PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 October 1915, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

| LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. By Telegraph.—'Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. • In the Council this afternoon, the'following Bills were passed, after the usual procedure:—Dairying Industry Amendment, Prisoners' Detention Bill, Deltitute Persons Amendment, Footwear Regulation Amendment, Miners? Phthisis, Mining Amendment, and Coal Mipes Amendment. The amendments made by the House of Representatives in the Marriage Act ! Amendment Bill, and in the Expeditionary Forces Bill, were agreed to. In committee on the Gaming Act amendment, a new clause, in substitution for one dealing with totalisator permits for the Wellington Racing Crab, and which does not propose to incTMM the number of permits, was circulated. -Consideration was postponed and the Council rose at 4 p.m. f { HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. LAW PRACTITIONERS' BILL. Wellington, Last Night. | This afternoon the Law Practitioners Bill was returned from the Legislative Council with one clause struck out.,lW« clause provided that future King® Gottfe* sel shall not practise as solicitors, either, alone or in partnership with any other solicitor. Hon. A. L. Herdman moved ; that the amendment be agreed to. " Messrs Hindmarsli, Wilford, Held and Parr opposed the motion, the debate be* ing interrupted by the 0.30 adjourn* merit. ' < V ■PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT,. Wellington,' Last Nigh* This v evening, on the motion to go into committee of suply, discussion took place upon the Public Works Statettfmt, Mr. G. W. Fortes said that Humbert 'Were anxious to know when the mh tenance of arterial roads would be ftd* quately prov ; dtd for. Mr. J. T. Hornby complained of the." delay in proceeding with the Marti#•borough railway. Dr. A. K. Newman stated that in the matter of pobUo works Auckland was obtaining an i4j vantage over Wellington. Mr. G.'.J. ' Anderson argued that a 'better system ' of deciding and carrying on public woske « than now obtained wa» wanted THE RAILWAYS STATEMENT.. When the House resumed in the even- ! ing, the • Minister of Railways laid on the table the annual Railways Statement. Mr. 11. G Kll complained of the Railway Department's extravagance ia keeping au office in Willis Street, Wellington, for the sale c-f tickets, when the Tourist Office was only a tew hnndrsd yards away. Mr. G. Witty pointed out that, the Railway Statement waß placed on the table when the House wag about to discuss the i'uoiic V r orkd Statement, whtoh must tend to burl; d'ecussion, and l)y this means they would lose the opportunity for discussing the railway peset. Mr. \7. Veitcii asked what steps We being taken to arrange for the building of every locomotive possible In the 'Dominion. H-; trusted the Minister would not dispense with hands, as such a course would increaw unempk>ymei4 «bd perhaps land the department is entous difficulty late- on He also asked that the payment for hour to hour miwh. should he increased. He urged ttft - economies in dining-cars had been unwise, and practically amounted to sveat* ing. He also wished the Minifter to inquire into the carriage <4 stock in drought stricken districts, to prevent advantage being taken of the department. > ■ Mr. L. W. Isitt strongly supported llr. Ell's remarks. Hon. W F. Massey said there was ito , pleasing some members. The Minister • had promised to place the Railway* Statement before the House that even- 1 ing, and had carried out his promise. He was prepared to give a week .for discussion of the Railways Statemeat.it • members required it. Mr. C. J. Talbot desired to congratulate the Minister upon the assistance : aiven for carriage of stock in districts affected by drought. .T I Mr. G. J. Anderson said he had asked for the Railways Statement, and he thought the criticism of the Minister was unfair. Dr. Thacker asked if the Minister was prepared to carry out improvements recommended at Lyttelton five years ago. Hon. W. H. Herries, in reply, said he agreed with the suggestion that the Tourist Department should be amalgamated with the railways. fte manager's report .showed that good results had followed the opening' of a town ticket office in Wellington, but it had been decided to defer action in respect to other centres in I lie meantime. With regard to engines, the last lot imported had 'been thoroughly satisfactory. He showed by returns that under his direction more engines had been constructed in New Zealand than in pre- • vious years. He admitted thev were endeavoring to economise on dinin^-eni' ; , but if the arragements were not Satisfactory they would have to revert to the old order of things, and perhaps elnrge a little more for meals, .He knew that improvements at l.yttelton were urgently required, and when funds were available he would be only tt>o pleased to proceed with the work! The motion that the report be placed on the table was then carried on the voices. Messrs Veitcii, 'Thomson, Pearce, Ell, Field (Otaki), MoGdlum, Wilkinson, Sidey, Webb, and Colvin continued the debate, each emphasising local requirements. (Left sitting.)