PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 146, 7 November 1912, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

WEDNESDAY. NOVEMBER 0. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, Wednesday. The Legislative Council met at 11.30. LAND AGENTS BILL. The Hon. 11. D. Bell moved the second reading of the Land Agents Registration Bill. The Hon. 0. Samuel urged that such a Bill, affecting the whole public, should not be carried without the whole Council having sufficient opportunity -of considering it. The Hen. J. Anstey said that the wording of the Bill was simply jargon, and the measure should be referred to the Statutes Revision Committee. Mr. Parata urged delay, on the ground tliat the Bill would seriously damage the Maoris. I The second reading was carried on the voices. The Council resumed at 2.30. The Land Agents Bill was put through committee with a new clause proposed by the Minister, that a land agent should not be entitled to recover commission under the Bill unless: (1) He was the holder of a license or (2) his engagement in a sale or disposition of land was in the writing of t'he person to be charged with such commission. It was further provided that the Bill come into operation on January 1, 1913. The Bill was passed. VARIOUS MEASURES PASSED. The Council did not insist on its amendments to the Taieri Land Drainage Bill. The following Bills were passed: —Shearers and Agricultural Aacommodation Amendment, Westport Harbor Amendment, Education Amendment, Opunake Harbor Amendment. In committee on the Plumbers Registration Bill the Minister inserted an amendment in clause 22, to permit inspectors, who were not registered or the holders of a Royal Sanitary Institute certificate, employed by local bodies to remain in such employment, after the expiration of one year from the date of the Bill. The Council then adjourned. The Council resumed at 8 p.m. i The Railways Authorisation Bill, Publie Service Classification ajid Superannuation Amendment Bill, Napier Harbor Board Amendment Bill .were read a second time. The Napier Harbor Board, Railway Authorisation and Public Service Classification Bills passed through all their stages. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Wellington, Wednesday. In the House after 2 a.m. the Railways Authorisation Bill passed through the committee stage and was read a third time; also the Shearers and Agricultural Labourers' Accommodation Amendment : Bill and the Education Amendment Bill. The Premier intimated that he intended to postpone the Shops and Offices Bill till next session. The House adjourned at 2.40 a.m. till 10.30 o'clock this morning. On resuming it was decided to disagree with the amendments of the Legislative Council to , the Taieri Land Drainage Bill. Messrs. Parata, McKenzie, Scott, and G. M. Thomson were appointed managers to draw up reasons. The Napier Harbor Board Amendment Bill was put through all its stages. PUBLIC SERVICE BILL. The Public Service Classification and Superannuation Amendment Bill was recommitted. On Mr. Allen's motion, a clausfc 1 was added !bringi|ng university professors within the scope of the Superannuation Act. A clause making special provision in cases of the compulsory retirement of persons employed in the defence forces before becoming entitled to the retiring allowance, was moved by the Minister, but after discussion, he withdrew it. The Bill was passed. Mr. Massey moved the second reading of the Washing-up Bill. The House adjourned till 2.30. . DEFENCE POLICY. On resuming Mr. Myers asked the Prime Minister if the Defence Minister would be present at the proposed conference at Vancouver mentioned in the morning papers. Mr. Massey replied that it was impossible for him to state whether Mr. Allen could be present or not. Mr. Alle* would represent the Government on defence matters while in England, as well as other matters. It was quite impossible for him to make public the policy of the Government with regard to defence matters. SHOPS AND OFFICES AMENDMENT BILL. The Chairman of the Labor Bills Committee reported that the committee had recommended that the Shops and Offices Amendment Bill should be allowed to proceed. Mr. Ell urged that the House should proceed with the Bill this session. Mr. Isitt contended that the Premier would be responsible for what would happen if the Bill were not proceeded 'with this session. Some ten thousand people, he continued, were affected by the proposed Bill, and these would look to the Prime Minister for an explanation. Mr. Veitcli appealed for consideration of the workers. Mr. Russell spoke in a similar vein. He knew that the Premier was in sympathy with the proposals and should put them through. It would only take half an hour. Mr. Okey said that the committee had received telegrams from all over the country, asking for an opportunity to give evidence in regard to the Bill. Mr. Atmore declared that the Labor Bills Committee was practically unanimous in favour of the Bill. Parliament should stand for the principle that every man and woman in New Zealand was entitled to one day's rest a week. Mr. Hindmarsh moved that committal of the Bill should be made the order of the day for 5 p.m. Mr. Fisher said that he first introduced the Bill in 1007, and it had been brought in during every session since that. It had been kept under by the previous administration. Mr. Millar had described it as a piece of class legislation. The Prime Minister had given a pledge to allow the objectors sufficient time to giVe evidence and that was a fair attitude. The Prime Minister had promised to have_ the Bill passed next year. He asked if there was anv possibility of getting the Bill through this session. Mr. Massey denied that lie had ever given a pledge to pass the Bill this year, and had suggested to a deputation a doubt that he would be able to deal with it in any way this session. The Bill included private hotels and boardinghouses. Next session he would bring down a comprehensive Shops and Offices Bill, and full provision would be made for the taking of evidence. Sir Joseph Ward said that as Mr. Massey had given a pledge about the hearing of evidence, it would only be honourable for the House to keep this promise. The auction was talked out, *aiitl the House adjourned. OTHER BILLS. On resuming at 7.30 p.m. the House went into committee on the Reserves and Other Lands Disposal and the Public Bodies Empowering Bills, which were reported and read for the third time.