PARLIAMENT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8242, 21 September 1906, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

By Telegraph—Proas Association

WELLINGTON, September 20.

The Council met at 2.30 o'clock.

The Firearms Bili and Fisheries Acts Amendment Bill wera read a third time, and passed. The Municipal Corpjrations Amendment Bill was read a third time pro forma and referred to the Statutes Revision Committee.

The second reading of the Firo Brigades Bill was moved by the At-torney-General. The Hon. H. F. Wigram was opposed to tbe Bill, which he considered went too far. Tnerehad oeen no demand for suoh a measure; it hud not been asked for by looil bodies or insurance companies. The Hon. S. T. George considered the Bill tbe most illogical ever brought io*o the legislature. lb required Are insurance companies to pay a large proportion of the oost of fire a matter ia which companies had no oouoeru. The Hon. T. Kelly gave a general support to the Bill.

The Hon. W. Beehau congratulated the Minister on bringing iu a Bill which was one in tbe right direction, and had been asked for for many years. The Attorney General said the whol* sum and substance of tho objections raised was that tbs insurance companies wore called upon to pay a just contribution to tho support of brigades. The seoond reading was agreed toby 21 votes to 5. Tbe Arbitration Act Amendment Bill passed through Committee without amendment, and was read a third time. The Counoil rose at 4.30 o'clook. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House met at a.30 o'olock. I The Vinoent aad Mauiotofco Hospital Distriots, Otago Dock Validation, Otago Docks Acts Amendment, Greymouth Harbour Board Loan, Waimakariri Harbour Board Loan, Auckland Savings Bank Education Special Donation, Dunodin District Drainage and Sewerage Act 1901 Amendment, Otago Boys and Girls High Schools Board Empowering Bills, were read a seuond time. On tbe motion for the third reading "of the Government Valuation of Land Act Amendment Bill, Mr Massey thought the Bill ought to have been taken up by the Government. The Premier thougbt the Leader of tbe Opposition very ungrateful for the assistance given by the Government without which his friend's Bill would have been impossible. He proceeded to explain that the association of the county clerk in those valuations would have to be very oareufully watched, and that the proposed classification of lands would in view of tho varying values throughout the colony be exceedingly difficult. He denied absolutely that the Government is a single tax Government or opposed to the farming interest. The Government was prepared to trust the people and to protest against misrepresentation. The Bill was read a third time on the voices. The seoond reading of the Looa.l Government Franchise Bill was lost by 35 votes to 25. The second reading of the Rating on Unimproved Value Amendment; Bill was refused by 38 votes to 20. The seoond reading of the Town Districts Bill was passed on the voices. The second reading of the Laud' Agents Bill was moved by Mr Witty. The House adjourned for dinner at 5.30 p.m.

EVENING SITTING. The House resumed at 7.30 o'olook* The second reading of the Land Agents Bill was agreed to. The seoond reading of the Contingent Vote Bill was moved by Mr Lewis. After a orief disoussion the House divided—ayes 21, noes 33. The Bill was lost. In Committee Mr Tanner moved an addition to clanse 3 of the Noxious Weeds Bill—"after providing for the ordinary annual expenditure." A long disoussion rose On division the amendment was lost by 18 votes to 32. Mr Jennings moved to add after the words "to clear" the words "by means of Angola goats." The Cnairman ruled the amendment out of order, as trifling with the Committee. Mr Jennings maintained be was serious. The Chairman refused to acuepfc the amendment. Mr Jennings moved in the usual way to appeal to the Speaker, and was beaten by 20 votes to 22. After further discussion progress was reported, and the House adjourned at 10.25 o'clock.