PARLIAMENT

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 315, 3 July 1912, Page 5

PARLIAMENT

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The Council met at 2.30, when the Hon. 0. Samuel proposed the first of a aeries of sessional committees. Mr. Jenkinson moved as an amendment that, in the opinion of the Council, a member of the Government holding a portfolio should he appointed at once to lead the Council, and that no business should be transacted until that Minister is so appointed. He spoke in similar terms to those of his speech on Saturday last on the same subject. Hon. 0. Samuel explained that at the present time the Government could not legally appoint a member of the Cabinet as leader of the Council, because the available portfolios were already filled. After considerable discussion, the amendment was lost by 17 votes to 7, and the sessional committees were then Bet up. The motion on the Address-in-Rcply was postponed and the Council rose.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House met at 2.30 p.m. Replying to a question, the Prime Minister said that the Cabinet had not yet decided whether they will introduce any licensing legislation this session. His own opinion was that they would not. Mr. Myers laid before the House further details of the recent four and a half million loan. The full details, he said, would reach the Dominion in about ten days. Mr. Myers, replying to members, .said that he would refrain from placing before the House further details until he received the full inform:!', ion from the High Commissioner. The Local Government Reform Bill was introduced by Governor's message, and was explained by the Hon. G. W, Russell. The Bill, he'said, was the outcome of the conference held recently in Wellington. Education, hospital and charitable aid, and harbor boards had been eliminated from the Bill, and the Bill now dealt with what might be termed the more practical forms of local government. There would be two forms of local government in the Dominion — the municipal form in cities, and the country form in rural districts. Under the Bill it was proposed to abolish small and superfluous bodies. A local government board would be set up, consisting of the Minister of Internal Affairs, the Under-Secretary of Internal Affairs, the Under-Secretary of Public Works, the Valuer-General, and three persons to be appointed by the Government, in addition to two others, one nominated by the Municipal Association, and the other by the Counties Association. The board would report annually to Parliament. Provision was in the Bill for setting up a commission to decide upon the counties, which would be virtually redjuccYl to fifty in the wliole of (the country. Parliament would have to ratify the commission's finding. The I franchise would be left as at the present time. The maximum rate has. been fixed at Od in the £. Overdrafts would also be limited to the estimated uncollected I revenue for the current year. Provision was being made for exceptions regarding floods and other unpremeditated occurrences. Assured finance had been provided for under the Bill. A sum of £40,000 or more (not less) would be set aside by the Government for local bodies. Ordinary subsidies would continue as heretofore. The Government intended to establish roads and maintain them the same as the counties were maintaining them. After the passing of the Bill no engineer or county clerk could be employed without passing an examination to display his fitness for the position. Town planning had also been provided for. One clause stipulated that [before it is necessary to take a poll for a loan for town planning a petition must he presented by ten per cent, of the ratepayers. The Bill was not supposed Jto be the hist thins; in local governjment. but was drafted in accordance with the wishes of the large and representative conference which sat in Wellinffton recently. The Bill was read a first time, and the House rose.