PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 215, 4 September 1908, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 3. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. Tiie Council met to-day. TJie Oamaru Reserves Bill was rend a third time and the Oamaru Harbor Board Loan Bill, Waikolm County Rill, and Destitute Persons Amending Bill were read a second time. The lion. J. lligg moved the second • reading of the Municipal Corporations Act Amendment Bill extending the franchise to lodgers, and bringing'in, seamen and commercial travellers. Tiie Hon. T. K. Mac Donald moved uu amendment that the Bill lie read a se- | twid time that day six months. The | amendment was carried by 22 to 7, and the Council rose.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House met at 2.30. Two weeks' further leave of absence was granted to Mr. McLachlan owing to ill-health. HARBOR BILLS POSTPONED. After considerable discussion, it was decided, on the suggestion of the Premier, to postpone further consideration of the Opunake Harbor Bill and New Plymouth Harbor Board Empowering Bill for a week to enable those in charge to confer with the Local Bills Committee and afford an opportunity for further evidence to be submitted. LOCAL BILLS.

The Auckland Cemeteries Bill was passed. The Hokitilu Harbor Act Amendment Bill, Lincoln Road Board Empowering Bill, l.iuiigahua County Council Empowering Act Amendment Bill, and Matamata County Bill passed the committee stages. - The Auckland Harbor Board Loan and Empowering Bill was read a second time.

la committee on the Canterbury College Amendment Bill, on the motion of Mr. I'owlds, clause 8, empowering the Board to pay the chairman, was struck out by 38 to 9. The House adjourned at 5.34 and resumed at 7.30. The Canterbury College Amendment Bill, Whakatane County Act Amendment Bill, Opunake Harbor Bill and Auckland Harbor Loan Empowering Bill passed their committee stages. The New Plymouth Harbor Board Empowering Bill was committed.

PLURAL VOTING. Considerable discussion was excited by sub-section E, clause 13, on the subject of plural voting. A debute followed on tilie lines of the previous discussions of this question. The plural voting clause was upheld by 34 to 23. The Bill passed the committee stage, and progress was reported. All the Hills were read a third time and passed. HARBOR BOARDS' BORROWING. On the passage of the Auckland Harbor Bill, providing- for borrowing £IOO.OOO, Mr. LaurenSon protested at the "financial drunk" the country was indulging in. Harbor boards were borrowing over two milions and a-lralf this session. He regretted to see this saturnalia of borrowing. Sir Joseph Ward said the boards were in a good financial position and well able to provide sinking funds for the redemption of the loans. He could wish that local bodies borrowed less. The Government was continually resisting requests for expenditure. Several other members spoke. (Left Sitting).