PARLIAMENT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10136, 5 November 1910, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Last Night. COMMERCIAL TRUSTS BILL. In the Legislative Council this afternoon, the debate on the second reading of the Commercial Trusts Bill was resumed. The Bon. Mr Beehan alluded to the fish combine in Auckland. He urged the inclusion of fish in the Schedule of the Bill. The Hon. Mr Barr did not think the Bill would attain the object for which it was introduced. The trouble was that I here were too many manufacturers, If certain classes oil manufacturers combined they would he able to produce at a lower cozt, to the benefit of the consumer. The tendency towards combination was beneficial, more especially in a sparsely-populated country like INew Zealand. The Hon. Mr Sinclair did not anticipate interference which would hamper the operations of combines unless the Government was convinced that interference was in the interest of the consumer. The Bill was one of those that depended almost entirely upon the way it was administered. 'ihe lion. Mr Wigram thought the Bill would probably act chiefly asa' notice to the foreign combines to "keep off the grass," and so would do good, 'lhe Hon Dr. Findlay, having briefly replied, the Bill, was read a second time. OTHER MEASURES. The Stone Quarries Bill was passed, and the Opium Amendment Bill, Kaiapoi Reserves Bill, and Inspection of Machinery Bill read a second time. BOUSE OF REPRESFNTATIVES. Tne House met at 2.33 p.m. PARLIAMENT uUILDINGS. The Premier announced that he proposed to take the necessary authority this session for the erection of new' Parliament buildings. Tenders would then be called for and the building commenced before the next meeting of Parliament. AD3 UDIG ATION AH ENDMENT. The Adjudication Amendment Bill (Hon. T. MacKenzie) was read a second time. COUNTIES ACT AMENDMENT. The Hon. R. McKenzie moved the second reading of the Counties Act Amendment Bill, which was agreed to. EDUCATION RESERVES. Sir Joseph Ward moved the second reading of the Education Reserves Amendment Bill, which intended to abolish the present methods of administering Education Reserves by means of School Commissioners. The Bill proposed to place the endowments in the hands of the District Land Boards, who would lease and otherwise deal with them in a similar manner to the educational endowments now controlled by them, The second reading was carried on the voices, after a brief discussion, LOCAL BODIES LOANS. The second reading of the Local Bodies Loans Amendment Bill (No. 2) was moved by Sir Joseph Ward. It provides for loans negotiated previous to the passing of the State Guaranteed Advances Act, 1909, being granted under the old system without fresh proceedings being necessary. i The House rose a'; 5.30 p in. EVENING SITTING. The debate on the second reading of the Local Bodies Loans Amendment Bill was resumed. Sir Joseph Ward, replying to previous speakers, said that since the passing - of the State Guaranteed Advances Act a sum of £1,239,601 had been advanced to local public bodies at 3| per cent, throughout the Dominion in less than eight months. Eighteen months ago the local todies could not get money at 6 per cent. The local bodies were now in the position of being beyond the usurer. Apparently however, some of them did not like it. lie was prepared to consider the/proposal by Ma 1 Mac Donald that small grazing runs should be accepted as security for loans. The second reading was carried on the voices. JUSTICES OF THE PEACE BILL. The Justices of the Peace Amendment Bill was reported without amendment. NATIONAL PROVIDENT FUND BILL. The National Provident Fund Bill was taken in Committee. At Clause 8, Mr Allen asked if peivons who had become contributors to the fund and who left New Zealand, would be allowed to remain contributors Sir Joseph Ward replied that persons who joined the fund could remain so long as „ they kept up their payments. Kcpliinv to other questions, the Fiemier said he could not throw the fund open to persons receiving salaries of over £2OO, as this would mean reconstructing the scale of contributions. Any person of sixteen years and over could join the fund, which was as nearly as possible making it universal. Mr Massey agreed that it was undesirable to make the scheme universal at '-present, In time, compulsory universal insurance would be enforced. The Premier said he vvaa prepared to insert a provision whereby any contributor to the fund remaining out of the country for two years and upwards should not be entitled to any benefits while resident outside the Dominion. He would exempt students and others who.left the Dominion for the purpose of gaining knowledge and experience. Clause 9 was amended by adding a proviso that any person who has ceased to be a contributor may be re-admitted on terms fixed by the Board.