PARLIAMENT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 3002, 26 September 1908, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

By Telegraph—Abridgpd from Press Association Report.

WELLINGTON, September 25. | The Legislative Council met at 2.30 o'clock. The Hon. T. K. Mac Donald moved that "it is advisable, in the best interests of the people of the Dominion, that competitive designs should be invited from architects for all buildings required Ho be erected by the State of the value of £3,000 " and over,' as not only would the opportunity of employing such designs be a great incentive to the younger men of the profession, but greatly add to the beauty and economy connected with buildings required for carrying on the work of the State." After considerable discussion the motion was withdrawn. Ihe following Bills were read a first time:—Auckland University > College, Land Act, Land Drainage Amendment, Palmerston School Re- ■ serve, Harbourn Amendment, Gore Public Library Vesting, Defence Amendment, Hamilton Domain?, Heavy Traffic, Impounding Amende ment.

HOUSE OP REPRESENTATIVES. The House met at 2.30. The Imprest Supply Bill for £798,000 was brought down. On the motion to go into Committee, a general discussion, chiefly relating to local matter?, ensued. Mr Ell „dealt at considerable length with the operation of. rating on the Land Values Act, 1896. A Referring to the argument that exempting pa.'atial buildings and mansions fiom taxation fell heavily upon the working man, he quoted statistics to show that the rates had fallen on J Unimproved values instead of. rising. '.""'.. Mr Massey, replying to Mr Ell, said that the effect of,the 1 rating on. unimproved values was to reduce the rates and taxes of many rich* people. The House adjourned at 5.30...; Oh the House resuming a*; 7.30 o'clock, the debate on the Imprest Bill was continued. The Bill havintr passed in Committee, a... further,, debate occurred on the motion for the third reading. , . . ','.,' Tne Pie.».ier,- in his reply to criticisms, protested against, tie wailing of ! the Opposition in regard to the financial stability of the country. Referring to advances to settlers, Sir J. G. Ward said ..".that, less than six months of-the financial, year had passed, and already overj a: million sterling had been paid outto settlers and workers'. '•'"••;;." > The Bill was read a third time and passed. The Hon. J. A. Millar moved the third reading of the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Bill. Mr Arnold said that he thought the House was putting a very good measure on the Statute Book, as it provided for pure conciliation, whilst also providing for compulsion if pure conciliation failed. There were some things in the Bill which he did hot like, but he thought if the measure was loyally accepted it would accomplish what was designed and prove acceptable to the workers. Mr Massey, while admitting that the Bill had been improved in Committee, stated tnat it would 'e amended again and again until th.j compulsory element was eliminated altogether. Dr Chappie was more sympathetic than hopeful regarding the success of the Bill.