PARLIAMENT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8241, 20 September 1906, Page 6

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. By Telegraph—Press Association, WELLINGTON, September 19. The Legislative Council met at 2.30 o'clock. The Regulation of Bellamys Bill was read a first time. The Attorney-General moved the second reading of the Arbitration Act Amendment Bill. He explained that the measure bad nothing to do with the Conciliation and Arbitration Act. Under the existing law of 1890 the term "submission" was defined as "matters in difference." It had been found In practice iu strict law that there r*ere many oases which were not matters'of "difference." The snoourt reading was agreed to without discussion. The Attorney-General moved the second reading of the Motor Regulation Bill, designed to make further provision for regulation, registration and identification of motor cars, and to further safeguard the public. Som'til members urged that it would be preforaOlo to have one comprehensive measure dealing with tho whclo question to tho Bill like the present, making numerous amendments in the existing law. The Hon. W. M. Bolt moved tho adjournment of tho debute for a w«>ok. The Hon. A. Pitt said the motion was-made at his suggestion, and if it wero agreed to he would in the meantime have a Consolidating Bill drafted. The motion was agreed to.

'Tho Council adjourned at 3.40 o'clock.

THE HOUSE OF REPRESENT ATIVEP. The House met at 2.30 o'jlock. Tbe OhriHtohuroh Tramway District bill, City of Ghristohuroh Municipal Offices bill, borough of Port Chalmers and Otago JJock Trust Exchange of Land Bill, Workers Dwellings Act Amendment Bill, aud Offensive Publications Bill were road a first time. Mr Ehuan mover! for a week's extension to the Industries aud Commerce Committee for its report on the reciprocity treaty. The extension was granted. The chief answers* to questions,on matters of general interest are aa follows:—In ve] the Exhibition, that the Union Company aud the Huddart Parker Company have already intimated to the Government that they will undertake to have sufficient stetmer accommodation provided during the period referred to, but the Government is not satisfied with the proposed fares aud hope to effent a further reduction; in re school books, eto., that changes in school books are neces sary to keep pace with modern developments; that the antiquated system of pass examination a3 a means of testing progress will not be reverted to; in the matter of tbe reports of Mr McNab'a speech on the Financial Debate, that the Minister's attention was called to the statements jvhen they appeared in the press. The statement that preference was shown to certain papers and that the telegracs was transmitted at the expense of the State, which was not the case, the Minister took to be simply an indication that their own arrangements had broken down.

During the oourse of the discussion on the usual motion for adjournment Mr Massey, commenting on the above answer, said it occurred to him that, certain papers had obtained an advantage inasmuch as the furnisning of Hansard duplicates to favourable journals of long speeches blocked the wires against all others. He also protested .against Ministers getting duplicate copies of their spetoh reports. To tbis the Minister replied first by reading two lettters, one from himself lo the chief of the Hansard staff, asking if members of Parliament have the right to obtain duplicates of their Hansaid reports provided they ask for them in time for the incidental .transcriptions, and another from the said chief stating that the light to duplicate copies of Hansard reports (asked for in tune) has been long recorded, and nerer questioned. After receipt of that reply one paper representa- ' tive had asked for the duplictue reports of Mr McNab's speooh on the Financial Debate and had got it. Three others had' got it, also, without any knowledge of'the political ! colour of two of tbem. Any journals who applied would have got the same advantage through the "vide" system irrespective of colour. The representative of the Christchuroh Press, the Minister added, would certainly have got it if he had applied, bat that gentleman did not sdem to be aware that f.uy one had applied. The House adjourned at 5.30 o'cluck for dinner. EVENING SITTING. The House resumed a 7.30 o'clock. The Juvenile Offenders Bill (Mr Baume) was discharged, from the Order Paper. Mr Laurenson moved the second reading of the Law Practitioners Act Amendment Bill. The Bill was read a second time by 32 votes to 20 votes. Sir W. Steward moved the seoond reading of the Elective Executive Bill. The Hon. 0. Mills could not let the occasion pass without renewing his opposition to the Bill. Mr Gray supported the Bill "cordially." Mr MoLaohlan had always supported the Bill, and would do so again. Mr Ell congratulated the mover on bis ability and courage. Mr Ihomson also complimented the mover, and argued in detail that the Bill would conduce to good Government.' The House divided—Ayes 22, noes 32. The Bill was lost. ' In Committee Clauses 1 and 52 of ! the Government Valuation of the J Land Aot Amendment Bill were j passed. Clause 3 was amended by adding road boards to the list of local bodies concerned in the appointment of assessors. The House adjourned at 11.25 p.m.