PARLIAMENT

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10712, 18 September 1912, Page 5

PARLIAMENT

1 (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Last Night. PUBLIC SERVICE IHLL. The House of Representatives met at 2.30 p.m. Mr Davey gave notice that wlnvi the Public Service Bill is in Committee he will move an amendment, exempting the Post and Telegraph service from the operation of the Bill. SIR W. J. STEWARD'S PORTRAIT. Sir W. J. Steward offered to present Parliament with a. portrait of himseir as Speaker in 1891-9 H. The offer was accepted with thanks. PARLIAMENTARY BUI LD [NG. The Prime Minister made a statement in regard to the new Parliamentary ' He indicated that the buildings would be proceeded with in a modified form, at a cost of £130,000. and that tenders would bo invited within a month .from the present time, three months' being allowed for the receipt of the same. Sir Joseph Ward stated that he wished to remove the idea that the Ward Government had ojderod the erection of the present foundation of Parliament House. Parliament had authorised all that had been clone so far. '

The Hon.W. F. Mass?y said hj« hoped tho member for Awarua did not think that he (the Premier - ) was attempting to make party capital out of wh.it he had stated. On the contrary, be recognised that Parliament could not remain housed wherthey were at present for a much er period. .._., PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT. •- ..-Tb-jj Premier mentioned that the

Minister for Public Works hoped to I bring down, the Public Works Statement in about a fortnight's time. • LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. ... In answer to a statement by Mi Wilford, tho Hon. W. F, Mnswy stated that ho was opposed td the abolition of the Upper Houpe, and was in favour of the retention of the Legislative Council. THIRD READINGS. The Gold Duty Amendment Bill, the Wangamii Bridge Amendment Bill, Waihou and Ohinemuri Rivers Improvement Amendment Bill., and Agricultural and Pastoral Societies Amendment Bill were read a third time and passed. LAND AND INCOME ASSESSMENT BILL. , The House went into Committee on the Land and Income Assessment Amendment Bill. Amendment in' the clause, altering the definition of "mortgage," made by the Public Accounts Committee, so as to include any annuity cr •. rent charged upon land .or secured by will and payable out of rents and profits of land, was agreed to. A new claTise_jnserted by the Public Accounts Committee, providing that the agent of a non-resident trader may apply his principal's money in payment of the tax for which his principal is liable, was agreed to. A further amendment proposed by the same Committee, providing that the roots cf flax plant," be includ-, ed in the unimproved value of land was also agreed to. '., • Mr Lee moved f> elausp 21 n. bv giving to flip or +V"> objector r." 1 "W of nr> •■"*"'' +-> +V Si">""mo Court e'-> -iv n"ect : "n r,f fact the amount of the tax py«eds £2OO. The Minister accept"' l the amendment. i'-li'Hi was a?re°d to. The Bill was reported with amendments. ' LOCAL BODTES STTI'ERANNUATTON. The Local Authorities Superannuation Bill was committed. The Hon. A. L. Herdrnan. in r n ni--to Mr D. Buddo, paid the Bill .would einble big bodies in make better provi*:nn for old servants. Mr Dave.y considered fbe fniWl inasmuch as it did n"t make the superannuation fund comnulsorv. The Bill was reported without amonrlni /> " + . <» ttcT\T,.a vn wnTTOATTON BILL. The Anfi-l"".1 Bill was no--* to 1 -" -1 i" Committor Tl,o T< : 'l -•!».=• and the "House re*-* at "■ , i' l ui(ih't.