PARLIAMENT

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 194, 25 November 1910, Page 5

PARLIAMENT

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. In the Legislative Council this afternoon, the State Bank and Currency Committee, to which was referred the question of considering the advantage or otherwise of a State bank of issue and deposit and a State paper currency, reported that (a) the establishment of an entirely new State bank of issue and deposit was not advisable; (b) that a permanent and effective partnership between the State and private shareholders of the Bank of New Zealand, or the acquisition of the present shareholders' interests on equitable terms by the State is desirable. As regards a State note issue, it is reported that the present provision for the issue of notes by banks is sufficient for ordinary requirements, and that little or no advantage would be gained by the issue of State notes for ordinary requirements, but that to meet exceptional demands, as in times of panic or abnormal withdrawal of deposits, some provision is needed for temporary issue of non-redeemable State notes or guaranteed notes. The report was referred to the Government for consideration.

The Council agreed to insist on its amendments in the Gaming Bill, and managers were appointed to'confer with the managers of the House on the subject. The Legislature Amendment Bill was received from the House, and read a first time. In committee on the Census and Statistics Bill, a proposal by Hon. Anstey to give the Department discretionary power as to the time at which agricultural statistics are to be taken was agreed to. The following Bills were put through their final stages:—Auctioneers Amendment, Scenery Preservation, Crown Suits Amendment, Census and Statistics, Poukawa Native Reserves. The Workers' Dwellings Bill was reported from committee, and the Council rose.

In the Council this evening the agreement come to between the managers of both Houses respecting the amendments in the Gaming Amendment Bill was ratified by the Council. The alterations were in the direction of making assurance doubly sure in regard to betting on a racecourse by bookmakers, and at the same time avoiding the imposition of a penalty upon private persons who make bets on a racecourse. The subclause relating, to preference to clubs holding one meeting only in any yeai was altered to read that consideration shall be given by the commission to the claims of those clubs. The Slaughtering and'lnspection Bill, Education Reserves Bill and Education Amendment Bill passed their final stages. The Council rose at 10.20 p.m.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Wellington, Thursday. After midnight Mr. Malcolm moved the deletion of the sub-clause providing for the rejection of any ballot-paper whereon anything not authorised by the, Acts was written or marked by which the voter can be identified. The amendment was rejected by 37 to 22. Mr. Massey moved an amendment, the effect of which was to do away with special Maori representation. Messrs Xgata and Rangihiroa strenuously opposed the amendment, which was lost on the voices. _ A new clause was added to enable scrutineers to attend a scrutiny. A motion by Sir W. j. Steward to make the life of Parliament four years was lost by 36 to 19. The Bill was reported and passed. The committee appointed to draw up reasons for disagreeing with the Council's amendments to the Gaming Bill reported that the reason was that they seemed to varv the policy of the Bill. The House rose at 2.25 a.m. Wellington, Last Night. The Premier made an announcement as to the course of business for the remainder of the session. He proposed to take local Bills after the first seven Bills on the order paper had been dealt with today. On Friday the Imprest Supply Bill would be brought down, and if'that were put through he proposed to go on with the remaining Bills on the order paper, down to and including Xo. 14, as follows: Tramways Amendment, Libel Amendment, Industrial and Conciliation, Factories, Coal Mines Amendment, Mining Amendment, Government Railways Amendment (No. 2). On Monday he proposed that the House should deal with either the report of the Hine Committee (which would be placed before the House on Friday) or the Public Works Statement, Whichever of these was left over would be dealt with on the following day. The resolutions he had sent forward for consideration at the Imperial Conference would be placed before the House on Wednesday next. The only other Bills to be introduced.were the Reserves Disposal and Enabling Bills, which he proposed to deal with on Monday night or Tuesday morning. A clause would be inserted in the Enabling Bill dealing with the Canterbury pastoral runs.

On the motion of the Hon. D. Buddo, the amendments made by the Legislative Council in the Dentists Bill were disagreed with. The House went into committee on the Eating Amendment Bill.

A new sub-clause was added to clause 5, on the motion of Mr. Newman, as follows: "Notwithstanding anything in this section, no land exempted under the preceding sub-section shall be exempted from special rates." The House rose at 5.30 p.m.

In -the House in the evening consideration of the Rating Amendment Bill was* resumed in committee. On the motion of Mr. Xgata, showgrounds vested in agricultural societies and land held exclusively for sport were exempted from the provisions of the Bill. A new clause was added providing that in a union of two or more boroughs the rating system in the borough having the 'largest population shall apply throughout the united borough, this clause to apply to boroughs already united. On the motion of Mr. Wilford, the following new clause was added:—The Assessment Court constituted by section 22 of the principal Act shall consist of a judge of the Assessment Court and two other members, one to be appointed by the Governor-in-Council and the other by the local authority, but the member appointed by the local authority shall not be a member of such authority.

The Bill was reported with amendments.

TBe Public Holidays Bill was further considered in committee.

On the motion of Mr. Russell, subclause (d) of clause 2 was amended by making the reference to the Sovereign's Birthday in awards mean the next succeeding Monday only when the said birthday falls on Sunday. On the motion of Mr. McLaren, subclause (e) was amended bv providing that when Christmas Day is observed on Monday, any reference in tJie awara shall be deemed to refer to the next successive Tuesday.

Mr. Dillon moved that St. David's Day be observed on March 1, instead of on April 23, as recommended by the committee. This was negatived by 38 to

The Bill was reported with amend, aients. ' ' ' - The Municipal Corporations Amendment Bill was recommitted. On the motion to delete the clause making the Government subject to mu< nicipal by-laws, which had been carried when the Bill was previously committed, Mr. Wilford expressed regret that the Government would not accept it. Over twenty amendments had been carried as the result of remits from the Municpial Conference, which he would be sorry to lose, and under the circumstances he would drop the clause rather than endanger the passing of the Bill, The clause was deleted. ;