PARLIAMENT

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 96, 13 October 1911, Page 8

PARLIAMENT

THURSDAY, OCTOBER Y>, 1!)11. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, Ust Night. Tlio House of Representatives met at i.'.tt) p.m. Replying to Mr. Luke, Sir Joseph Ward said the whole of the petitions from the military and navy veterans for pensions would eonro before the Cabinet for consideration before the Supplementary Estimates were completed. The Government would carefully consider all the petitions sent in. Old soldiers' claims dealt with by magistrates would be considered, but-whether it was possible to go beyond that he could not say. ■Sir Joseph Ward presented a petition from Coleman Phillips, praying for the removal of the site of the capital from Wellington to a site between Featherston and Carterton. The Premier stated that the Railway Authorisation Bill would be brought down before the end of the session..

Replying to Mr. Jennings, Sir Joseph Ward stated he would have to communicate with the chairman of the Racing Commission before he could state when the commission would sit to consider its report.

The Heathcote County Boundary Bill, the City of Christehurch Empowering Bill, tho Mosgiel Borough Empowering Bill, the Awatere County Bill, the Ashley Subdivision Bill, and the Waimaka-riri-Ashley Water Supply Board Bill, and the Franklin and Manakau Counties Bill were read a third time and passed.

The House went into committee on the Wellington City 'Empowering Amendment Bill.

Mr. Wilford moved to reinsert a clause struck out by the Local Bills Committee; which gives the City Council power to make charges for entrance to sports grounds and zoological gardens on thirty days in the year. The clause was subjected to strenuous opposition, on the ground that the public should not be asked to pay to go on to their own reserves. The House adjourned at 5.30 p.m. EVENING SITTING.

The House resumed at 7.30. The Wellington City Empowering and Amendment Bill was further discussed in committee. Mr. M-asscy act-used the Government of wasting time in order to allow two Ministers to go electioneering at the country's expense. Sir Joseph Ward gave, this statement an emphatic denial, asserting that these Ministers were defraying their own expenses. The Bill was reported with amendments. The Mount Hutt County Bill was committed.