PARLIAMENT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9133, 4 July 1908, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

BY TEMKHIAI'II —PRESS ASSOCIATION".

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL,

.WELLINGTON, July 3. The Legislative Council met at 2.30 p.m. The Hon. J. T. Paul (Otago) resumed the debate on the Address-in-Reply. He admitted that the Arbitration Act had partly broken down, but had nut failed. He declared that the workers had been more loyal to the Act than the employers. He agreed that workers' wages had increased, but so had the cost of living and quoted figures supporting his statement.

The Hon C. M. Luke (Wellington) was averse to a local Navy, but favoured an increased Naval subsidy. He rejoiced at the advancement in the condition of the workers, who should be given opportunities for further advancement. He hoped the Arbitration Act would be kept, and that a judge of the Supreme Court would be retained as President.

The Council adjourned at 4.40 till Wednesday.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

The House met at 2.30. The Wellington Harbour Board Reclamation Bill, Farriers Bill, Municipal Corporations Act, 1900, Amendment Bill No. 2, Hokitika Harbour Act, l r Jfis, Amendment Bill, were read a first time. The usual Sessional Committees were set up. On a motion to set up a Public Accounts Committee, Mr W. F. Massey (Leader of the Opposition) said he thought the Committee should have power to call for persons and papers. The Colonial Treasurer said he could not agree to give such powers to the Committee. There was no precedent for it. THE MEIKLE ACQUITTAL BILL. The Prime Minister moved the second reading of the Me'ikle Acquittal Bill. jHe reviewed the circumstances of the case, and said be thoughc as an act of justice the House should pass the Biil. Mr W. F. Massey supported the Bill.

Mr J. T. M. Hornsby (Wairsrapa) opposed the Bill, as introduced, but said that if the measure was made of a general character he would wi'hdraw his opposition. He moved "that the Bill be read a second time six -nonths hence."

J. A. Hanan (Invercargill) W. Hemes (Bay of Plenty), F. E. Baun.e (Auckland East), F. W. Lang (Mannkau), A. R. Barclay (Dunedin North;, and C. H. Izard (Wellington North; .supported tht Bill. Messrs A. E. Remington (Rangitikei), A. T. Ngr.ta (Eastern Maori), A. S. Malcolm (Clutha), J. F. Arnold (Ounedin South), H. Heke (Northern Maori), C. H. Poole (Auckland West), A. W. Hogg (Masterton) opposed it. Gome of the latter explained that th-iv were actuated by a desire for'a general Bill. The Prime Minister pointed out that a general Bill was out of the question. The amount of compensation suggested was £5,000. At 5.30 the Hou3e adjourned for dinner.

The House resume:! at 7.30. Sir J. G. Ward said that he intended to put the Bill through. On a division Mr Hornshy's amendment was rejected by 43 to 10, and after further [brief discussion the second reading was carried by 41 to JO, The [Vgumter moved the second reading'of the incorporated Societies' Bill, designed to make more adequate provision for the incorporation control and dissolution of the societies to which it related. The second reading was carried on the voices. On the Premier's motion the second reading of the Society of Accountants Bill was agreed to. The Bill provided for the training and examining of members of the Society, but placed no restrictions on non-members of the Society and permitted members of incorporated societies outside the' Dominion to be admitted without examination.

The second reading of the Secret Commissions Bill, on the motion of the Premier, was agreed to. The chief provisions are that agents are not permitted to receive secret bribes fromthird persons, nor are the latter permitted to give s"uch bribes. The Hon. J. McGowan moved the second reading of the Coroners' Amendment Bill, permitting a coroner to hold an inquest without a jury unless he thought a j ,ry desirable or the Attorney-General ordered it. After a brief discussion the second reading was carried. The House rose at 9.40 p.m.