PARLIAMENT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 12 September 1913, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. (By Titegraph. — Frett AuociationJi WELLINGTON, The Legislative. Council met at 2.30 PUBLIC TRUST BILL. The Hon H. D. Bell moved the seoond of the Public Trust Office Amenclment Bill. .He explained the nature of its leading provisions. The Hon Mr Stevens contended that the powers of the .advisory custodian of the managing trustees required careful definition. Otherwise the Bill was a useful one. The Hon Mr Sinclair condemned the proposal to relieve the Public Trustee from responsibility if he acts upon the advice of the adivsory trustee. The power of > investigating' private trusts^was desirable, but the powers given fche Puiblio Trustee were too arbitrary. The Hon J. Bigg argued that the , recent commission to enquire into the Trust Office was set up to placate the legal profession,. which, • waß hostile because of *he liberal methods 1 employed by the Office in doing the legal work of the people. The Hon W. Paul followed on the \ name line§. I The Son Q. H. Mills commended^ i w *■* "■■' ■-•• ' | the Bill. I The Hon 0. Samuel said people were often deceived as to the smallness of the legal charges made by the office, as they were frequently- wrapped up in commission charges. He deprecated the proposal to divert the profits from the consolidated fund into the building fund. The money was more urgently needed to develop the country in sparsely settled districts. - The Bill was -read a second time. • Tfte Irregation and Water Supply -Bill was read a second time. OTHER BILLS. The Wellington City Empowering and Amendment Bill Hon C. M. Luke, was put through Committee unamended, read a third time, and passed. The Pensions Bill passed through its 1 Committee stage with, formal amendments. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House of Representatives met at 2.30" p.m. AMENDMENTS INCORPORATION BILL. The Hon. A. L. Herdman outlined the amendments made by the Legislative Council in the Amendments Incorporation Bill. He moved that they be agreed' to. Mr McCalTum contended that the only portion of the Bill hot eliminated by the Council was the short title. This showed how necessary it was to have a second chamber in connection with the Legislature; but it placed the House in a most humiliating position. * Mr Hanan said the fact that the Bill had been cast in another place proved the worth of that Chamber, TiM'he hoped the, House would not rely" too much on the Council rectify defects in Bills, and thus encourage slipshod legislation. The Minister, replying, said the Bill a s originally drafted was based on the Australian statute: bu€ thev were not aware that it was not a custom of the Printing Office to reprint statutes, so the measure' had! Jto be amended as was done by the Council. LAND TRANSFER BILL. The Land Transfer Amendment Bill and Land Drainage Amendment Bill were read a third time and passed. . ■ . . . ■ ■ LAND AND INCOME BILL. The House, went into committee on me Land and Income Tax Bill.; After some discussion, the Bill was reported, with slight amendments. LOCAL ELECTIONS AND POLLS. The Hon. A. L. Herdman moved the second reading of-the Local Elections and Polls Amendment Bill. Sir Joseph Ward suggested that tli!> scope of the Bill be extended. The second "-reading was . carried without division. The House adjourned at 11.25 p.m;