PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 September 1917, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL By Telegraph.—Press Associa^ioa. Wellington, Last Nigljt. In tile Council this afternoon, the PaiH iiamentary Representation Adjustment ■Bill was read a second time pia forma ami referred to the Statutes Be* vision Committee. , An amendment to the Finance Bill was agried- to, and the Council adjourned until Wednesday. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES The House met at 2.30 p.m. SECOND DIVISION. Replying to Mr. Wilford, Sir JajneS Allen said the pay and allowances of .the Second Division would be dealt with by regulation, and the pensions by statute.

RATINGS. In answer to Mr. Poole, Ssr Jajnej! Allen said the Government was arr*ng- ' ing to bring u,p tho payment of Sew Zealand ratings and motor-boat patrols to the same level as those of the exi peditionary force. FINANCE BILL. \ An amendment to the Finale# (B}H was introduced by Governor's message. 1 Sir Joseph Ward explained tjiat th« amendment made provision to givp reliel to small debenture-holders in where they can satisfy the commissifflje# " they are suffering a hardship un4er thj ; taxation proposals. He further states ' that this would be the last additifft' to the Finance Bill, which would be goqs to the Governor-General for signature as soon as the Legislative Council had passed the amendment. The amendment was agreed to. THE SEAMEN'S DISPUTE. Replying to Mr. Fletcher, the Premier said he was sorry to say that negotia- 1 tions for the settlement of the trouble on the Wellington waterfront hod failed. ! Both parties agreed to submit, the dis- : pute to a tribunal, but no agreement could be arrived at as to the constituI tion of the tribunal. There tho rnattq? . ' stood. MARITIME MATTEBS, Replying to Mr. Hindmarsh, Hon. Ql W. Russell said the vessel formerly known as H.M.S. Torch had been presented to the Government and re-named the Raura. It was proposed to fit her up and replace the Hinemoa, which waa ' now out 'of date. Replying to Mr. Poole, the PostmasterGeneral said the steamer lost -en route to San Francisco Jiad a small mail on board. . : A NEW BILL. _ The Native Land Act, 1909, 'Amends ment Bill (Mr. Wilford) was ' and read a first time. V ' - MONDAY MEETINGS. 1 Mr._Massey moved that on and after the irtti inst. the House meet on Mom day evening.' for the transaction of Gov> v eminent business. The Premier said hfl anticipated the .session would close with- 1 in a month's time. T-he motion was agreed to. ' THE ESTIMATES. The House went into Committee ol Supply to consider the estimates. " 1 ' The first item, public buildings (£60,240), was agreed to. Domaind (£3200) and maintenance of roada (£50,000) were also passed. ' ' p" The House adjourned at 5.30 p.m. On the House resuming at 7.50, the vote of £23,300 for the Native Departs ment came under review and raided af ''' ; - desultory discussion on Native matters, which wag continued for an hour, when the vote was passed, as also that for; £I2SO for miscellaneous services in thef ' samo department. Justice Department (£497,008)' was next taken. f During the discussion, which occupied ' two hours, several members urged th® appointment of more justices of the : peace, especially in country ■ . and more frequent appointments. Thef '' also impressed the Hon. Minister whtt admitted the force of contention. < * The hon. Minister stated the queatioa of increasing the salaries of stipendiary magistrates at the four centres '■ ; was under /consideration. He .waa of I opinion that the department would have to pay £IOOO a year if they were going. ; to get men of the qualifications uecoa* sary to .fill positions of such a reepou- " ; sible nature, . On the prison vote of £64,850 Mr, Witty moved to reduce the vote by A pound as an indication" that the pay of warders should be increased. : i 1; After a brief discussion the amendment was lost on the voices. During the discussioii on the vote fop the police department, tho Hon. Herd-" man said, in reply, to Mr. Veitcb, tjiathi could hot agree to establish a legal classification in the police for<!e, is ;th« conditions were entirely different from those prevailing in other of the -public service. As far as the suppression of the bookmaker was concerned, he remarked that the law wa< at present defective, and until .the iwr '> wag- altered, making betting punishablsl rU: by imprisonment, 'this nuisance wquldl never be put down. The police wey« doing their best to cope with the evil, ,' and even under present disadvantages . ( they last year secured 65 convictions ' \i and collected £2702 in fines. , " , The vote was then passed. • The Mines 'Department (31,'127)' was under discussion at midnight. The vote passed, and the Hbuse rosa at, 12.10, - ,