PARLIAMENT

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 165, 21 October 1910, Page 5

PARLIAMENT

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. By Telegraph.—Press Aseooiattoo. Wellington, Last Night. In the Legislative Council this afternoon the New Zealand Portland Cement Company Reclamation and Empowering 'Bill passed its final stages. A motion by Hon. T. K. Mac Donald that the Government should invite competitive designs from architects of the Dominion for the new Parliament Buildings and that plans be submitted to the Speakers and members of both Houses was agreed to. The Judicature Amendment Bill was read a third time and passed. The Council went into committee on the Defence Amendment Bill. The original clauses were put through practically undiscussed. The Attorney-General moved a new clause, providing a process for the recovery of fines imposed by the officer commanding a unit or corps for breaches of regulations. This was agreed to and the Bill reported as amended. The Native Townships Bill was committed, put through committee unamended, read a third tiipe and passed. The .Council then rose. : ■ >' ■■ * * ..HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Wellington, Thursday. After midnight the tttjrd reading of the Waterworks Power Bill.' was carried and the Bill passed. ,• The By-laws and thighs Bill were read a third time .^n<l, ( pfi.?sed. The House ro'.se' at J 1.55' A.m. Wellington, Last Night. The House met at 2.30 p.m. • ' TONTINE POLICIES. The Public Accounts Committee again reported on the petition.'of; W. T. Larsen and his wife- (pvayjjigjqr; relief in connection with a tontine policy held by them in an insurance company) to the effect that there being n<y £iWthpai evidence before it since the petitioti'iwas previously considered, it had no rfftoSfmendation to make. Mr. Hogan moved: that the matter be referred back to the committee for reconsideration. •'

Mr. Colvin read a letter from a constituent, giving details ofarantine policv held by his father in the same company. Tty% insured's relations had received £l l lliless. i that he had paid in respect of the policy.- Mr. Colvin said if the facts were a£ stilted, it was time operations of this 3ort> were put a stop to. £? f, Considerable discussion ensued, during which Mr. Taylor (Chrisichurch) advised the setting up of an »Ttisurance Board, with power to examine > all insurance tables and reject those 1 : which were unsound. ; Mr. Russell, chairman rif'the Public, Accounts Committee, a widespread feeling of discontent with regard: to these policies that further enquiry was necessary and that the proper course would be for the Government to appoint a, Roy§l Ccyranission, including several members to investigate the ? itiaTfer ; -ouring the recess. Legislation was necessary and desirable in connection with so that people could be assured that they would get what they paid for. The amendment was- -ultimately agreed to on the voices. f BEETSUG^R. The adjourned debate on the report of the on the Beet Sugar Bill ill - . Buchanan said that after consideration of the experiments made in Queensland and elsewhere," he concluded that the industry could not be profitably carried on in New Zealand. Money could be much more profitably expended in other directions. Mr. Witty said it . would be premature for the Government to embark on such an industry on the evidence given before the committee. The Hon. T. 'Mackenzie referred to the experiments in sugar-beet growing at the State Farms. The percentages of sugar obtained from the roots ranged from 14 to 16.46 per cent. 'Mr. Hail said the evidence before the committee was such that it would be foolish to recommend the Government to spend money on establishing the beetsugar industry. Mr. Poole's amendment (that the evidence be printed) was then carried on the voices. COMMERCIAL TRUSTS. Sir Joseph Ward moved the committal of the Commercial Trusts Bill, which, he explained, made ;it an offence for any person to attempt to compel traders to deal exclusively with him. A penalty of £SOO would be imposed for breaches of the Act. The Bill applies to agricultural implements, coal, meat, flour, oatmeal. petroleum and like products, sugar and tobacco, and makes it illegal for trusts controlling the price of supply and demand of these articles. The House rose at 5.30 p.m. ALLEGED BREACH OF PRIVILEGE. In the House in the evening -Mr. Laurenson drew the attention of the House to an article published in the Otaki Mail of the inth iiist., commenting on the dismissal of the Otaki County Bill by Parliament, v. l:ioh, he held, was a breach of •privilege. The article, which was read by the Clerk, asserted that the Bill hail been slaughtered by wire-pullers and that the law of the land which allowed such things to be done was rotten. Mr. Laurenson moved that the article was a breach of privilege. The reflections contained in the article •went beyond fair and reasonable criticism. Mr. Laurensou