PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 170, 9 July 1908, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 8. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The Council met at 2.30 p.m. The lion. .Messrs. Carucross, Reeves. Bigg, and Thompson were nominated for the position of Chairman of Committers, and the lion. Mr. Reeves was declare 1 elected. The lion. Mr. George resumed the debate on t| K , Aihlrcss-in-Rcpiy. lie thought the Arbitration Act should be l.uug up for a year, and if then we had no industrial pence, an amending Act could be introduced. As to new Parliamentary Buildings, he thought thev should lie erected inland, away from a'n enemy's cruisers, and suggested Wainrapa as suitable. 'The Council adjourned at 4.23 p.m. HOUSE OK REPRESENTATIVES. The House met at 2.30 p.m. The Hours of Work Underground Bill. Friendly and Other Societies Amend-' meiit Bill, and Representation of the People Amendment I Jill were introduced. Mr. Massey asked whether the Government would give the House an amendment of the Electoral Act in the direction of ensuring greater secrecy. The Premier, replving, doubled wh'lber the matter could lie dealt with this session. He liad had no complaints of want of secrecy. REPLIES TO QUESTIONS. Ministers, replying to questions, said il was not intended to introduce legislation enabling a colonial vole with a bare majority to be taken on the licensing question'; that the printing of the main electoral rolls at the Government Printing OHice was in accordance with the Act and of great advantage to the Electoral Department; there would be no increase of graduation income- tax; that the output ol gold and silver in the Dominion should be considerably increased before, proceeding to establish a branch of the Royal Mint; the Government did not propose to employ canvassers to enrol electors, and the cost would be belween £7OOO and .U80D0; a Bill dealing with some pressing amendments to the Municipal Corporations Act will probably be introduced; the Government could not agree to reduce freight on tirewood by rail; excursion railway fares could not be extended to country people on market days; it was intended to amend the Habitual Drunkards Act to allow a magistrate to grant probation if he deemed it necessary; the Government had not arrived at any decision to take over the tourist traffic on the Wanganui river; the whole question of the Patent Law was receiving the attention of the Government; there was no present intention to increase the duty on Oregon pine: there was no intention to amend the Land Act this .session; the Government did not consider il desirable to discontinue the. hranding of boxes of lintter alter grading and leaving Home buyers In purchase produce on its merits: the Government would consider suggestions for placing rilie clubs on a belter fooling; the Government hoped to submit proposals this session dealing with uniform school books for the Dominion; it was intended to amend'-4hc Shipping and Seamen's Act to exempt fishing vesels of small tonnage from carrying eertilieiited engineers; that medical inspection of schoojs was under consideration. The House rose at 5.30 p.m. The House resumed at 7.30. LOAN BILL.

The Loan Jlill for JCI ,"2.10,000 Was introduced. The second reading was set down for next day. MUSICIANS JSUX. The serond reading of the Musicians Kill was agreed to and referred to the Education Department. MUNICIPAL AMENDING BILL. The second reading of the Municipal (''irr.nrations Aet Amendment Dili, providing that the construction of footpath, kcrbing, and channelling he a charge on Hie frontage, mot with a deal of opposition. The second reading was rejected l.y HO to 20. MEIKLE ACQUITTAL 13.1 LL. On the motion for the third reading of the Meikle Acquittal Bill, Mr. llornsby entered a protest against the measure and declared that members received communication to-day that the amount of compensation demanded would he C 27.000. A number of members strongly opposed the Kill. ' After the .supper adjournment the debate was continued at considerable length on both sides olVjie question. The Premier replied at considerable leii-th. and the third reading was carried !,- .17 vol-s to 17 votes. AElilTUATira AMENDMENT WILL. The second reading of the Arbitration AiniMoluii nt Kill pro forma was carried. The House adjourned at 11.33 p.m.