PARLIAMENT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9172, 21 August 1908, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. i (By Telegraph—Abridged from Press Association Report). WELLINGTON, August 20. The Legislative Council met at 2.30 o'clock. The Attorney-General said that there was no intention of introducing the check system existing in Victoria in respect to Post Office Savings Bank withdrawals. The Hon. J. Barr's motion, that the Government devise means whareby the heavy cost of living borne by married workers, as compared witn single men, may be lessened, was interrupted by the 4 o'clock rule. The Council decided to insist on its amendments to the Corporated Societies Bill, with which the House dis-. agreed. The Council adjourned at 4.10 o'clock. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House met at 2.30 p.m. The following Bills were introduced and read a first time: —Murcnison County, Otago Heads, Native Reserve Road. The Westport Harbour Board Loan Bill was read a third time and passed. The Christchurch City Sanitation Empowering Bill was read a third time and passed. The Christchurch City Betterment Bill was put through the Cuinmume stages. The Bill gave rise tj a protracted discussion upon the powers municipal corporations should possess to take land lor street widening and other purposes. Eventually, by the retention of a proviso added to section 13 of the Bill by the Local Bills Committee, the principle was affirmed that such powers should be confined to cases where the owners consent was given. The Bill wa* reported with amendment. The House adjourned at 5.30 p.m. The House in the evening went into Committee of 'Supply on the vote, printing an:i stationery (£46,270). Complaints were made against printing tne rolls in Wellington. The Hon. W. Hall-Jones defend p d the systen as being of advantage. tiome members suggested a return to the old sy&L'tiifl of striking the narnu of those who did not vote at the election ,off the roll. That was the best means of purging the roils. The vote was passed unaltered. The vote for stamps and deed? (£38,391) was passed without discussion. In connection with the vote for the Native Department (£28,222), Mr A. S. Malcolm moved to reduce tl e vote by £1 as a protest that sufficient information had not been given to the House concerning the Department. The Hon. J. Carroll quoted statistics to show what a large amount of work the Native Land Court he'd done. Mr T. Parata said that h<? thought that the Native Land Court Bench should be strengtnened to expedite business. The Hon. J. Carroll said that in the pact year the Court had settled 14,470 cases and earned £14,515 Gs in fees. Judges had never been influenced by the Department; Provision would be made in the Puuii.: Works Estimates to the extent of £28,000 for survey, and by Januar• two and a-half million acres would be available.