PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 60, 5 September 1907, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER i. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. ! Per Press Association. The Council resumed at 2.30 p.m. A return was ordered, on the motion of the Hon. Mr. Kigg, showing the number of permits applied for and issued to under-rate workers under awards of the Arbitration. Court, also permits granted in connection with the provisions of the Arbitration Act. The Waipukurau County Bill was passed. The Farriers Bill was killed by 13 to 11 on the motion for committal. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Tlic House met at 2.30 p.m. In answer to questions, Ministers stated that it is not possible to say at I present whether there will be any j amendment of the Municipal Corporations Act this session; that all fines indicted by the Arbitration Court on employers having property on which distraint could be levied have been paid; there have been some, cases in which men nominally employees (such as one another) have been fined, and a few of these men have not paid; some of these men have left the country, some are bankrupt, and some have' died. These eases represent 2% per cent, of the total taken. In every case the Department has pushed matters to the extreme of civil process before desisting from effort to recover the money; moneys are still being received from men who were formerly employers and who are now out of business. FIRE BRIGADES BILL. Arising out of the Premier's reply to a question put by Mr. Aitken that it was proposed to bring down the Fire Brigades Act Amendment Bill, Mr. Aitken said they had been in session since June 27, and the Bill had not yet been circulated. He contended that in the case of a conflagration which might cause considerable damage in any of the towns of the colony owing to lack of appliances or men, the responsibility must rest with the Government, as the boards were not able to borrow money in order to pay firemen's wages or for appliances, and he could not understand bow some of the boards were managing in this respect. He urged that the Bill should be circulated without further delay.

The rest of the sitting was spent 01 the Tariff Bill.