PARLIAMENT.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2280, 27 August 1908, Page 3

PARLIAMENT.

TUESDAY NIGHT’S SITTING

[Pbess Association.]

WELLINGTON, August 26. In the House on Tuesday night, the Town Boards Amendment Bill No. 2 aiul the Police Offences Amendment Bill wore read a second time. The Inferior Courts Procedure Bill and the Acts Interpretation Amendment Bill were read a second time, and referred to tho Joint Statutes Revision Committee. The House rose at 12.25 a.in.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. AFTERNOON SITTING’. Tho Council met at 2.3 U p.m. The laical Elections and Polls Amendment Bill, from tho House, was read a second timo. Hon. j; E. Jenkiiison moved the second reading of the Farriers Bill, which originated in tlio House and hail been before tho Council on two previous occasions. The second reading was carried by 16 to 15. The Council rose at 4.45 pan. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. AFTERNOON SITTING. The House met at 2.30 p.m. Ministers, replying to questions, stated that the representations made urging more vigorous prosecution of tho South Island Main Trunk railway will receive full consideration when the Public Works Estimates for the year are being compiled; that tho Government is not prepared at present to make any reduction in railway rates on New Zealand timber; that tlie matter of seeing that the needy are represented by counsel in eases of dispute arising between claimants and the other party under the Workers’ Compensation for Accidents Act will receive consideration; that is it proposed to make provisions regarding the inspection of wool, tow; and skins before shipment in the Bill which is being prepared to amend the Shipping and Seamen Act, and when the Bill comes into force, tho Govornmen t will consider the question of whether tho Marino Department will undertake tho work of making necessary tests as to tho amount of moisture contained in any package ;that every endeavor will bo made to exempt the Dominion from any order that may be issued by the British Board of Trade prohibiting the importation of boned beef into tho United ’Kingdom; that >t

is not considered necessary to make pr< vision in future to meet tho cost of cooking at camps at Easter u.;noeuvres.

A Bill containing amendments in tho Education Bill, lntrodicea earatr. in the session, was introduced by'Governor’s message. The amendments were on the lines suggested by the Education Committee, and aimed generally at making the Bill more generally acceptable to teachers. Tho Minister of Education explained tliac the amendments guarded against any reduction in staffing or in teachers’ salaries as a result of changes proposed.

EVENING SITTING. The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. Tho following Bills were read a third time and passed: The Destitute Persons Act Amendment (Mr. Fislier; Counties Act Amendment (Mr. Ja.-> Allen), Municipal Corporations Act Amendment (Mr. Fisher), am! the Public Works Act Amendment (Mr. Izard;. The second reading of Mr. C H. Izard’s Alteration of Time Dili, to put the clock back during the svun-

mer months, was carried on the voices. and referred to tho Industries and Commerce Committee. The Public "Works Act Amendment Bill No. 2 (Sir W. J. Steward) was thrown out on a point of order raised by the Minister for Public Works. The Houso proceeded to consider further classes of the Estimates.

On the vote of £232,744, Department of Lands and Survey, Mr. Herries complained of the manner in which the small grazing run leases of 1885 were dealt with. They had been taken up under the impression tliac there was a right of renewal, but in some instances renewals had not been granted. The Minister of Lands explained that there were two kinds ff ie-ises, one under the Act of 1885, and' the other under the Act of 1892, the latter being practically a perpetual lease. Under the earlier Act, if the land was unsuitable for subdivision the tenant had the option of lenowing the lease, but the Government- had the rigid to subdivide. This accounted for the different decisions.

Replying to the insistence of certain members, the Minister •>’ Lands said that steps were being taken to fence off certain areas of Crown lands in Otago in order to allow natice grasses to spread again. Mr Witty urged that a bonus be offered for the best means of era li-oat-ing noxious weeds. Many ih.er beds were full of gorse. Mr. Flatnian contended that goise protected the river beds by [lieventing erosion. ■ Other members having mged the importance of eradicating weeds in Crown lands, tho Minister of Lands stated that last year the Government expended the sum of £IBOO in the destruction of weeds on Crown lands. The matter was one for the Agricultural Department. However, the Government could not attempt impossibilities in dealing witli large areas of Crown lands.

Replying to Mr Field, the Minister said tie would like to see the whole, of Kapiti Lsland owned by the Government as a bird sanctuary, and lelii-v----ed it was possible to come to terms with the native owners. Replying to Mr. Jennings, Hu- Minister said that next year the-Esti-mates would provide for a largo number.of rebates in connection with the recent’ grass fires. . i Details of the vote were aiscj.ssea <u great length, and the Minister said he was making arrangements 1 o oeui with sand-drifts. The vote passed unaltered.