie proceeded to explain that the association of the county clerk in these valuations would have to be very carefully watched, and that the proposed classification of lands would, in view of the varying values throughout the colony, be exceedingly difficult. He denied absolutely that the Government is a single-tax Government, or opposed to the farming interest. The Government was prepared to trust the people, and to protest against misrepresentation.

The Bill was read a third time on the voices.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT FRANCHISE BILL. (Mr Ell.) The second reading was lost by 35 to 25. -

RATING ON UNIMPROVED VALUE AMENDMENT BILL. (Mr Ell.) -• ■' . The second reading was refused by 38 to 20. ' ' ' ' •

TOWN DISTRICTS BILL (Mr ✓ Flat'man). * The second reacting' was passed on the voices, LAND AGENTS BILL. The second reading' was moved bv Mr Witty. The House adjourned for dinner at 5-30. EVENING. SITTING. The House resumed at 7,30 p.m. LAND AGENTS BILL. After a brief discussion, the second reading passed on the voicees. THE CONTINGENT VOTE BILL. The second reading was moved By Mr Lewis, who explained' that' he had only taken up the measure after he had ascertained that Mr McNab had no intention of repeating his service of last year. He explained the machinery ptoposod for se.ecting, in -asi'3 of failure of all candidates' to' secure a majority of the .votes, the :\vo loading candidates, and dividing the Other votes cast' between them ac:ordiug to the contingent directions jf the voters in the ballot papers, for vhich direction the Bill provides. Mr Laurenson and Mr Davy, as >upporters of the absolute majority 'otq, would vote with the mover. He however, the second ballot system, as more likely to get a selec-' ion in a straight-out issue. : Mr Massey pointed out tse~ v - 3ii! was on all fours with the Bill lnroduced in a former session By Mr tfcNab, and the same practically as iri force in Queensland, where it is working well, as he had been assured by many competent witnesses. The Hon. Mr Millar disliked the BiU, as voters COuld be ffQt t0 mani _ pulate their votes to the detriment of the majority principled The present system ho contended did secure the feeling of the majority, even if the elected person represented a minority of the votes cast. Personally, he was not interested,, as' he had been elected by a very large majority. Mr Wilfprd would say the same. He agreed that the voto could bo easily rigged under the proposed system, and thought that the satisfaction in Queensland was probably due to the fact that the people had got accustomed to the system, and urged tlie inadvisability of making any alteration in the existing system to .which people had got accustomed. * • In reply, Mr Lewis could not see how the voting could "rigged '' and did not see that the other Sipte had shown how it could be done. . If a dummy were put up, neither side lie thought, would derive any advantage. However, it was a committee objection, and lie would leave it to the committee. The House divided: Ayes 21 noes ' 33. The Hill was lost. ' NOXIOUS WEEDS BILL (In committee.) Mr Tanner moved ■ an addition to clause 3> "After providing for the ordinary annual cxpen- - diturc." The member in charge did not accept, and a long discussion , arose. On division, the amendment was iost by iS to 32. • Mr Jennings moved to add, after V the words "to e'ear" the words "by means of Angora goats." The Chairman ruled the amendment out of^ order as trifling with the Commit-

Mr Jennings maintained h e was-/ '" wnous but'the Chairman refused W accqjt the amendment. Mr j en . ■ ninp moved in the usual way lo an- ' peal to the Speaker, but was betfcn by 20 to 22. After further discussion, progress --k-.-was reported and tho House ad-'H journed at io.?s, ■ M