PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 211, 27 August 1908, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. By Telegraph.—Preu Association. Wellington, Last Night. Tile Council met at 2.30. The Local Elections , : mi Polls Amendment Hill from the House was rend a second time. The lion. JenkinSoa moved the second reading of the Furriers' Hill wliicli originated in tile House and lias been before the Council on two previous occasions. The second reading was carried by 10 to 10. The Council rose at 4.45.

HOUSE 01? IUiPIUiSIiNTATIVE.S. a Wellington, Wednesday. i In the House after midnightv IhY Town Hoards Amendment Bill No. 2, t the Police Offences Act Amendment i Hill, and the Acts Interpretation i Amendnient Hill were read a second | time. Tile last two were referred to t the Joint Statutes Revision Committee. I The House rose at 12.25 a.m. I Wellington, Last Night. j REPLIES TO QUESTIONS.

The House met at 2.30. Ministers, replying to questions, stated that the representations' made urging t.he more vigorous prosecution of the Sont/l> Island Main Trunlc railway will receive full consideration when the Public Works Estimates for the year are being compiled; that the. Government is not prepared at presenilis make any reduction in railway rates for New Zealand timber; u\at the matter of seeing that tins needy arc represented by counsel in cases of dispute arising between claimants and the other party under the Workers' Compensation for Accidents Act will receive consideration from ' the Government; that it ia pvoposcd to make provision regarding tue inspection of wool, .tow and skins before shipment in a Bill which is being prepared to amend the Shipping and Soainen Act; ] that when the Bill comes in force the Government will consider the question ef whether the Marine Department will undertako the work of making the necessary tests as to the amount of moisture contained in any package; that every endeavor will be made to. exempt tilre Dominion from any order that may be issued by the uritish Board of Trade prohibiting the importation of boned beef into the United Kingdom; that it is not considered necessary to make provision in future to meet the cost of covering at camps at Efistci' manoeuvres. THE EDUCATION' J3ILL.

A Bill containing amendments to the Education Bill, introduced earlier in the session, was introduced by Governor's Message. 'Xhe amendments were on the lines suggested by t'lie Education Committee and aimed generally at making the Bill more generally. acceptable to teachers. The Minister for Education explained that the amendments. guarded against any reduction in staffing or hi teachers' salaries as a result of changes proposed. The House adjourned at 5.30 and resumed at 7.30. VARIOUS BILLS. The following Bills were read a third time and passed:—The Destitute Persons' Act Amendment (Mr. Fisher), the Counties Act Amendment (Mr. James Allen), the Municipal Corporations Act Amendment (Mr. i'isncr), and Public Works Act Amendment (Mr Izard). The second reading of Mr Izard's Alteration of Time Bill, to put the clockback during the summer months, was carried on the voices, and referrett to the Industries and Commerce Committee. The Public Works Act Amendment Bill, No. 2 (Sir W. Steward) was thrown out on a point of order raised by the Minister of Public Works. THE ESTIMATES. , The House proceeded to consider further items of the, Estimates. On the vote of £-232,704, Department of Lauds and Survey, Mr. Herrics complained of the manner in which small grazing run leases of 1885 were dealt with. They had been taken up under the impression that there was right ol renewal, but in some instances renewals had not been granted. The Minister of La mis explained that there were two kinds of leases, oncundcr the Act of 1885 and the other' under the Act of 1802, the latter being practically a perpetual lease. Under the earlier Act if the land were unsuitable for subdivision, the tenant had the option of renewing the lease, but the Government had the right to subdivide. This accounted for the different decisions. Implying to the insistence of certain members, the Minister of Lands said steps were being taken to fence off certain areas of Crown lands in Otago in order to allow the native grasses to Spread again. Mr. Witty urged that a bonus should be offered for the best means o£ eradicating noxious weeds. Many river beds were full of gorse. Mr. Flatuian contended that gorse protected river beds by preventing erosion. Other members having urged the importance of eradicating weeds on Crowii lands, tlie Minister of Lands stated that last year the Government expended '£lßoo in the destruction of weeds on Crown lands. The matter was one for the Agricultural Department. However, the Government could not attempt the impossibility of dealing with the' large areas of Crown lands. Replying to Mr. Field, the Minister said he would like to see Uie whole of ICapiti Island owned by the Govern,inent as a bird sanctuary, and believed it possible to come to terms with the native owners. Replying to Mr. Jennings, the Minister said next year's Estimates would provide for a large number of rebates in connection with the recent grass fires. The details of the vote wero discussed at great length. The Minister said he was making arrangements to deal with sand drifts, i The vote passed unaltered. i