PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 171, 28 October 1910, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. In the Legislative Council this afternoon, the Justices of the Peace Amendment Bill was reported without amendment, and read a third time. The Stone Quarries was further considered, and reported with amendments. On the motion of the Attorney-General, the amendments made by the House in the By-laws Bill were disagreed with, and a committee set up to confer with a committee of the other Chamber on the matter.

The Land Settlement Finance Amendment Bill was read a second time pro forma, and referred to the Statutes Revision Committee and the Council adjourned.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. THE DURATION OF THE SESSION. The House met at 2.30 p.m. The Premier moved that in future during the session the House sit on Mondays at 2.30 for Government business only. Mr. Massey moved to substitute 7.30 p.m. for 2.30 p.m. A discussion arose as to the methods of conducting the business, and the necessity for altering the present system, which resulted in long night sittings and injury to the health of members. The Premier was willing that the House should adjourn at 11 p.m., if means were taken to prevent desultory discussion. He remarked that the session ought to be concluded in three weeks, or even a fortnight. Touching on the work to be done during the remainder of the session, Sir Joseph Ward said lie was afraid the Local Government Bill would not be dealt with. If the Bill were not introduced he would see that it was forwarded to the members after the close of the session. He proposed to go on with the fourteen Bills appearing on the first page of the order paper for the day. They were mostly minor measure. In addition to the Land and Licensing Amendment Bills, the Libel Bill, which had been printed, would also be proceeded with. A Bill dealing with public holidays, and a Bill amending the Old Age Pensions Act would be introduced this session. The Gaming Bill would have to go through this session. The Beet-root Sugar Bill would be held over, but the sum of £IOOO for enquiry into the prospects of the industry would be provided for in the Supplementary Estimates. Opportunity would be given for considering the reform of the Standing Orders. The Bill dealing with, the Canterbury pastoral runs would have to go through. The Public Works Statement would be brought down on Friday week. He was anxious to avoid Saturday sittings altogether, and would suggest later on that the Standing Orders be relaxed in order to expedite business. Mr. Fisher said he would be no party to any attempt to check reasonable discussion of business. On a division the amendment was rejected by 44 to 23, and the motion carried.

Replying to Mr. Massey, the Premier said he could not name a definite date for the second reading of the Land Bill, but hoped it wWld be some time next week.

The Premier, replying to Mr. Poole, said he would introduce a Bill this session to extend the laws now applying to coastal trade to vessels trading to Australia and the Pacific Islands. This would enable the Dominion to control wages and conditions of labor under \vh:i.n crews of these vessels worked. The Bill would also deal with the question of Asiatic crews in order to protect the seamen of the Dominion against cheap Lascar labor. The amendments made by the Legislative Council in the Animals Protection Amendment Bill were agreed to. Air. Buddo moved the second reading' of the Taranaki Scholarships Amendment Bill, which was agreed to. The House rose at. 5.30 p.m. EVENING SESSION. The Kaipoi Reserves Bill was reported without amendments. Hon. Buddo moved that the amendments made by the Legislative Council in the River Boards Amendment Bill be. agreed to. Mr. Buchanan moved as an amendment that clause 4 (estending the time for making claims), which had been struck out, should stand. The amendment was lost by 33 to 24, and the motion was agreed to by 35 to 24. The second reading of the Opium Amendment Bill was moved bv the Hon." T. Mackenzie, who explained the provisions of the Bill, which provides for re*., strietions on the sale of preparations of j opium which may be made suitable for ' smoking, and penalties for breach of the law. The second reading was agreed to without discussion. The House went into committee on the Inspection of Machinery Amendment Bill. At clause 2, Mr. Poland said that the clause, which made it compulsory for men in charge of winding machinery en« gaged in raising persons and materials from a shaft to have certificates, should also apply to men engaged in lowering persons and material. V

The Minister agreed to add the word "lowered" to the clause to give effect to 'Mr. Poland's suggestion, and the Bill passed through committee. The Harbors Amendment Bill, Xo. 2, lias taken in committee. Mr. Taylor (Christchurch) raised tl«; question of the election of harbor boards, contending that these should lie elected on the Parliamentary franchise. He moved that clause 2 be amended by striking out the words "other than those (elective members) who are appointed by the Governor," so as to allow the matter to be discussed. ■Mr. Millar said that if the amendment were carried he would move to rcpQct progress. The Government, he said, liftj given a good deal of consideration to the Bill, which embodied the resolutions come to by the Harbor Boards Conference. If the committee decided tb" reduce the Government nominees to one member each, he would offer no objection to it. - .„„v

Mr. Taylor thereupon withdrew his amendment. ~f c . Mr. Davy moved to amend el a use '3", by providing that members of bo&ds IjsJ.j elected on the Parliamentary frsjSichisei"', The amendment was rejected by Mr. Craigie moved to add a sub-' ■ clause 7 to the effect that in of a combined district an elector in a cou®» try portion of the district shall enjoy the same franchise as the elector in a borough. The amendment wa&.,negatived by 40 to 25.