PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 81853, 28 September 1906, Page 3

PARLIAMENT.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 27.

LEGISLATIVE GOUNCIL,

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.l

On the moton of the Hon. W. Caincross, it wa» ordered that the evidence given before the Royal Commission appointed to enquire into complaints re alleged lending of money at rates of excessive interest to natives interested in tie West Coast Settlement Reserve* should be laid on the Table, and be printed. The Hon.' Mr Stevens moved that the attention of the Government be drawn to the state of the Land Insurance Fund, as pointed out by the fublic Trust office in its annual report recently presented to Parliament, in that the Public Trustee had stated that under present methods the Land fund would be exhausted in a few years. The Attorney-General said the mat ter had not escaped the attention of the Government. He had consulted the Colonial Treasurer on the subject, and a Bill was at present in course of preparation to provide for discontinuance of payments under | the Loans to Local Bodies Act, and the replacement of moneys that had been taken. —The motion was carried.

The debate on Sir Maurice o"Rorke's motion for the restoration

ot provincialism was continued for naif an hour, and the motion rejected by 20 to 7.

The Fire Brigades Bill was further considered in Committee. At clause 11, dealing with proportion of contribution, the Hon. George moved to fix' the Government contri button at one-seventh of the cstimat ed annual expenditure, but after discussion did not press the amendment. Clause 13, dealing with contributions by insurance companies, was postponed on the motion of the Attorney-General. The remainder of the clauses were passed unamended, and progress was reported. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

The House met at 2.30 p.m. PRIVILEGE.

Soon after the beginning of the sitting, Mr J. Allen read the procedure ■n the privilege case of 1903 (Lyttelton Times), and gave notice to ask the Premier if he was aware of f h': same when ho made his remarks yes terday. The Premier gave notice to ask Mr Allen if he had not yesterday stated that the above procedure ought not to be followed on the present occasion. Mr Greenslade asked the Premier, without notice, if he agreed with the sentiments expressed by Mr Lewis respecting the Press Galiery? The Premier did not agree with them at all. His personal experience of the gentlemen in the Press Gallery was that they were all highly ' honourable men. He had never held any other LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AM ENDMENT BILL. (In Committee.) The Committee divided on clause 3 (number of members). Ayes 27, noes 2/, and the Chairman gave his casting vote for the Ayes. The clause passed. Clause 4, notification of vacancies, was passed. EVENING SITTING. At clause 5, Mr Buddo moved the addition of a proviso confining eli gibility to ex-members of the House of Representatives. Noes 31, ayes 28.—Amendment was lost. The clause, as amended, was then thown out by 3S (noes) to 22 (ayes). The Bill was killed and progress was reported. FARRIERS BILL (Major). In Committee a long discussion found the Bill illogical, vague, without provision for fees or direction for examination, likely to do hardship to back-country farriers, and unjust to apprentices, to blot out the handyman. After this discussion, clause 1 was passed by 40 to 23. At 10.20 a motion to report progress was put and lost. Ayes r, noes 46. I Clause 3 was amended by striking out the words "Forbidding the practice of farriers without registration." Provisions of a (eelinicai clyai'.utir were made in clause 4, the chief being the substitution of the Governor-in-Council for the Chief Veterinarian. Clause 5 was amended by reduction of the fine for breach of the Act to £l. Progress was reported and the House adjourn'd at k p.m.