PARLIAMENT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9171, 20 August 1908, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

, LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL., ; (By Telegraph—Abridged from Press Association Report.) WELLINGTON, August 19. The Legislative Council adjourned after a brief sitting as a mark of respect to the late Mr H. Feldwick. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. In the House of Representatives, replying to questions, Ministers stated that there was no intention of introducing a mechanical process for the conduct of general elections; that the newspaper reports regarding the workers at Broken River, Christchurch, cannot he regarded as facts. ! the Government information proved | that those genuinely desiring woi\< : are still at work, and making fair wages. Those, who preferring agitation and notoriety, have returned to the greater comfort of town life; that a reduction of minimum holiday excursion fares cannot be approved; that the matter of acquiring larga iron ore deposits at Parapara was under the Government's consideration, but the Government preferred that private enterprise should be first exhausted; that the information regarding wool prices supplied by tl e High Commissioner is as reliable as the quotations irom other sources; that the question of introducing a Trade Monopolies Bill, to cjinbat the Standard Oil Company, will be considered by the Government; that the Dairy Department are not prepared to have a cornprehenHive system introduced for testing and recording the milk yield of any cow nominated for entry in a district dairy heid book, but the Dairy Inspectors lately appointed will be instructed to advise and assist dairymen as far as possible to improve their herds; that in ay scheme for the medical inspection oi schools, provision would be made for examination of the teeth of school children. On the House resuming at 7.30 o'clock, the Quackery Prevention I ill wa3 passed. Ihe Destitute Persons Act Arrendment Bill was reported without uiacussion in Committee. In connection with the Counti"* | Act Amendment Bill a motion v.as moved by the Premier that the Governor in-Cnuncil should be enabled to increase the number of members sitting'on such Councils, but not beyond twelve, was agreed to. i A motion to abolish plural voting at county elections was rejected by 30 to 23. The Bill was reported with amendments. The Municipal Corporation Act, 1900, Amendment Bill (No. 2) was committed. In Committee, on the Public Works Amendment Bill, Sir J. G. Ward proposed an amendment in tie direction of enabling th* local authorities to resume land for tstreec widening in the cases of narrow streets constructed by Order-in-Co ncil under this Bill. Subsequently the amendment .vas withdrawn on the understanding that the clause b". amended to make the width forty feet instead of twenty feet. A proposed amendment to clause 7, in the direction tu give local bodies greater powers to cut down trees on the corner of streets, was negativeu by 40 to 15. Sir W. J. Steward moved a claire requiring ownei-3 to furnish a statement of claim. The proposal was defeated afrer protracted discuss'on. The Bill was reported with amendments. The House rose at 12.3 a.-r.