PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 238, 13 November 1909, Page 7

PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Wellington, November 12. THE MUSICIANS BILL. After midnight the progress of the Musicians' Hill was reported. The Na.tivc Land Amendment Hill ,vas read a first time, and the Mutual Fire Insurance Bill (Mr. Dive) was read a second time. The House then rose.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 12. Wellington, Last Night. In the House this afternoon, Mr. McDonald asked the Government what it intended to do in regard to recognising the

CLAIMS OF OLD SOLDIERS which were continually being made, it was 3(i years since the Maori war, but so fur no comprehensive scheme had been formulated to deal with the matter.

Mr. Hemes urged the Government to announce its intentions as early as possible.

Tiie Hon. .1. Carroll said the whole matter was at. present lieing considered by the Government.

Mr. Massev and other members on both sides of the House urged the Government to deal sympathetically with the claims of Maori war veterans. LOCAL BODIES' SINKING FUNDS. Mr. Davey, chairman of the Petitions Committee, reported that it had no recommendation to make on the petition of the Dunedin City Council praying that section 25 of the Loans to Local Bodies Act, T.MIB, be li'iicalcd. The section provides that sinning funds must be invested iu Gortiramcnb securities, even when there is no Government guarantee of loan, instead of being invested aB formerly by sinking fund commissioners. Mr. Davey explained that tthe committee considered the matter one of policy. He moved that the report lie on the table. Mr, Sidey moved as an amendment

that the report be referred to the Gov[crraucjit for consideration. The amendment was supported by Messrs. Allen, Glover, Bamne, Massey and Phillips, who held that local bodies 'had a right to control their own sinking funds. Mr. McLaren, in supporting the amendment, said ihc was opposed to the policy of centralising power, which was dangerous to democracy. The question involved in the amendment was one of local government.

The Hon. R. McKenzie opposed the amendment, 'ine object aimed at in the repeal of the clause was to enable boroughs to traffic in their own stock. Mr. fill said there was abundant evidence to show that local bodies' were far more conservative than the Government, and in many cases could not be trusted.

Mr. Guthrie supported the amendment, which Mr. Duncan (Oamarii) opposed.

On the amendment being p u t it was carried bv 34 to 25.

THE NATIVE LAND BILL was read a second time pro forma and referred to the Native Lands Committee. The House went into committee on the

HOSPITALS AND CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS BILL.

On clause 42, sub-clause 10, Mr. Masse/ pointed out that the local authority was authorised to raise contributions under the Local Bodies Loans Act, instead of under the State Guaranteed Advances Act.

Mr. Fowlds explained that this could be amended later on in the State Guaranteed Advances Bill being passed this session. The fact that the Bill was not passed was the reason why the measure was not mentioned in the sub-clause.

Mr. Hemes suggested the taking of sub-clauses of clause 42 one by one, which the Minister agreed to.

Mr. Rhodes moved to strike out subclause 2, which provides for the Board making an estimate of its' expenditure during April in each financial year, and substitute an amendment to the effect that every old board shall, before 20th March. 10NI, for the guidance of the newly-elected body prepare, an-estimate of the probable expenditure for the ensuing year, and every board before the same date, in each succeeding year, shall estimate its probable requirements for a similar period. After discussion the amendment was put and lost on the voices.

The House ro-e at 5.30. EVENING SITTING.

In the evening the House resumed consideration of the Hospitals Bill in committee.

Hon. i'V.vids. in accordance with iwtice, moved to omit the words: "Rut there shall be no representatives of the district on the board of t'lic hospital district" from sub-clinic 1, clause 4i", and to mid the following: -The Governor mav, if be thinks lit, having regard both to population and to rateable value of property in any such part of hospital district, by Order-in-Council in December of each year appoint such number of members as lie thinks lit, not exceeding three, as representatives of thot part of the district on the board." This was agreed to. On clause 411, providing for moneys lielonging to the Board being paid into bank pending investment, Mr. Witty moved to insert the words, "giving the. board power to bulge money with some local authority authorised by statute,ln borrow money otherwise than from a bank.''

After considerable discussion the amendment was defeated by. 42 to 23. On the motion of Sir William Steward it was decided to delete the words in clause 52, sub-clause 1, providing that no money, land, or property shall without the consent of tihe Minister be accepted by the board in trust for the establishment of anv new institution.

On clause 58, which provides that the board may borrow on security for building «nd otlher purposes', Mr. Luke moved to add words giving the board power to borrow money by way of special loan under the Loans to Local Bodies Act.

The amendment was negatived by 37 to 2G.

Sir William Steward moved to add to clause 58 the following words in respect of ordinary miaintcnance expenditure: "The Board may borrow by way of bank overdraft, provided that such overdraft shall not at any time exceed the total of unpaid contributions levied upon contributory local authorities', plus I amount of subsidy due but remaining unpaid."

the amendment was carried by 32 to 22. On clause 59, which extends the power of selling, exchanging, and mortgaging land to land held in trust, Mr. Stallworthy moved to add: "But only with consent of the Minister." ■ After considerable discussion Mr. Fowlds suggested that to meet the, objection of members to allow boards to dispose of trust lands clause 5,6 be 'altered to read as follows: " A board may with the consent of the Minister sell or exchange any land vested in it, other than land held in trust for any special purpose," which was agreed to on Hie voices.

Mr. Stalhvorthy's motion was then put and carried by 24 to 20.