Parliament.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 132, 28 October 1914, Page 5

Parliament.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 27. • AFTERNOON SESSION. Wellington. Last Night. The Council -mot at 2.30 p.m. EDUCATION RESERVES. ■ The Education Reserves Amendment Bill wis tiiken in Committee, and yc])orted without material amendment?. The Kill wa fi read a third time and passed. . ' FIRST READINGS. The Kauri Gum Industry Wages Protection and Contractors' Lien, State Advances and Land Laws Amendment Bills were received from the House, and read a first tiine. LOCAL BILLS. The following local Bilk were, put through Committee, read a third time, and passed:—-Auckland City Empowering, Auckland Harbor Board Empowering, Christehurch District Drainage, Christchureh Milk Supply and Markets, Duncdin Drainage ami .Sewerage, Dunedin Waipori Falls, Eltiiam Drainage, Napier Harbor Board Empowering, Riecarton Bush, Southland Drainage, Tahapuna Foreshore, Wnitara Harbor Board, and Wliangarei Borough Land Vesting. The Kauri Gum Industry and Slate Advances Amendment Bills were pnt through all stages without amendment. The Council ruse at 4.30 p.m.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AFTERNOON SESSION. The House met at 2.30 p.m. In reply to 'Mr U'ilford, the Minister of Marine stated that Professor Prince's report was in his possession, and would he laid on the table this week. Leave of absence was granted for the remainder of the session "to Hon. Buddo, on account of illness. • . FIRST READINGS. The Premier introduced the Shops and Offices Amendment Bill, which was read a first time and referred to the Labor Bills Committee. The Premier also introduced the Public Reserves and Domains Bill, which was read a first time, and referred to the Lands Committee. COMMITMENTS TO LOCAL BODIES. The Minister of Finance, on the motion of Mr Witty, laid on the table a return, showing—(l) The total amount of commitments.under the State guaranteed, advances to local bodies on the date the Massey Government came into oflicc; (2) the number and names of the local 'bodies to whom commitments have been made.

i The laying of (he return on the table raised a debate on the old question of commitments, the Opposition contending that the commitments 'of £'/II,OUO were not all due hi one year, but should be spread over a period of years. The 'Minister of Finanee'deelured that Sir Joseph Ward iiad plunged with the public, finance, and left the Government to face a slump later. Sir Joseph Ward took the advantage of a further opportunity to revive die financial discussion, churning' that lb; financial dillicult;, s of the l.'overeMrrn when tliey cam e into office were largely due to the ignorance 'of limuicial uoiufitions, they having loan authorities amounting to nearly live mi lions at their hands, which 'ihey did not know ! how to use.

The discussion was interrupted by the 0,30 adjournment.

Wellington, Last Night. The House resinned at 7..TJ p.m.' The following '(ills were mlrodiwcd by Governor's Miesaase and read a iirs;

time: 'War Contributions Validation, Friendly Societies Amendment. Mortgages Extension Amendment,' Trade Marks ftnd Designs Amendment. The House -went into Committee of Mipply upon the Estimates, and passed the first item.

Prepress was reported, and the House ose at 1.25 a.m.