PARLIAMENT

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 10714, 25 October 1912, Page 5

PARLIAMENT

(By Ptthgraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Last Night. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. The Legislative Council met at 2.30 p.m. ' REGISTRATION BILL. Amendments made by the House in in the Births and Deaths. Registration Bill, were agreed to in committee. DEFENCE BILL. On the Defence Amendment Bill, in sub-section 2, clause 64. providing for exemption from military service on the ground of religious belief, the words' "'cpntrary to the doctrjiies of. his religion," were altered ''contrary to his religious belief.",,,. On iho motion of the Minister the Bill was reported, with •amendments; ' ' WIDOWS PENSIONS

Tlia Widows Pension Bill was also reported with, technical amendments, p*)d the Council rose. . . ' HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. PUBLIC SERVICE. BILL. / t The House of Representatives met' at 2.30 p.m. ! '• The Hon. A. L. Herdman moved that the atoeiidflumts in d>e' by the Legislative Council in the Public-Service Bill; bo agreed to. Sir Joseph Ward objected to the powers proposed to be vested in the Commissioner. Mr Russell said that any responsibity which had; been in tho hands .. of the Minister' would be removed! by the passage of the Bill. The Government desired to say, if the scheme failed, that the fault was on the part of the Commissioner. Mr Veitch asked what was going to become of a Government which took ever yindividua! by the throat and slid. "For the future you must approach us. We are a Government, and we are going to rule you as we think fit." In his opinion the Commissioner would deteriorate into an autocrat.

Mr Newman said that, tlio measure would exclude political influence, wlric.'h .had been so much in evidenoo in the past-.. . Mr McCallum'.s :imendmeht was lost ou the voices.

Mr Witty then moved that the fee simple may be acquired at a price not less than the present day unimproved value. The amendment was lost by 48 votes to 19. PUBLIC ACCOUNTS INQUIRY. At the hearing of the Public Accounts Committee inquiry when the question regarding loans to local bodies c.une lip, Colonel R. J. Collins, Controller and Auditor-General, -tfaß called by Sir Joseph Ward. He said) that he had had many years' experience. of loans to local bodies. The system had 'never been under any political pressure from anyone, and there had been no discrimination shown. He was secretary of the Treasury in 1909, when, the Rangitikei by-election was held, and 1 he knew that the Taihape loan of £21,250 was obtained from the Bank of New Zealand under a Government guarantee. The Borough made its own arrangements with the bank, and there was no political interference at all. The Department had nothing to do with this part of the transaction. .

This evidence closed the inquiry.. The Committee h?.s now to draw up a report for submission to this House of Renresentatives. LAND BILL.

.'ln the even'iip,' consideration of the Land Hill was resumed. At the clause which proposes to enable the holder of ii. lease-in-perpetuitv section to purchase the freehold of his holding. The Premier pointed out that the lease-in-perpetuity was wiped out by the Act of 1907, so that even if carried the amendment would he useless. Mr G. W. Russell moved to add the following proviso to sub-clause 1. of clause 2D.—"Provided that the fee simple shall be granted on the conditions as to residence j-hown in clauses 150 to 161 of the principal of the Act. This would provide for the compulsory residence. . Mr Hind marsh said that the Premier had) been a traitor to the small man on the land. Mr Okev: Is the word traitor in order ? Mr Massey. : Oh, J don't mind. Mr Ell said tllat Mr Massey hail previously -supported the principle involved in the amendment. Mr Massey said he refused to place leasehold tenants in a worse position than they were at present. Mr Wilford said the only Tray to stop the aggregation of estates was to put « clause on the title of every piece of land, pointing out that it was subject to the restriction of the area provisions of the Act.. Mr Russell's amendment was lost by 45 votes to 23. Mr Wilford moved to amend clause 20, section 1, by providing that every certificate of title shourd bear * statement, that it is subject to limitation of area according; t# p.# pnrrisi.Qtu •j tti« Aft.