PARLIAMENT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10045, 20 July 1910, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

By Telegraph Press Association WELLINGTON,. July 19. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

The Council met at 2.30 p.m

On the motion of the AttorneyGeneral, the Council recorded its sensi of the loss to the public by the death of Mr Hobbs, a former : mem ber of the Legislature. The debate on the second reading of the Indecent Publications Bill was resumed. Speakers generally approved of the Bill, the main objection being to the provision empowering the police to prosecute. It was urged that on y the Attorney General should exercise that power. •Dr Findlay admitted it mighi be sdvi.able to remove the power from the police to the Attorney^General. Xha second reading was agreed io* and the Council adjourned until r iliursday.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,

The House met at 2.30 p m. Mr Taylor, Christchuroh, asked the Minister for Labour if he would invite the sheepowners and shearers to a conference with a view to ar-

ranging a minimum rate for sheep

shearing,

Mr Miliar said if both parties agreed to the conference he would be glad to do what he could to effect a I settlement. j

A resolution of sympathy with the relatives of the late Kiehard Hobbs. formerly a member of the Hoo*e. was carried.

The adjourned debate on the Canter-

bury pastoral runs was resumed. After further debate, Sir Joseph Ward, replying, said the recommendation of the Statutory Commissioners was that the runs should be put up for a period of fourteen years, and that tfce runs should have a minimum carrying capacity of 5,000 sheep. The great question regarding the runs was whether or not the cost of improvements on the runs to-day was to be paid for by the State, and adding this to-the rental. The House, after the papers were printed, would have an opportunity of discussing the Government's proposals regarding pastoral runs, which was a matter affecting not Canterbury alone, but the whole Dominion. The Houbc went into Committee on the Phosphorous Matches Bill, and adjourned afterwards at 5.30 p.m.

In the evening Sir Joseph Ward Baid he proposed to take the debate on the Financial Statement on Friday

evening next. Mr Massey asked why the papers usually referred to as "the return" were not placed before the House.

The Premier intimated that this return was not ready, and was not usually before the House when the debate on the Budget was opened He would consider the advisability of poetponing the debate until luesday, as suggested by Mr Massey, and let members know on Wednesday. The House adjourned at 9.25 p.m.