PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 68, 7 August 1912, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 6. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. By Telegraph —Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The House met at 2.30. Replying to Mr. Davey, who drew the attention of the Minister to a paragraph appearing in the papers re the working conditions at Lake Coleridge, the ITon. Mr. Fraser said he would have the most searching inquiry made into -the whole matter. If the conditions were as stated, they would be remedied. KILLS INTRODUCED.

Trite, following Bills were introduced by the Hon. F. M. B. Fisher and read 'a first time.: Shipping and Seamen's Act Amendment and State Fire Insurance Act Amendment. ''

EDUCATION COMMISSION'S REPORT. Mr. EH asked the Minister for Education (Hon. J. Allen) how it was that the Dominion and other morning papers outside Wellington had been able to publish a precis of the Education Commissioners' report, which had not yet been laid before the House. He pointed out that a representative of the New Zealand Times had asked for a copy of the report, but had been refused it. Mr. Allen, replying, said that the report which had appeared in that morning's papers had not been obtained from his oificc. He understood it bad been supplied by a pressman outside the Press gallery. He liad desired to supply a report to the evening papers, but had been forestalled. He thought it was about time « code of honor was established among pressmen, which would enable members to trust them in matters similar to the one under discussion. lie had done his level best to let the evening papers lave the report first. The Minister then laid on the table the Education Commission's report. Replying to Mi\ Hanan. the Prime Minister said that opportunity would be | afforded the House to discuss the findlings of the Commission in due course. ■ 1 RILLS PASSED.

The House went into committee on the Deputy Governors Powers Bill, Prisons Amendment BMI, and New Zealand University Bill, .till of were passed through without "amendment. The Bills were then read a ..third time and passed. AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL SOCIETIES.

The. Prime Minister moved the .second reading of the Agricultural and Pastoral Societies Amendment Bill, the main clause of which provided for the extension of leases of surplus hinds, as the present lease of 21 years was not considered sufficient to enable lessees to make improvements. A da lis e provided that all leases hereafter granted by a society .shall be subject to Hie Public .Bodies Leases Act, .1007. Everv such society was declared to be a leasing authority within the meaning of the" Act. Provision was also made for the 'extension of tihe powers of the Otago Agricultural and Pastoral Society with respect to Tahuna Park.

Sir Joseph Ward said that tinder the provisions of the Bill there was nothing to prevent agricultural societies selling land w.Meh had been given* them, and using the proceeds to pay off 'mortgages incurred before the land had been given, He criticised the suggestion to extend the leases from 21 years to 50 years. .Such a course, he said,.would not be safe without some qualification being imposed. The powers given to the. societies should be safeguarded by the Minister. He 'hoped that the matte'r would receive the full consideration of the Minister before the Bill got into committee. Mr. Young Wrought that the interests of the societies would be protected if every lease granted for over 21 years was first submitted for approval to the Minister of Agriculture or the Minister of Internal Affairs. It seemed to be J introduced in the interests of some of] those societies which had got into '. trouble. The clause dealing with the Otago A .and P, Society ,-hould be dealt[with in a private Bill. ' Mr. McCallum said that the clause ■certainly was ambiguous. He asked the Prime Minister to see that just 'exactly what was meant was put' into their I statutes.

Mr. Massey, in reply, said that the Kill did not give power to sell .surplus land. . They already had that under the main Act. It was to give the societies power to expend such ■money .for permanent improvements, etc.. "as now it, could only I*> applied in buying other land. The extension of the lease clause was to give the societies extended revenue and to increase their usefulness.

The Bill was read a second time, and the House adjourned. THE ESTIMATES AND BUDGET.

The House resumed at 7.30. The Estimates for the current year were introduced In- Governor's Message and laid on the table. The lion. J. Allen presented and read the Budget of 1:J12. In conclusion, Mr. Allen moved that the Estimates be referred to the Public Accounts Committee for consideration and advice, the committee to report to the House on Friday next. This was agreed to after a short discussion.

On the motion of Mr. Allen the following committee was set up: Messrs. Craigie. Hine, man, Dr. Newman, Pearce, Ward and Allen. The House rose at 10 p.m.