PARLIAMENT

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10718, 25 September 1912, Page 5

PARLIAMENT

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Jliy Telegraph — Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Lact Night. The Comic;.' .rout .at 21S0 o'clock. The Mokau Harbour Board Bill was, without amendment. The. Age and Infirm Persons Bill 'was reported with technical amendments, and rocommer •>). by the Statutes Rovis-ion Committee.

Tne seeono reading of the Local Authorities Bill, to enable local authorities to make provision for ■their ©Her servants, was moved by the Hon H. D. Bell, and the debate adjourned. The Auckland ■•Education Reserve?: Bill was read a second time. The Gold Duty Amendment Bill, Wnihon and Ohinemuri Rivers Amendment Bill. and the Agricultural and Pastoral So■tietiesßa]}. were put through their final stages. The Income Assessment Amendment Bill was read a second. iiime, and the Council rose.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House met at 2.30 p.m. ELECTORAL REFORM. - Mr G. W. Russell rr«vo notice U anove that, in the opinion of this House, it is desirable that he Government should state its proposals for tho Electoral Reform of the House of I*(piosenta.tives r-rior to the (d;*cu*sion on the resolution moved by the Tremier for the alteration of the constitution of the Upper House, the two questions being inseparably connected. PRISONS AMENDMENT BILL The Prisons Amendment Bill was cethe Legislative Council with an amendment providing for the "destruction of finger prints in certain cases.

Mr Herdznan accepted the ;i:>iend went.

LAND AND INCOME TAT. Tho Land and Income Tax Hill was Ttatrodnced and read a> first time. The Chairman of the Petition* Committee presented a report, on tho petition from W. R. Reynolds, praying for an inqniry into the administration -of the Cook Islands. The Committee found that nothing had been proved . -detrimental to the personal character of Captain- Smith or tho. administrn- ; tion of the Cook Islands. A Mr RscotV thought the time had J arrived when the affairs of tho Cook "' Islands shonld ■■ be subjected to , a searching inquiry. In spito of the report brought by the Petitions Committee he held that the appointment Of Captain Smith to the position in Wellington was nofc needed, and ndd- . «d to the cost, of administration of the "Islands.' : Mr Lanronsou said the Committee was unanimous on the report brought down. The-petition was written by j man who had not a bit of evidence to supporf it. He would 'be glad If the 'Government would hold the inqniry into the administration of the Jslands. Ho pointed out that Mr Eiv- * .t'n. Smith could not be blamed because warns of the natives of the Islands had ii'.nrosv. All tho diseases prevalent in tie Islands wero introdu.'«d by white men, and spread lik-» wild-tire. Mr Buddo said Mr Keynokls' evidence was not to be relied upon. During the hearing of the petition, Mr "Reynolds ha<l -stated in connection with .liis charge of drunkenness •against' Captain Smith that he (Smith) had been drunk ono night at a din:ner.

Dr Poma.ro said ho was pleased the Committee had been almost unanimous in its decision on the petition. 'He stated that when 'Captain Smith \ was appointed in charge of the I?pf lands he was receiving £6OO per annum. 'When lie took charge of the Islands ho received the same salary, plus £IOO allowance. He was now receiving the same amount. With regard to the creation of the new office, he said it was necessary in, the interests of the Islands as the administration "had in the past been battledored .about from one Department to auother, mucli to their detriment. As to the statement that the lepers of the Islands were contaminating the food despate.ber there, he pointed out + hat there were only t'h'irty-seven cases an the -whole of the Islands.- which had 1 noi-ulatioii of 12,000. He could asyavo the House that the lepers were n">t ct large +bnt they knew of. They bar been told the natives of the Cook Island were ''up against Captain Smith." -and that the Islands were "seething with discontent'''; but the chiefs of the Islands had stated that tho administration of the Taw wa-s good and they were all contended. After further debate the report was ordered to be laid on the table. LAKE COLERIDGE STRIKE. Replying to.'Mr Davey the Minister said with reference to the strike at Lake Coleridge it was between the contractor and the men, and had notiling to do with the Department. The contractor had asked him for advice on Hie matter hue he had re- | fused, to take any rosoonsibility in tho matter. The strike had been brought about been use the contractor had dismissed an engine-driver after receiving complaints from the nie'i that he was not certificated, ami the •men now desired his reinstatement. This the contractor refused to do; hence the strike. Now the labourers refused to start unless the carpenters joined the Labourers' Union. Mr Wilford: "What are you going to do about it?" Mr Eraser: "Nothing!" PUBLIC SERIVE IHLL. The House then went into Committee on the Public Service Bill. Mr Witty moved an amendment to provide for preference' for stores being given to goods of British manufacture. The Premier said the amendment was not relevant to the clause. Mr G. W. Russell hold that there was an excellent chanco for the Government to beat the Imperial drum of which they had heard so much. The talk of industry by the Government was so much "flapdoodle." Cow spanking was the thing now. The Hon W. E. Massey replied that ;. 4Jj.eir policy wa* not to talk, hut to