PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 256, 4 December 1909, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

< FRIDAY, DECEMBER 3. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, last Night. In the Council this afternoon the Imprest Supply BILI wag put through all /its Btages. Leave oi absence lor the remainder erf the session was granted to the Hon. Holmes, on account of ill-health. It was agreed that tie Council sit on Honda; afternoon next. The committee of the whole on the Hospitals and Charitable Institutions Bill was resumed. At the postponed clause 72, providing that boards may make an agreement for special terms as to the maintenance in the hospitals of members of friendly societies, the Hon. Dr. Collins took strong exception to ttie clause, which he said should not have keen introduced into the Bill. He poi ued out that the medical profession had not had an opportunity of considering the clause, which was one that was lively to disorganise the institution. The Hon. Sinclair agreed that the clause should be retained. The Hon, Samuel objected to friendly societies or any oiler body being tre.it«d exceptionally under this Bill. The Hon. G. J. Smith thought if xriendly societies wanted special advanthe question ought to be dealt with in a separate Bill, not in a gener.il measure of this kind. The Hon. Callan said there was not the slightest necessity for invoking legislation in favor of friendly societies. The Hon. McGowan hoped he would not destroy a good Bill by introducing such a clause as this "one into it. The clause would mean the foisting of friend-1 ly societies' chronic cases on to hospitals I and charitable institutions. The Hon. Baidey considered the clause fexceedingly unfair to doctors. Dr. Fmdlay said at present more than • third of the members of the friendly societies in hospitals paid nothing. At present they were unable to pay, and Miis clause, would procure payment for such patients. If the clause enabled an arrangement to be made between friendly. societies and the Board to pay something for every member in the hospitals, rarely that was a good bargain. * The Hon. Sinclair said so far from beMg a good bargain for the hospitals, it -would be the very worst that could l e ■aae. It put the whole thing down on fe money basis, which was contrary to gthMpirit of the Act. Th. e Hon. Paul cbuld see no wrong in looking at the financial side of the arrangement. The clause would benefit the poorer classes. The Hon. Dr. Collins, to test the question, moted to delete the opening woras of the clause. On a division, after further disensMOH, the clause was lost by 18 to 13. •A new clause was inserted, on the '.notion of the Attorney-General, providing for the union of hospital districts, . The Bill was reported with amendments, read a third time and passed. . The Council then rose.

• HOUSE OP REPRESENTATIVES. The House met in the afternoon. The Friendly Societies Bill was introduced by Governor's Message, and read ft first tune. The Prime Minister moved that tin Saturdays, from 10 a.m. till 1 p.m, the House meet for consideration of orders of the day, only local Bills to take presence, and thereafter Government Dills, which was agreed to. LAND COMMITTEE'S KEPORT. The House resumed the interrupted debate on the question tnat the report of the Lands Committee do lie on the table. Mr. Thomson (Wallace) entered a plea for the freehold on behalf of pioneer settlers. Mr. Hogg upheld the leasehold, and denounced the Government's supinene?s «» the land question. In the House in the evening, the second reading o{ the Defence Bill was carried pro forma, on the motion of the Premier, and referred to a select committee. THE ESTIMATES. The House went into committee of supply.

A motion by Mr. Allen to reduce lie item, £llOO (for extra clerks and reporters) was lost.

Mr. Hanan moved to reduce £2203 (library salaries) hv £1 as an indication that it was excessive for the work done. . , The Premier gave details of the library and the work done by the staff as a warranty for expenditure. Several members bore testimony to the value of the library assistance thev had received from the staff. The motion was negatived. Mr. Massey moved to strike out the item "Financial adviser to the Government, London, £400." After considerable discussion, touching largely on Mr. Beeves, late High Commissioner, the motion was put and carried by 35 votes to 25. On the item £4OOO (Commissioner of Taxes and Valuer-General), Mr. Wright moved to reduce the amount by £1 as an indication that the Government should inform the House as to the position regarding tJie Commissioner ol Taxes, against whom charges had been made. Mr. Herdman supported the amendment, and asked for general particulars of the case. (Left Sitting.)