PARLIAMENTARY.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 July 1915, Page 4

PARLIAMENTARY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. ELECTION' OF CHAIRMAN OF COMMITTEES. By Telegraph.— Press Association. Wellington, Yesterday. In the Legislative Council this afternoon the Imprest Supply Hill, for .uiii."!,01)0, passed all stages', and the (A>o,c Islands Bill was read a second time and referred to the Statutes Revision Co>:ijnittee. When the Speaker announced the result of the liquor poll at Bellamys, lion. 0. Carsfm asked, as it was open voting, would the ballot lv- entered in the jo i ■ mils of the Com- Speaker tad that had not be |t > Carson si; M • >, i ; ,. tice, Ht he ■ in \\ e,M a ; necessary i-i.-i- ;<j r J|, , Bell said tn. the matter \v. governed by iiie practice of the pas' and the matter dropped. Hon. W. Carncross was elected Chio'man of Committees, Sir. F. H. I), i! •' congratulated Mr. Carncross on his :

tion. and also congratulated the Council or. having one so competent to till the position, and one who hud been so courteous in carrying out his duties in the past. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

BELLAMYS. "" When the House met this afternoon the Speaker announced the poll taken as whether or not liquor be sold at Bellamys, and said the Speakers of both Houses had met and authorised the sale of liquor to continue. NEW BILLS. The following, Bills were introduced and read a first time:—Auckland City Markets and Empowering Bill (Mr. I'arr), Wellington City Empowering Act 1008 Amendment Bill (Mr. Wright), Local Elections (Proportional Representation) Amendment Bill (Mr. MeC'ombs'. Wellington City Basin Reserve Bill (Mr. Wright), Mangawhero County Bill (Mr. Smith). NATIVE MATTERS. The Native Minister laid on the table the departmental report on Native Land Courts and Land Boards. Sir Joseph Ward said it would be interesting to have particulars of native lands purchased during the past two years and held for speculative purpos-.-s.

Hon. W. 11. Herries said no large blocks had been purchased under his Act; speculators had been "(scotched" by his legislation. Maori Councils were now composed of better class men, and lie was certain 110 land was now being acquired not in accordance with the Maori land law. His endeavor was to give more purchasing power to the Clown and less to the individual. He had no knowledge of any lands being bought for speculative purposes. ADVANCES TO SETTLERS. Hie Minister of Finance laid on the table the report of the Advances to Settlers Department. Sir Joseph Ward said lie was of opinion that profits on the Advances to Settlers branch was ,t'2>l,ooo less than last year, and on the Advances to Local Bodies branch £14,000 less than last ; year. He would like to have some explanation on the subject. Hon. Jaß. Allen replied that Sir Joseph Ward had evidently not read the report, which stated that the loss wjs entirely due to tie unremunerative rati: of interest.

Sir Joseph Ward said he had read the report, but that did not account for the. .discrepancy; he wanted a return allowing the transactions of the office duri:ig the past two years. Mr. Allen said he was prepared to lay on the table any report asked for.

CONDUCT OF TROOPS. The Premier read a letter from the Ma"yor of Albany denying the tumor that New Zealand troops had misbehaved themselves while ashore at that town. Mr. Massey said it was gratifying to have such'an emphatic assurance that our boys were behaving: themselves as men and gentlemen. Sir Joseph Ward said that New Zealand was deeply indebted to the Mayor of Albany for standing to our boys in the way he had done, and he thought his action should be suitably acknowledged. SHIPPING SPACE. The Premier read telegrams which hart passed between himself aiid the Union Company on the subject of shipping space for produce in the south. TVarrangements lie (Mr, Massey) considered very satisfactory. ' QUESTIONS. Replying to Mr. A. M. Myers, (lie Prime Minister said the Government noticed what was being done in Britain and Australia with regard to national registration; the subject would be dealt with before the session comes to ail'end.

The matter of appointing a permanent board to inquire inti, mutters concerning trade industries and commerce was receiving careful consideration by ill" Government.

lli-plying to Dr. N'cwman, tin- Minister of Defence sulci arrangements were malwith tht- Imperial authorities to send buck to New Zealand the sick and wounded who would not he available again for the firing line. Replying to Mr. .Mvem. the Minister of Defence said discretionary powers had been exercised by examiners for soni" time past in the direction of accepting men for enlistment who wire slightly below the military standard of height. lxeplying to Mr. (I. Ktissell, Hon. .las. Allen said that the l'ublie Service Coinmisioner was being consulted its io whether it is practicable to pay salaries of public servants weekly. Replying to l)i«. Thai-leer, the "Minist". 1 of Health said that men sulVering from cerebri) spinal meningitis wen- in the best sanitary conditions obtainable. DKFINITION OF TfXIK BTI.I. PASSE 0. The House resinned at 7p.m., when the motion for the third reading Of til" Dclinition of Tiine liill was called on. members who oppoM'd the second rcadin;;' last Friday uttered a liii.il protc-t against the passage of the Hi 11,, Mr, Sidev replied at length, and ihe lluiimdivided (aves I-. not'.-, -m!. and the Hill passed. IiKTTKUMKNT l!ll.l„ After supper i'. li. AleCallmn moved the second reading of the Rcltcriuent j Bill, which, he said, was similar to 'he Hill introduced Hiirtv-one years ago 'iv the late Hon. Walter .lohnstofi. lie I briefly referred to the principal provisions. and moved the second reudiir.'. There was a brief debate, in which Hon. W. H. Tlerries, Messrs "Wright, Wilkinson, and t'oales opposed the liill, and Mr. Tsitt spoVc in support of the principle. Mr. Hindinarsh approved of the Hill, and Mr. Parr thought it only fair that lands which benefited bv public works should pay something towards the cost. pointed out that the prmc'mle

of the Bill had been outlined in the Financial Statement of 1912, und claimed that nil who supported the Government then must vote for the Bill. The Hon. \V. Eraser said the bftter- ; |»r >iii'i.];le tuglci not lie applied to new line- witlnuit doing injustice, dlit would have been a proper provi-ion when the Public Work# policy was initiated.

Mr. Young the Rill would tend to aid a town v. country erv. The debate was continued liy Messrs. Field (Otaki), Kscott, Kil, Marnier, Anderson and Harris.

Mr. Mrt'uHum replied, and the second reading was curried 011 the voices. Tin- Factories Act Amendment Bill (M !•. W ill'ord i was referred to the Lalbor Bill" Convmittec, and Mie House adjourned at 12.20 .