PARLIAMENT

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 200, 2 December 1910, Page 5

PARLIAMENT

LEGISLATIVE- COUNCIL. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. Tho Tramways Bill was further considered in committee, and finally passed without vital amendment. The (ireymouth Harbor Board Loan's Consolidation Bill was also passed, and the Council rose. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Wellington, Yesterday. After midnight the debate was continued. Mr. Hunan replied, defending the report of the committee. In the House, after 2 o'clock, on Mr. Kaihau's appearance, the Speaker reminded him of the high position he held as a member. In the opinion of the House he had been guilty of an impropriety. He (the Speaker) could quite understand how Mr. Kaihau fell into the error which he had committed, seeing he was a member of the Maori race, and the Standing Orders were not printed in Maori. In, view of this Mr. Kaihau might not know that what he was doing was an impropriety. Mr. Kaihau thanked the Speaker and the House, which rose at 2.10. Wellington, Last Night. I The House met at 2.30 p.m. The report of the managers set up to confer with the Council in regard to the amendments made by the latter in the Land Settlement Finance Bill, was received and read by the Speaker. Sir Joseph Ward explained the new clauses agreed to by the Conference. Under these no person holding land of the value of over £2500 could take up land under the Bill. The report was adopted. Replying to Mr. Massey, the Hon. R. McKenzie said the debate' on the Public Works Statement would be taken on Friday afternoon or evening. The House went into committee on the Government Railways Amendment Bill. Clause 7, giving the Minister power to grant leave of absence to members of the railway service, and clause 10, providing that the Council may fix the salaries of officers, within limits, were struck out on the voices, and the Bill was reported with amendments.

The Mining Amendment Bill was conv mitted.

Clause 18 (referring to gold-stealing) was struck out on the voices.

The House rose at 5.30 p.m. In the House in the evening consideration of the Mining Amendment Bill was resumed in committee. Clause 20 was amended by altering the date of its coming into operation 'from January 1 to October 1, 1911. On the House resuming, the Government Railways Amendment Bill passed the final stages. Mr. Massey raised a question on clause 16 of the Mining Amendment Bill, whether the same was not a taxation clause on His Majesty's' metals, and should be sent Home for ithe Royal assent. The Speaker upheld Mr. Massey's couir tention, and said the clause would be inoperative without the Royal assent. The Bill would be recommitted with a view of striking out.the clause, or another Bill could be introduced with, a recommendation from the Governor.

Hon. R. McKenzie moved to recommit the Bill, with I;he object of striking out the clause.

Mr. Poland protested against the tactics adopted to prevent the passage of the Bill, and said that representatives of mining companies had been allowed to sit alongside the Speaker's chair, listening to the discussion of the committee.

Subsequently the clause was introduced by Governor's message and passed through committee. The Bill was read a third time and passed. Sir Joseph Ward moved the second reads,ig of the Reserves and Other, Lands Disposal and Public Bodies Empowering Bill.

Mr. Massey protested against the Bill, which was really a (number of Bills rolled into one, being introduced so late in the session. Mr. Hermes said several sections of the Bill should have gone to the Native Affairs Committee. The Bill was read a second time.