PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 220, 10 September 1908, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

WEIANESDAV, SEPTEMBER !). LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. By Telegraph.—Press Association, -Wellington, Lad Night. The Council met at k!.;io. The Roman Catholic Archbishop of Wellington Empowering Bill passed its third reading. The Second Ballot Bill was ftad a first time, and the second reading was , set down for Friday next. Th.. 1 1 n'.: ,

-I he Local Elections and Polls Amendment Bill passed the third readings. The Weslport Harbor Board Loan Bill passed through committee unamended, and was read a third time and passed. The Christchurch City Sanitation Empowering Bill was further considered ill committee. New clauses were added providing for pVoportional payment of tlie cost of sanitary work by owners and occupiers of houses; with at least one year's lease to run tenants to pay one-twentieth of the cost. The Bill was referred to the Local Bills Committee to consider the rate of interest.

m, » ra " u cuiisiuer uie rate 01 interest. The Counties Amendment Bill was taken in committee. A new clause was inserted to provide t-nat the Governor may, on the resolution of the council of any county, increase the number of ridings in any county to any number not exceeding twelve. The' Bill was reported as amended. The Destitute Persons Amendment Bill was put through committee and reported unamended. The Canterbury College Empowering Bill, Lincoln Road Board Empowering Bill, New Plymouth Harbor Board Empowering Bill, Opunake Harbor Bill, and llnangahua County Empowering Bill were read a second time, and the Council adjourned at 4.55.

HOUSE OP REPRESENTATIVES. The House met at 2.30. QUESTIONS ANSWERED. Ministers, replying to questions, Staged thatthe Classification Board, being unable to complete tlie scheme of classification of the Civil Service for this session, all increases of pay will be dealt with on the Supplementary Estimates; that the Admiralty report on the .proposed site for 11 'harbor at Point Elizabeth is unfavorable; the cost of building the breakwater would probably exceed ono and three-quarter millions, and from a naval point of view the proposed harbor would be useless; that it would be inadvisable at present to make any alteration in the arrangements under which Cook Island fruits are carried over New Zealand railways; that in connection with the anomalous position in which manufacturers in this country are placed ia relation to the Commonwealth, customs tariff whereby we are regarded as a foreign country iij the matter of duty, 110 steps had been taken to induce the Commonwealth authorities to make an . exception in favor of the Dominion; the matter will be one for consideration in connection with reciprocal agreements for mutual concessions; that it is not intended to amend the law so that the Government will be responsible to local bodies for general rates 011 unlet sections of land bought by them for the purpose of land-for-scttlement ov workmen's homes. The House adjourned at 5.30 and. resumed at 7.30.