PARLIAMENT

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 276, 30 December 1909, Page 3

PARLIAMENT

, LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Might. The Appropriation Bill passed all its the Council finally adjourn-

HOUSE OP REPRESENTATIVES. the estimates. On the Public Buildings vote, Mr. Herdman asked what were the Governments intentions in regard to the future housing o f Parliament. Mr, It, AloKenzie said the question ot ® «»P'tal of the Dominion had not yet been settled, and it would be premature for him to state now what the xuture intentions were. Mr. Herdman expressed disappointment at the Minister's answer, and said the House ought to be informed if the Government had formulated any scheme tor the erection of permanent Parliamentary Buildings.

• Mr. McKenzie considered the present accommodation would be good enough for ten years, with certain necessary alterations which he would have carried out during the recess. On the item, Miscellaneous Services, •Mr. Massey, referring to the item of 1x450 for the Solicitor-General's expenses to London, asked if this had to do with the Webster claims, and if Sir Joseph Ward could inform the House now the matter stood. The Prime Minister said he could not divulge what had beea done in this connection.

' Mr. Massey hoped that at an early stage of next session the papers dealing with this claim would be laid before the House. On the Lands' and Survey vote, >£20,371, Mr. Poland raised the question of lands being opened on Hauraki Plains (Piako swamp), and contended that this should be cut up into areas not exceeding 100 acres each. The land was well fitted for settlement in small areas.

The Prime Minister promised he would look into the matter, but said the areas would not exceed 300 acres. The. Supplementary Estimates were passed before the House adjourned at 0 o'clock. > 'THE APPROPRIATION BTT.T. resuming at 7.30, the Appropriate Bill was introduced by Governor's .Menace. On the second reading, Mr. Allen asked tor information re clauses 18 and 19, dealing with irrigation and supply and empowering the raising of £IOO,OOO for promoting settlement in arid territory. Tie Premier, in reply, said clause 19 repeated a part of the clause in the Appropriation Bill, and was intended to ETOTide for irrigation in places where it •was* required. Clause 26 provided that ■the provisions of the Legislature Act, ITO, should not apply to payments to members of the House who sat on the •Timber Commission.

The House went into committee on the Bill. ■ Mr. Herries objected to clause 26, which he held to be a 'bad precedent in that it granted power to the Ministry to remunerate members for services on commissions without limitation. It was a dangerous power to be vested in any Ministry. Sir Joseph Ward said the Timber Commission was one on which it was necessary to have members of Parliament. On the whole the report was a good one. Mr - Massey said he would not oppose the clause but any such clause inserted in any future Appropriation Bill would to resisted to the utmost, lie Bill was put through all its stages •nd passed 6 THE END OP THE SESSION. This concluded the business of the House. Sir Joseph Ward made the usual felicitous speech'on the closing session. •Mr. Massey endorsed the remarks of the Premier.

The Speaker returned thanks for the congratulations of the House, and said he Believed this was the first time he had not had the pleaiure of wishing members a merry Christmas at the close of the session. ' Mr, Wilford, chairman of committees, also returned thanks.