PARLIAMENT

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 10711, 5 November 1912, Page 5

PARLIAMENT

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

(By Telegraph — ..'.ess Association.) WELLINGTON, Last Night. The House of Representatives me at 2.40 p.m. ARCHITECTS BILL. The New Zealand Institute of Ar chiteets Bill (Mr Herdmau) was reac a first time. Replying to Mr Russell, the Minis ter stated that it was not intended tc . proceed with the measure this session It had been introduced in order thai it might bo circulated. RAILWAYS AUTHORISATION. The Railways Authorisation Bill was introduced by Governor's Message. Replying to Mr Witty, the Minister of Public Works said the new railway works proposed, were:—North Auckland (branch line to Whangarei); North Island Main Trunk (Waiuku branch); East Coast Main Trunk; Opunake branch ; Featherston to Maryborough branch; Culverden-Waiau; Balclutha-Tuapoka branch. IRON AND STEEL. The' Special Committee set up to (Consider the iron and steel industry reported against the proposals, but recommended that the Government should make'inquiry into the iron and steel industry in the Domniion. ' The report was referred to the Government for consideration. IN COMMITTEE. The House went into committee on the Loan Bo.irds Amendments Bill, Public Reserves and Domains Amendment Bill, Ellepmere Lands Drainage Amendment Bill, Wcstport Harbour Amendment Bill, and State Fire Insurance Amendment Bill. When the State Fire Insurance Bill | was under discussion Mr Ell asked J if the Minister of Finance would in- ( sist on all mortgagees insuring in the State Offices. 1 The Hon J. Allen replied that he had already stated that he would recommend that preference, should bo given to the State Offices. Mr Ell said that reply was simply "bluff." Previous Ministers, had insisted, on it. ', . . ...... ,v '.'. Hon ,J. Allen: "That is not correct." ~.,■■ ••■ ■■• '• •■ ■' ■'. • ' ■■' Mr Ell contended that the Minis-1 tor's art was an" act'of disloyalty to- :, a .Stete^eparrtittenfc ■~,.,.-.,. t : r ; ~ The Hon F. M. B. Fisher quoted Cabinet minutes'of the Seddon and Ward Administrations, which set. out tliat "Cabinet had released tho State departments from insisting on compulsory insurance in tho'State Office. The Hon J. Allen said this 'circular recently issued by the "Department was necessary from a legal standpoint. If business were restricted to the State Offices, it would mean the ruination of the Farmers' Co-operative Insurance Companies, and the State Offices were not created to shut out others, but to act as a check on them. Mr R. McKen/.ie submitted that unless the Government took care of the State Fire Insurance business, this Department would be brought %o grief and then up would go the premiums, again. Mr Laurenson remarked that no amount of dodging would alter the / following facts: Last year the Liberal ' Government issued a circular requiring borrowers of State money to insure with the State; this year the Massey Government merely urged borrowers to give preference to State inmi ranee. THIRD READING, The Town Boards Amendment Bill, was read a. third time. Tho Military Pensions Bill, was considered in committee. , Mr Okey said that the people who would benefit under the Act were prepared to accept a smaller pension so long as it was given purely for services rendered, ajrid not hy way of charity. " ' . ,;' Mr P. M .B. Fisher said that aH elain?K*had> been'- fairly r considered:* Ho did not think that any Government could go further than the present Go- s vernm ent proposed togo.v MILITARY PENSIONS. In committee on the Military Pensions Bill, the Minister accepted fIR amendment by Sir Arthur Guinea*, providing that moneys drawn from the Bank for .applicants' use' shall not. count as income. The Bill was further amended hy providing that persons''who have h?en absent from the Dominion for a Bhorfc period should not be deterred from receiving pensions. The Bill was evcnttwJjy reported with amendments.