PARLIAMENT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9137, 9 July 1908, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

(By Telegraph—Abridged from Pres3 Association Message.)

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. WELLINGTON, July 8. The Legislative Council met at 2.30. The Hons. W. C. F. Carncross, R. H. J. Reeves, J. Rigg, and T. Thompson were nominated for the position of Chairman of Committees. Mr Reeves was declared elected. The Hon. S. T. George resumed the debate on the Address-in-Reply He said he thought the Arbitration Act should be hung up for a year, and if there was then no industrial peace an amending Act could be introduced. As to the new Parliamentary Buildings, he thought they should be erected inland away from the enemy's cruisers, and suggested Wairarapa as suitable. The Council adjourned at 4.25.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

The House met at 2.30.

Mr W. F. Massey asked whether the Government would give the House an amendment to the Electoral Act in the direction of ensuring greater secrecy. The Premier, replying, said that he doubted whether the matter could be dealt with this session. He had had no complaints of the want of secrecy. Ministers, replying to questions, said that it was not intended to introduce legislation enabling a colonial vote with a bare majority to be taken on the Licensing question; that the output of gold and silver in the Dominion should be considerably increased before proceeding to establish a branch of the Royal mint; the Government did not propose to employ canvassers to enrol electore. The cost would be between £7,000 and £8,000; the Government could not agree to reduce the freight on firewood carried by tail; excursion railway fares could not be extended to country people on market days; it was intended to amend the Habitual Drunkards Act to allow a magistrate to grant probation if he deemed it necessary; the Government had not arrived to any decision to take over the tourist traffic of the Wanganui river; the whole question of patent law was receiving the attention of the Government; there was no iresent intention to increase the duty on Oregon pine; Iherewasno intention to amend the Land Act this session; the Government did not consider it desirable to c iscontinue the branding of boxes of butter alter, grading, leaving Home buyers to purchase produce on its merits; the Government would consider suggestions for placing rifle clubs on a better fooling; the Government hoped to submit proposals this session dealing with uniform school boards for the Dominion that the medical infection of scho h was under consideration.

Tne House rose at 5.30 p.m. The Mouse again met at 7.30. A L6an Bill was introduced for £1,250,000. The second reading was set down for next day. The second reading of the Musicians Bill was agreed to and referred to the Education Department. On the motion for the third reading of the Meikle Acquittal Bill, Mr J. T. M. Hornsby entered a protest agaii.st the measure. He declared that a number of members received a communication to-day that the a:nount of compensation demanded would be £27,000. A number of members strongly opposed the Bill. After the supper adjournment the debate was continued at considerable length on both sides of the question. The Premier replied at considerable length, and the third reading was carried by 37 votes to 17 votes. The second reading of-the Arbitration Amendment Bill, pro forma, was carried. The House adjourned at 11.55 p.m.