PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 October 1922, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

YESTERDAY’S SITTING. THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. MORE BILLS PASSED. 1 —’ By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The Legislative Council met to-day at 2.30 p.m. A minor amendment to the Pharmacy Amendment Bill was agreed to and the Bill was passed. The Electric Power Boards Amendment Bill was put through its final stages and passed with an amendment providing that dealings in land with a board would not disqualify a ratepayer from becoming a member of a board.

The following Bills were passed: Incorporated Societies’ Amendment Bill; Hutt River Improvement and Reclamation Bill. The Council adjourned at 3.30 p.m.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

WIDOWS’ PENSIONS. The House of Representatives met at 2.30 p.m. In reply to Mr. G. Witty (Riccarton), Mr. Massey said he would consider a proposal to exempt from death duty any sum of insurance money inherited by widows and children. The Hon. G. J. Anderson informed Mr. P. Fraser (Wellington Central) that so far as he knew there was no proposal to interefere with epidemic widows’ pensions. An alteration had been made so far as widowers were concerned, but no other change was contemplated. NEW BILLS. On the motion of Mr. P. Fraser, the Housing Amendment Bill was introduced and read a first time. On the motion of the Hon. W. D. Stewart, the Fencing Amendment Bill was introduced, read a first time, and referred to the Statutes Revision Committee. THE CAWTHRON INSTITUTE. The Public Petitions Committee (M to Z) recommended that the Government should make a contribution of £2OOO per annum to the Cawthron Institute as a setoff against the payment of £40,000 in death duty. The recommendation was strongly supported by many members during a discussion. GOVERNMENT BILLS. The following Bills were introduced by Governor’s Message: National Park Bill.—The Hon. D. H. Guthrie explained that the Bill proposed to enlarge the present Tongariro Park from 80,000 to 150,000 acres. The board of management would also be enlarged to embrace representatives from all parts of the North Island, including the Mayors of Auckland and Wellington. The Maori race would also have a representative on the board, which would be completed by several heads of departments and four members appointed by the Governor-in-Council. Part of the board’s duty would be the establishing of huts and the making of roads, through the park.—The Bill was read a first time and referred to the Lands Committee. Stamp and Other Duties Bill.—ln reply to Mr. T. M. Wilford (Leader of the Opposition), Mr. Massey said the Bill was a consolidating measure and was mainly the work of Mr. Justice Chapman.—The Bill was read a first time. Legislature Amendment Bill. —The Premier stated this was a Bill which made it possible for members of the Public Service to become candidates for Parliament. The Bill was read a first time. An amendment to the Sea Carriage of Goods Bill was also brought town by Governor’s Message. The Hon. E. P. Lee explained that Clause 9 of the Bill was such as under the Constitution Act required to receive Royal assent, and in order that the coming into operation of the Bill might not be delayed, it was proposed to delete the clause and insert it in the Mercantile Law Amendment Bill—The amendment was agreed to. The House rose at 11.40 p.m. till 2.30 p.m. to-morrow.