PARLIAMENT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9675, 14 December 1909, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

By Telegraph—Press Association. WELLINu'ION, December 13. In the Legislative Council this afternoun, the Hon. R. H. J. Reeves (Nelson), W. C. Smith (Hawke's Bay) and G. Jones (Otag.i) were sworn in for another term as Councillors. The third reading of the Land Settlement Finance Bill was agreed to on the voices, after a lontc debate. The Shipping and Seamen's Amendment Bill passed the final stage.

HOUSE CF REPRESENTATIVES.

In the House in the afternoon, replying to Mr W. F. Massey, S>r Joseph Ward said that he intended introducing an amendment to the Gaining Act this session, and to pass it, or at least an Act to prohibit Galloway and pjny racing. Mr Massey announced his intention to oppose the licensing of bookmakers. The Stamp Duties Amendment Bill, which provides a tax of 2\ per cent., on race meeting receipts, and 10s per cent, on bank note issue, and the Public Works Amendment Bill?, were introduced by Governor's message and read a first time. Th 3 Premier moved in accordance with previous notice that on and after Tuesday next the House sit from 10 a.m. until rising for the remainder of the eess'on. Mr Massey. in opposing the motion, asked for a statement of the business proposed to be taken by the Government, and especially what was to be done in regard to the Land Bill, which ought to be proceeded with. He did not approve of the manner in which the business was being rushe 1 through. Speaking for himself, he was quite prepared to come back after Christmas rather than have legislation hurried through. Mr G. M. Thomson (Dunedm North) moved as an amendment that the motion should read that the House rise at 1.35 a.m. The motion wis carried by 45 to Mr J. Allen (Bruce) urged the Premier to give the House a clear statement of the work he proposed to get through before the close of th e session, and protested against the custom of hurrying Bills through the House in the dying days oi the session. Sir J. G. Ward in reply, said that he could say from experience of the House that the present b> ssion had baen more productive than any one he remembered. He asked the House tu sit in the forenoon in view of the approaching end of the session. This had been dune before in order to meet the convenience of members. He would be in a position on Thursday or Friday next to give a statement of the business proposed to be concluded before Christmas, so that the House could decide whether it was nectsßarv to come back after ihe holidays or not. The House rose at 5.30 o'clock.