PARLIAMENT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8274, 30 October 1906, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE OOUNUib, By Telegraph—Press Association. WELLINGTON, Ootober 2D. The Council met at 10.30 P.m. An amendment made to the Maori Settlement Act Amendment Bill by Governor's Message was referred to the Native Affairs Committee. r lhe Publio Works Act Amendment Bill passed its second reading and was committed. AFTERNOON SITTING. After the Legislative Council resumed at 2.45 p.m. amendments made by Governor's Message in f;ho More Lands for Settlement Aot Amendment Bill were agreed to. Tbe Council then adjuurnod uatil 4.30 p.m. to await the Appropriation Bill. EVENING sitting. The Council met at 8.15 p.m. The Appropriation Bill was passed through all its stages. lh«i Council adjourned at 8.45 p.m. HOUSE OP REPRESENTATIVES. The South African Reciprocity Treaty Bill was passad through the remaining stages and further discusted. Mr Massey urged postponement, on constitutional grounds, aud said the trade with South Africa was too small to trouble about. The Premier explained that other countries had arranged a convention with South Africa, and if we allowed tha time 10 pass witboat now coming in it might do harm to our producers. There wa9 a safeguard, as the proposals remained in force until July next, and would then ba plaoed again before Parliament.

AFTERNOON sitting. The House resumed afc 2.80 o'clock. The Premier, ia moving tbo second reading of the Appropriation Bill, explained that a new clause was an appropriation clause for the Oook Islands. Clause 25 was the appropriation olause which had besa omitted from the Native Laud Aot of 1905; 26 removed double as to legality of making certain payments under the Workers' Dwelling Act; 27 was an appropriation (or lands to be acquired to giro access to pablio roads; 28 appropriated monwy out of tbo land for settlement which bad been paid for tbe purchase and expenses of certain blocks of native laud.iu the Ilawke's Bay district; 29 enabled the Oommisbioner of Telegraphs to tnako arrangements with back blocks settlers for telephones. Mr Massey said the House should take time to consider these new clauses. Mr Lauraneon had never been so disgusted and ashamed as with these estimates. He thought there were Items raised iu those estimates whioh weie disgraceful to Parlia- 1 ment. These voteH bad nauseated him. The Government ought to turn their back on the selfadver : tising regime of the past and go in for clean administration. The vote of £2,000 for a football team, whioh had more than cleared expenses, was an outrage.

Mr Izard thought that the House, ia passiag 106 measures, bad done much good work. He drew the Government's attention to thu need for a better regulation of the milk i supply. He knew aa establishment whioh bad Jbeen refused a license of the municipal authority and had immediately afterwards got one from the Department Mr Wilford said chat everyone voting for clause 28, enabling the transactions on native lands to ba j settled out of the land for settlements fund would be committed to olausa 3 of the Land Bill on it* appearance next yonr. The Hon. Mr MoNab said the clause merely enabled payment to be made, and tnere would be no more transactions of the kind. Mr Hogg quoted a list of votes whioh ho denied were questionable, and affirmed that they were typical of the estimates. The Bill was read a second time. The Fremier thanked the House for the comtesy extended to the Ministry under circumstances of great difficulty, and joined his colleagues in their appreciation of the way in wbich the work of tho session had been done. For a session of a litlle under nine weeks they had established a record with the number of useful measures. Not many Parliaments had a better record. All would join him in his regret that one of their number who bad borne his share in most of this work hart been laid aside, and in <;he hope I that lie might soon bo restored to them. He thanked the Loader of the Opposition for the assistance he had given in carrying on the work. He wished hon. members a pleasant time during the rece s, and good health and strength for the work before them as their next meeting. Mr Massey thanked the Premier for his kindly reference and the Speaker for the urbanity and fairness with whioh he had presided over , their meetings. He was grateful to the Premier for his kindly reference to his friend, Mr Kirkbrido, and the Houso would be glad to learn that the news rooeived that day was that he was much better. To the Promier he «vished a p'oasant trip to London, hoping tnat he would do good service both to the Crown aud the colony, as, indeed, he was sure he woutd, and, return fresh and vigorous for the. work of next session. Mr Speaker wished the House a pleasant recess, aud a return in good; health and spirits. 'lho House adjourned at 9.15 till 4 p.m. to-morrow.