PARLIAMENT

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 158, 13 October 1910, Page 5

PARLIAMENT

COUNCIL. By Cable—Press Association—Copyright. Wellington, Last Night. The Council met at 8 p.m. Hon. Jones moved the .second reading of the Oamaru Harbor Board Enabling Bill, which was agreed to. Tho Attorney-General moved the second reading of the Defence Act Amendment Bill, passed by the House, and explained its objects and provisions in similar tenns to those already published. Hon. Baillie did not think the country would ever get better trained men than the volunteers. He considered the period of training under the Bill not long enough. Hon. Paul said the Bill was worthy of support, but .ook exception to the scheme of exem lions from service. : Tho debate .vas adjourned and the Council rose at Sj.4o p.m. HOUSE OF, REPRESENTATIVES. The House met at 7.30. THE NAVAL BILL. Replying to Mr. Poole, who asked if the Premier could give any information relative to the cablegram announcing that Auckland had been made a naval base for the Australasian naval squadron, Sir Joseph Ward said he had received no communication on the subject. While attending the Defence Conference, he had asked that Auckland be made a naval base for the New Zealand squadron.

OPIUM AMENDMENT BILL. The Opium Amendment Bill (Mr. T. Mackenzie) was read a first time. LAND SETTLEMENT FINANCE BILL. On the motion of Sir Joseph Ward, the amendments made to the Land Settlement Finance Amendment Bill in committee were agreed to. On the motion "for the third reading, several members complained that the Bill had been obstructed by the Opposition. Mr. Laurenson expressed the hope that nest session a commission would be appointed to enquire into tho whole procedure of the House with a view to limiting speeches of members after reasonable discussion of measures, There ought also to be a standing order providing that the House should' adjourn at midnight. Sir Joseph Ward, in replying to the motion, defended the proposals of ths ''ill in regard to the limit of area, which had been framed with due regard to the responsibilities undertaken by the State. It was true land settlement was not advancing rapidly. This was due solely to the fact that values put upon land by owners made it impossible for the Government to purchase. He was persuaded that the Land for Settlement Act would have to be altered. It was impossible for the present system to continue. The law would have to be amended so that owners would be compelled to put a fair valuation on their properties, such value- to b? the basis of negotiations for sale to the Government. He would look into the question as to whether those associations who had alreadv taken up land under the principal Act would receive the benefits of the Bill. He thought they would. The third reading was carried on the voices and the Bill passed. , RIVER BOARDS BILL. The House went into committee on the River Boards Amendment Bill. New clauses were added on the motion of the Minister, providing, inter, aliii, that where a river district is abolished the Audit Office shall hold an enquiry and make award apportioning the property of the Board, the liabilities thereof amongst boroughs, counties, road and town districts in district so abolished. Mr. Buchanan,moved to add two aew clauses as follow: (la) Providing that no proclamation issued under section 6 of the principal Act shall be deemeo. conclusive that the district thereby constituted was or is intersected or bounded by any river or rivers from the overflow of which damage ,may be apprehended; and (lb) that claim for compensation in respect to damage done by works authorised under the principal Act may be brought within two years after execution of works out of. which such claim has arisen, notwithstanding provisions of section 37 of the Public Works Act, 1908. The first proposition was lost. (Left sitting.)