PARLIAMENT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8251, 4 October 1906, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. By Telegraph—Press Association.. ' WELLINGTON, October 3. _ The Council m6t at 2.30 p.m. . The Government Valuation 'of Land Act was committed add reported with an amendment providing that assessors appointed by the local authority ahail not be officials of such body. The second reading of the Immigration Restriction Act Amendment Bill was agreed to. The Waimakariri Harbour Board Loan Bill aad the Otago Duok Validation Bill were read a aeooud time.. The Habitual Criminals and Offenders' Bill was read a third time and' passed. The Council rose at 3.40 p.tn*

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.. Tha Honse met at 2 30 o'cloak. The report of the Petitions Committee in connection wifcb the Sneddon case was brought up by the Chairmaa. It was to tbo effect that the olaim of Mr Sneddon be referred to the Government for consideration. It was a claim for overtime. The House discussed it at some length. Tiio Minister met all the points for the claim with a denial. Mr Sneddon was admitted by all to be an excellent workman and became foreman at the Malcohine works. He was supplied with ail the necessary expert assistance. There was no need for the lone, hours* and the numerous shifts, and the claim had not been made until years afterwards. A hard-working, practical fitter, he had been paid £8 a week, for whioh ho had left a position of £5 in the employ of Messrs Anderson, of Christchurcb. After further discussion, the report was referred back to the Committee for re-nonslderation. Questions were answerer! as fol-lows:—-As the sudden removal of all restrictions cn the importation of grapes from Australia would prove absolutely miaous to many settlers,, it would probibly be advisable if the prohibition were-revoked to impose a fairly heavy import duty and reduce it year by year. The matter will receive consideration when the Customs tariff is under revien. In regard to the Shops and OHiae*? Act the Government have no knowledge that it has been found impossible for trades in combined districts to take advantage of section 21 of the Act. All that is required after a requisition has been drawn up and signed by shopkeepers (either in one or more trades or for all shops) is for each looal authority to certify that they represent a majority in its district. The effont is that the shops in one? of the districts cnunot De compelled to close at the instance of another disrtict. Another effect ia that the shops under one looal authority cannot fco compelled to close at the instance of shops under another local authority; sa that what may bo regarded as inconvenient is iu reality a safeguard against one distriot being compelled to close by shopkeepers of another district. Arrangements have been made to carry out a series of experiments In spraying potatoes during the incoming season. The Minister has read the resolutions which wore prcnosid, last week, by Mr R. Lee, Chairman of tha Wellington Education Board, and wbiah are still under disoussion by the Board, and does not consider it advisable to set up a commission to consider the resolutions. Tho Government has no knowledge of any refusal of any bank in New Zealand to pay in gold. It only knows that t,ha banking reserves are large enough to enable them to carry on the wholo of their business iu a sound and satisfactory way. Mr Baumo's motion for a return of the names of lar.d holders at £50,000 and more unimproved valaa was discussed. The motion was agreed to on tho voices. The House adjourned st 5.30 o'clock. EVENING SITTING. The Housr resumod at 7.;!0 p.m. The Premier moved-• "That, in adopting the'report of tho Reciprocity Treaty Committee this House desires to express its appreciation of the eminent public services rendered by Mr Deakiu and tho late Mr Seddon in their efforts to establish trade reciprocity between the Commonwealth and New Zealand, and hopes that a scheme may yet be devised which will he satisfactory to both countries.'' Ttie Premier said he proposed, later oil, to introduce a Bill to place tho matter oil n proper basis, as othersiee every person who had been doing business in tho articles enumerated iu the treaty would have a claim agniust the colony. JNo one revested more than tie and his colleagues tho fact that the committee could not see its way to ratify the agreement entered into by tho late Premier. They could imagine the difficulty that would be experienced in framing a treaty that would bo satisfactory to all classes. It waa only after exhaustive enquiry that tho full effect of tho proposed treaty could be realised. He very much rogretted that the Government could not support <;he proposed treaty. Mr Massey seconded the raution,. and agreed with the sentimnuts expressed by the Premier its regard to the efforts of the late Premier and Mi- The positiou was a difficult one to face, but he hoped some satisfactory arrangement would be arrived at in tho near future. Mr Laurensou supported tha treaty advocating free flour, and pointing; out the advantages to minernl waters, barley, oats and hons. Mr Ell supported tho Premier, declaring that the pronosed treaty would not t\ssist the Now Zaaland industries. Mr Buddo considered it would be always hopeless to arrange a treaty with Australia. •Mr Hauau thought the whole advantage of the treat/y was on .Sheside of Australia. Mr l Jogg thought the losses under the treaty would be too great, especially in the sugar trade. The motion was carried. The House adjourned at 11.15 p.m...