Parliament

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 84, 4 September 1914, Page 8

Parliament

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 3. ■ HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. EVENING SESSION. Per Press Asociation. Wellington, Night. The House met at 7.30 p.m. ; Ike House went into Committee on the Dtmedin City Council Empowering Bill (Mr Stat-ham), Onehunga Borough Council Enabling Bill (Mr Lang), Tuakitoto and Kaitangata Lakes Bill (the j Hon. Mr Allen), all of which were passed [without amendment. The Bills were | then read a, third time, and passed. On the motion to go into Committee of Supply! to consider the General Estimates of expenditure, Sir Joseph Ward raised the question of the electoral rolls, : He complained that rolls were not available, and people had no means of finding out whether they were on the foil or not. Sir Joseph Ward said he did not propose to discuss tho Estimates from u party point of' view, tut the House ought to be told about the business the Government wanted to do. ; They might then be able to keep clear i of contentious matters, j Mr 0. W. Russell said the electoral rolls were mot as far forward as they ought to be. The Opposition should know when the elections were to tie held, so that they I might avoid party warfare duriiig the national crisis. The Premier said that so far as was possible the Government would avoid contentious measures, but there were certain measures which had to be gone on with. He mentioned as measures Which should be put through, the National Provident, Fire Brigades, Hauraki Plains, Public Bodies' Leases, Master and Apprentice, Local Railways, Local Grants and Subsidies, and Legislative Council Bills, which could be dealt with. There was also the Education Bill, a Loan Bill, an Electoral Bill, and a big consolidating measure dealing with the Cook Island. A Native Bill was also necessary. The measures mentioned could be put through without contention.

Hon. Fisher favored going) on quiet'/ with business, and holding the elections at the end of t!h« year afcs usual. He defended the action of tho Electoral Department regarding- the proposition of the rolls, claiming that the main roll mul never bet'n sprinted so early before the general election, while the interim roll issued bv hint was serving «!) present necessities, Mr. 'McDonald! urged that, there should he an improvement- in the method of enrollitv? doctors, providing school fVCTtnmMidkvtkm, and 1 the provision of mMitaxy training for hackbiot-ks settlers. 1

After mad nijfht tilio debato -mm continued' by Messrs Sutc.v, Glove? and W-ebb.

After Mr. Alien had replied the first item in the ..'stimatH was pussed at 1.50 andi the House rose.