PARLIAMENT

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 180, 9 November 1910, Page 5

PARLIAMENT

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL By TelegTaph— Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. In the Legislative Council this afternoon the Contagious Diseases Repeal Bill was read a second time. Dr. Findlay moved the committal of the Land Settlement Finance Amendment Bill.' The Council adjourned until 8 p.m. The Land Settlement Finance Bill was taken in committee, and reported with amendments. The Commercial Trusts Bill was discussed in committee. The Hon. W. Beehan moved to include fish in the schedule of goods to which the Act applies. Dr. Findlay said that if he admitted fish he would have to admit a great many other things. On a division the amendment was carried by 12 to 5, and the Bill was reported and read a third time. The Opium Amendment Bill was reported unamended, and passed. The Kaiapoi Reserves Bill was reported with amendment, and passed. The Inspection of Machinery Bill was reported without amendment, and passed. The Council rose at 9.45 p.m.

HOUSE OP REPRESENTATIVES Wellington, Tuesday. After midnight the Counties Amendment Bill was committeed, and progress was reported, the House rising at 12.50 a.m. Wellington, Last Night. The House met at 2.30 p.m. The Speaker announced that as Parliament had been sitting for 78 days, and the session was nearing its close, Bills might be passed through all stages during one sitting. THE PREMIER'S PROGRAMME. Replying to Mr. Massey, the Premier said he hoped to have all the Bills the Government desired carried through the House circulated before Tuesday next, and would do all in his power to expedite business. The Hine Committee would not finish for ten days or ,a fortnight, and the Public Works Statement could not be brought down before Tuesday, owing to pressure of work. He proposed to make the Licensing Bill the first item on the order paper "for Thursday, and previous to that he desired to see the Gaming Bill out of the way. Owing to the Hine Committee sitting it was impossible to fix a date for the close of the session.

The following Bills passed all stages:— Companies Amendment, Judicature Amendment, Education Reserves Amendment, and the Counties Amendment Bills. The Destitute Persons Bill, which was initiated in the Legislative Council, was committed.

Mr. Wilford moved an amendment to clause 2 (which gives interpretations of persons and offences mentioned in the Bill) by defining a habitual drunkard as one who "frequently" and not ''habitual- 1 ly" (as in the Bill) indulges in strong drink to excess. On a division the amendment was lost by 42 votes to 21. Mr. Russell moved an amendment, having as its object the making of the relatives of the father of a legitimate person responsible for his maintenance, which was carried on the voices. At clause 10, a sub-clause of which provides that the evidence of the mother of an illegitimate child or woman with child shall not be necessary for making an affiliation order or maintenance order, Mr. Wilford moved that the sub-clause be struck out. On a division, the clause was retained by 36 to 23. The House rose at 5.30 p.m. At the evening session, the Destitute Persons Bill was resumed in committee.

Mr. Wilford challenged a division on clause 70, which provides that a defendant in summary proceedings shall have no right of trial by jury, and the clause was rejected by 30 to 25. The Bill was reported with amendments. The Local Bodies Loans Amendmeni. Bill was committed. At clause 2, which deals with proceeding for loans before the commencement of the State Guaranteed Advances Act, Mr. Newman moved an amendment making the clause apply to loans which liaa been provisionally approved. After a lengthy discussion, the amendment was put and rejected by 44 votes to 24, and the clause was passed. Some machinery amendments were passed. Mr. Massey a new clause to the effect that sinking funds in regard to municipal loans not guaranteed b> the Government need not be invested in Government securities. Lost by 37 to 34.

The Bill was reported with amend ments.