PARLIAMENT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9155, 31 July 1908, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES;'

By Telegraph—Abridged from Press Association Report.)

WELLINGTON, July 30. The House met at 2.30 p.m. The Minister uf Lands laid on the table the papers relating to certain land transactions in the City of Wellington between the Government, the City Council, and Kennedy MacDonald and Co. Mr F. M. B. Fisher, who had called for the papers, said that the transaction revealed that they had been hoodwinked and unwittingly committed a breach of the Land Act in selling Crown lands to private individuuals without competition. Moreover, in rrgard to the exchange of land, he tiliogecl that -the Government had been misled as to the nature of the exchange, and had been led to sell land at £] oo per chain to Kennedy MacDonaid and Co., who i\jfused .£420 per chain for the same.

Mr W. F. Maasey said that if the facts were as stated, there should be a full enquiry by the House. The Premier said the Government courted |,the fullest enquiry, as accusing to their rights what had been done was right and honourable. He suggested that, the matter should ba referred to the Lands Committee, which should commence the enquiry to-morrow, and report as quickly as possible. The Hon. R. McNab moved in this direction, and the motion was carried. The second reading of the Westport Harbour Board Loan Bill was agreed to. The Chiistchurch City Sanitation Bill was read a second time. Mr H. G. Elf moved the second reading of the Town and District Act Amendment Bill to make the qualifications cf electors those prescribed by the Municipal Corporations Act of 1900, and also to make the conduct of elections come undtr the provisions oi the Local Government Act, 190-L The second reading was agreed to. The Local Elections Act Amendment Bill and Lamps on Vehicles Bill were read a second time. ■Mr J. X T. M. Hornsby moved the second reading of the Quackeries Prevention Bill. The dinner adjournment interrupted the debate. The House re-uired at 7.30 o'clock. Mr Hornsby continued his remarks upon the second reading of the Quackeries Prevention Bill, laying great stress upon the injury done by the unrestricted sale of quack nostrums. The object of the Bill was solely to checkmate this, and prevent the sale of noxious appliances or worthless and harmful drugs, the latter of which cost scores of infant lives. Dr. Chappel, speaking from a medical standpoint, ttrongly supported the Bill, and spoke strenuously of the pernicious effect of drugs, and advertisements. The Bill was read a second time on the voices. Mr G. Laurenson moved the second reading of the Licensing Polls Absolute Majority Bill, contending that as the absolute majority ruled, all other elections it should do so in the licensing pol'. Although the opinion was strong in favour of no-iicenso it had only been carried in six ates. Mr A. W. Ru herford opposed the Bill on the ground of the <xpense imposed on licensees to provide tha aeccommorfation asked by committees. The Hon. R. McNab opposed the Bill on the ground that turmoil and unrest would be occasioned in constituencies by the bare majority.