PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 130, 19 October 1912, Page 4

PARLIAMENT.

—ii—'• <m FRIDAY, OCTOBER 18, 1912. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL BILL. Bv Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington. Last Night. The Council met at 2.30. The debate ou the Legislative Council Bill was resumed. Ten speakers briefly spoke against the, measure, and one spoke, in favor of it. After Mr. Bell had replied, a vote was taken, and the Bill was rejected by 21 to 13. The following is the division list: For the Bill: Messrs. Bell, Baillie, Catlan, Johnston. Kelly. Miller. McLean. McCardle, Ormond. Raul, Rigg, Stevens, Wigram. Against: .Messrs. Anstey, BalAey, Barr, Reehan. Collins, Carncross, Duncan, Gilmer, George, Harris, Jones, Jenkinson, Luke, Louisson, Loughnan, Mills, Parata, Smith, Samuel, Thompson and Tucker. The Council then adjourned. SECOND READINGS.

The Council resumed at 8 p.m. The New Plymouth-Huatoki Stream Diversion. Oamaru King George's Park Reserve, Tauranga Harbor, and Whakatane Harbor Bills passed through all stages. The Council adjourned at 9 p.m. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES The House met at 2.30 p.m. THE OTTRA TUNNEL. The report of the special committee appointed to enquire into the petition of McLean Bros, for favorable consideration and relief in connection with the Otira tunnel contract was presented to the House. It recommends that in view of the whole circumstances and of the difficulties experienced by the contractors they and their sureties should be released from the contract if the contractors desired; that the Government should invite tenders for the completion of the contract, and that, pending a decision of the tenders, the Government should carry on the work. If no satisfactory tender was received, the Government is recommended to make such arrangement for the completion of the work as thev think advisable. THE LANGGUTFI PETITION. The Speaker gave his decision on the petition presented by Mr. Myers on behalf of E. Langguth and others. He stated that he could foul nothing in the petition tliftt would warrant His Majesty removing the Judge concerned from the Bench He had a memorandum from the Prime Minister and acting-Attorney-General, expressing the opinion that there was nothing in the petition which would warrant them in addressing His Excellency. The House resumed at /.30 p.m. GOVERNMENT RAILWAYS BILL. The Government Railways Bill was introduced by Governor's mewuge. _ Replying to questions, Mr. Hemes said that some of the increases in the firatcla*s division were: ninth class proposed miuimum £215, maximum £24 ; eighth class £255 and £275; seventh class, £285 and £315; sixth class —urn ■ewn The increases, would total between' £SOOO «nd £OOOO for the first year The salary for the new genera manager' of railways would not exceed £3OOO a vear. He hoped to bring down a elassifiea-tion list next week.