PARLIAMENT

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 41, 10 August 1911, Page 8

PARLIAMENT

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 9. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. At the sitting of the Legislative Council to-day, a brief motion recording the valuable services of the late Mr. Eraser, an ex-member of the Council, and sympathy with his family was adopted on the motion of the Hon. Mr. McGowan, seconded by the Hon. Mr. Jones. The Hon. Mr. Jones moved the second reading of the Field Divorce Empowering Bill, to enable Arthur Henry Field, of AsMnirtonj, to petition the court for a divorce on the ground that his wife had been a hopeless lunatic for sixteen years, though only six years in a lunatic asylum. The larw required ten years previously, and the Hon. Mr. Jones urged that under the circumstances Field should be permitted to apply for a divorce^ The Hon. Messrs. Beehan and McOardle expressed strong objection on the ground that the marriage contract involved an adherence to a partner' in sickness.

The Hon. Messrs. Mills and Paul contended that under the circumstances a man ought to be relieved of his marital responsibilities* The Bill was rejected. , A ballot for the Chairmanship of Committees in the Council resulted in the reelection of the Hon. Mr. Carncross. The Hon. Mr. Rigg was the only other candidate.

The Hon. Mr. McGowan, in traversing the speeches on the Address-in-Reply, contended that in order to give an incentive to the settlement of land every former employing a man should be compelled to give that man a portion of his land. This would result in the land being utilised to the fullest extent. The Hon. Mr. Sinclair having said a few words in reply, the Address-in-Reply was agreed to, and the Council adjourned until the 18th inat.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House of Representatives met at 2.3# p.m. Sir James Carroll, Acting-Premier, referred to the death of the late Mr. John Bevan, of Ilokitika, at one time a member of the House of Representatives. He moved that the House place on record its appreciation of the services rendered by the late gentleman and tender its sympathy to the widow and family.

Messrs. Hnrdv (who seconded the motion), Seddon, R. McKenzie and Oolvin spoke in appreciative terms of the services rendered to the country by Mr. Bevan, and the motion was carried. ' OIL FOR THE N AVY.

Ministers, in reply to questions, stated that the Government was considering the advisableoess of giving £IOO,OOO worth of oil to the Imperial Government for use in the Royal Navy in lieu of the annual cash contribution of £100,000; that new police regulations would be issuedi shortly; that the legal position and powers of New Zealand in the direction of ridding the country of emissaries of the Mormon faith would be enquired into; that there is no reason to feel the slightest anxiety with regard to New Zealand's legal position in the matter of wireless telegraphy; that the Government did not consider any action necessary in connection with the behaviour of the Minister of Public Works when waited upon by a deputation headed by the Acting-Mayor of Wellington to discuss the tramway regulations; that the matter of less frequent alteration of electoral boundaries wiould be considered; that provision for the rehearing of the Elingamite inquiry would be made in the Shipping and Seamen's Amendment Bill; that it was not intended to introduce a Bill this session to assist local bodies to finance their current account at the lowest possible rates, or to make it optional whether they have one or more banking accounts; that legislation will bo introduced this session, if time .permits, making wages the first claim upon a bankrupt's estate; that the Government was considering the question of the, duty on imported butter with a view to deciding whether it was a matter which shpuld be |l>rouglit under the Monopoly Prevention Act, or be i:' eluded in the schedule of the Commercial Trusts Act; that it was not intended to make any alteration in the Land for Settlements Act, 1908, at pre-j sent.

The remainder oif the sitting was devoted to tlie discussion of answers to questions, and the House adjourned sut 5.30.

EVENING SESSION. The House resumed at 7.30. The discussion 011 answers to questions was continued until 9.30, and resolved itself mainly into a general advocacy for more lands for settlement. The Hon. J. A. Millar said that members on the Opposition benches were asking for extra money to be paid to railway employees. They objected to fares and tariffs being raised, and they complained regularly about the wav in which the public debt was piled* up. He stated that if the railwaymen were prepared to take the same conditions as obtained in Victoria or New South Wales, the Department would pay the same wages as paid there. lie could assure members he was not going to use public money to buy votes for his party. The Wanganui School Sites Amendment Bill passed through committee. Mr. Poole continued the debate on the Town Planning Bill. He asserted that early settlers had not gonsidered the possibilities of some towns when they were set out. The first consideration in connection with a town-planning scheme should be given to congested areas, which were a menace to the wellbeing of communities in general. lie was sure, if the Bill was carried, it would quicken the action of local bodies in carrying out necessary reforms in their towns.

Mr. Russell thought that the Bill dealt more with town-planning than with town reformation. The Bill dealt with towns, cities and boroughs maw in existence, l>ut made no provision for future towns. He suggested the circulation of the Bill amongst local bodies. Mr. Massey said that incorporation of the town-pkiroing scheme in the Op-j position platform was intended to show, the people tluut the party recognised the necessity for such a scheme, and they

intended to pursue it if placed i:i power. He objected to the centralising tendency of the Bill. It contained too much interference with local bodies. He supported its title, but not its details. He thought there was- far too much "Governor-in-Oouncil" in the Bill. Mr. Hogara pointed) out the necessity ■ for providing for roads where now there were only suburlvm areas. He thought the measure was an excellent one, and should be put through this session. Mr. Forbes moved the amendment of the ddbate, and the House rose nt 11.15.