Parliament.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume III, Issue 174, 11 July 1901, Page 3

Parliament.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Tuesday, July 9. The Council met at 2.30 p.m. la reply to a question by Colonel Pitt as to whether he would introduce legislation this session to suppress- cigarette srabking by youths under 17, the Minister of Education stated that the great goddess Nicotine could protect herself against the youthful votaries by the use of pure tobacco. While condemning cigarette smoking he would not include all forms of tobacco. The Hon. H. Feldwick moved that the congratulations of the OnKtuJil should J?e tendered to the

speaker (Sir H. Miller), the Hon. W. C. Walker, Sir John McKenzie, and the Hon. J. Cad man on the honours Conferred on them. The Hon. W. D. H. Baillie seconded the motion, which was Carried unanimously.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House met at 2.30 p.rh. Farther petitions praying for a referendum on the question of Bible reading in State schools, and against the alterations in the licensing laws proposed last session were presented. Mr Whitheford gave notice to move that the House do not sit' after midnight. Mr Seddon tabled a motion, setting out that the House meet at at 10.30 a.m. on two days a week for Government business, and that on such days the House do not sit* after 10.80 p.m. The State Fire Insurance Bill was introduced by Governor’s Message, and read a first time. Mr Seddon informed the House: that it was his intention to set up a special committee of the House to go into this matter. He thought sufficient information would be: obtained to warrant the House proceeding with this measure, and dealing with what appeared to him to be a serious injustice.

The House resumed afc 7.80. Mr Seddon moved the second reading of the Local Authorities Indemnity Bill to indemnify various local authorities for the expenditure of moneys in connection with the visit of the Duke and Duchess Of Cornwall. Ihe law as it stood at present was defective, and some of the local authorities hesitated to in hr nses outside of that allowed by me Municipal Corporations Act until the Government promi.-e I to indemnify them by Act of Parliament. Local authorities had done their duty well in connection with the reception of their Highnesses without being lavish or extravagant, and he could with confidence ask the, House to pass the Bill. Mr Monk, while appreciating the Royal visit, said there were one or two matters he would like to call attention,to. He thought that in future visits of important personages the Mayors or municipal authorities shoa.d be the hosts, aucL the Premier should not assume the attitude he had done on some occasions. He complained of the die atio i of the Government Oom-rni-ai'oor, and condemned the int- Here ice of the Cabinet in regard to the pioposM Maori gaihering in Auckland. Ho also tie; recaied the political partizanship that had been displayed in some matters connected with the Royal vi ;it. Mr Seddon in replying pointed out that the Govarnoi, like the Gov-ernor-general of Australia, had had special instructions froih the Secretary cf Slate in regard to the Royal Visit. The letter loft by his Royal Highness on his departure was more than sufficient reward for what the Government had done. He (Mr Seddon) justified the J appointment of Mr Holmes as i Royal Commissioner, and defended him from the attacks of several ; members.

The secofid reading wAs agreed to on the voices.

Mr Seddoa moved the second reading of the Referendum Bill to provide for certain Bills and legislative proposals being referred to a poll of the electors of the colony. He said certain questions had often agitated the public mind, and hitherto there bad been no means of referring them to the people. Mi Ell regarded the Bill as one of the most important that could bave been introduced. The people were beginning to see that they were not properly represented, that very often laws were passed that they did not want, and that the laws that they demanded were kept from them for years together. The debate was adjourned on the motion of Mr T. Mackenzie, and the House rose at 11.55 p.m-. In reply to questions, it was stated

Thftfc the Health Department was obtaining all available information in regard to establishing a sanatorum for the treatment of consumption.

That it was advisable to preserve to the Colony valuable works of native arts, and Mr Carroll favoured their exportation being prohibited by legislation. That there Were gfeit difficulties in the way of Compelling Boards of Education to adopt a uniform system of school books in schools.

That the Government had hot received a single Complaint either from parents Cr boys as to the alleged faulty billeting or victualling of cadets at the recent Christchurch review. On the contrary, parents in all parts Of the colony had thanked the Government for the treatment the lads had received.