PARLIAMENT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8495, 26 July 1907, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

By Telegraph —Press Association,

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. WELLINGTON, July 25. The House met at 2.30 p.m. The Gisborne Harbour Bill and Wellington City Empowering Bill were read a first time and referred to the Local Bills Committee. The Loan Bill was brought down by Governor's Message and read a first time. The Noxious Weeds Act Amendment Bill was considered in committee. An amendment by Mr A. W. Rutherford to exempt portions of the Amuri and Cheviot Counties from the operations of the Bill was subsequently withdrawn. During the discussion Mr J. Stallworthy referred to the tifrie when Mr Allison was fined under the Noxious Weeds Act for failing to clear his land of weeds. Mr Allison stated that the prosecution was a political one. The Hon. T. Duncan, who was Minister of Lands at the time, denied that it was a political prosecution, and i t had never been brought under his notice in any way until to-day. The discussion was proceeding when the House adjourned at 5.30 p.m. EVENING SITTING. The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. In the absence of Sir W. J. Steward, who was in the chair in the afternoon, Mr D. Buddo took the chair. The Noxious Weeds Act Amendment Bill was further considered in committee. An amendment that Auckland should be included in the operation of the Bill, which occupied the attention of members during almost the whole of the afternoon, was further debated. Ultimately the clause as amended was agreed to. Mr Hone Heke moved a further amendment to limit the operations of the Bill to the land district of Nelson and Auckland City. At 11.15 Mr Ngata moved to report progress. He said Maori members did not desire to block business, but they objected to the Bill before the House. Progress .'■? reported. The Hon. J. Carroll moved the adjournment of the House. Mr A. W. Hogg said that he was sorry to oppose the motion. He rose to fay that he • had seen tactics adopted that day that had never before been witnessed in that House. No great object would be served beyond preventing the reading of two Bills to be brought before the House, viz., the Abolition of Plural Voting Bill and the Flour Duty Abolition Bill. Mr F. R. Flatman raised a point of order as to whether Mr Hogg could speak on matters still to be placed before the House. The Speaker ruled that Mr Hogg was in order in mentioning the measures, but he could not speak on them. Mr Hogg went on to criticise the actions of members of the House during the afternoon sitting in committee, particularly mentioning Messrs Flatman and Izard. Mr Flatman protested that he was not present during the afternoon and only spoke at night, and if he was guilty of delaying the business of the House so was Mr Hogg, who h?J also spoken on the Bill. Mr C. Hall said that there seemed to be collusion between both sides of the House to keep the debate proceeding. He characterised the speeches as rot and rubbish. He was called to order and withdrew the statement. Mr W. F. Massey said that there had been no collusion on his part. The other side „of the House could speak for itself. Mr Hogg said he would leave it to the House whether he should proceed with his measures, which he characterised as being of great importance to the whole colony and which, sooner or later, must be brought forward. Other members spoke, and denied that they were guilty of alleged stonewalling. The House adjourned at 11.35 p.n}. THE LOAN BILL. The Loan Bill provides for railway construction, £375,000; additional rolling stock for open lines and such other purposes in connection therewith, £200,000; land settlement and gold fields development, construction of roads, tracks, bridges, etc., £35.0,000; for the purpose of developing goldfields, £25,000; telegraph extension. £50,000; total, £1,000,000.