PARLIAMENT.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2690, 21 December 1909, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

MOTIONS' OF CONDOLENCE

JPiiu PitEßs Association.l WELLINGTON, Dec. 20. In the Council (this the Attorney-General moved that the Council'record its appreciation of the valur able public services of the Late Mr. E. G. Allen, a former member of Parliament, and express sympathy* with his family in their loss. The Hons. AV. C. F. Carncross, C. H. Mil’s and J. T. Paul spoke in appreciation of tho deceased. The motion was earned, and it was decided to adjourn at 4 o’clock until the evening as a mark of respect to the deceased. . A similar resolution respecting the late Mr. Alex. Sligo, a former member of Parliament, was carried on the motion of the Attorney-General.

BELLAMY’S

The Council occupied an hour in discussion on a motion bv the Hon. J. Rigg that fuller information as to the proceedings of the Joint House Committee and especially with regard to the control and management of Bellamy’s, should from time to time be reported to the Council. Mr. Rigg had a complaint to make against the steward. and objected to £IOO bonus given in addition to the latter’s salary of £425.

Several others spoke in similar terms to the mover.

A number of Councillors _ the steward and the bonus being "iven. The result was even, the voting being 16 to 16. ■ :

Tho Speaker gave his casting vote in favor of the. motion, and the Council rose till 7.45 p.m. THE NATIVE LAND BILL. In the evening the Coalmines Amendment Bill was read a second time.

The Native Land Bill second reading was moved by the Hon. Dr. Findlay, in a long explanatory speech. "The Hon. J. E. Jenkinson and AV. AA 7 . McCardle congratulated the mover on his masterly exposition of the measure. ’

The debate was adjourned, and the Council rose.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

EDUCATION DEPARTMENT

At the evening sitting of the House, on Saturday, on the vote experimental farms Mr. Glover moved to reduce it by £1 as an indication that the system was so unsatisfactory. The amendment was lost by 46 to 22. On the vote Educational Department £873,520, Mr. Malcolm moved a reduction in the vote as a protest against centralisation.

Mr. Buchanan, supporting the motion, said that the Government step by step' were encroaching upon the Education Board’s functions. The motion was negatived. AVELLINGTON, Dec. 19.

Mr. Allen moved to reduce the item £250, Special Grants to School Committees, by £1 as an indication that the. capitation grants should be renewed. This was rejected by 42 votes to 14. Mr. Allen moved to reduce the salary of public school cadet officer, but the motion was negatived by 41 to 23. THE CROWN SUITS ACT.

On the State Coalmines vote, Mr. Field moved that the general manager’s salary be reduced by £l, on tbe ground that‘the Crown Suits Act should be waived §o as 4o allow. J Farmers’ Co-operative Distributing Company to proceed for damages against the Crown for damages in respect, of an alleged nuisance in connection with' coal dust at the department’s vard in Wellington, and that the dispute be referred to arbitration. The amendment was earned by 38 to 28. . - ,■. . The House rose at midnight. THE ESTIMATES.

The House met at 10 a.m. and resumed 1 consideration of the Estimates. On the item Public Trustee’s Account (£46,637) in reply to Mr. Herries the Prime Minister said it was intended to introduce legislation next session dealing with the native reserves. Replying to Mr. Herdman ho said that the sum of £20,000, the annual grant under the Superannuation Act, had been 1 handed to the Public Trustee for investment. The Government Insurance Department vote (£67,734) was passed without discussion. . T The Government Accident Insurance Account (£6985).—1n reply to Mr. Allen the Prime Minister said the maximum rate was fixed by Order-in-Coun-cil. The State Fire Insurance Account (£14,197).— Replying to a question, Sir Joseph Ward said that a would be appointed to this office. Ifie late manager had been present at tne conference of insurance companies, wlien the question of rates had been dealt with, and it had been found that some of the rates had been too low for the companies and adjustment was necessary in the case of unremunerative IJ Mr* Thomson, Puncdin, moved to reduce the vote by £1 in order to test the opinion of the House on the system adopted by the State Office m regard to re-insurance, whereby a mortgagee has the right to approve of the office. Considerable discussion arose kirJoseph Ward contending that the State Office was only following the method of private companies. Mr Ell said the motion was an attack on the State Fire Office. , Mr Massey denied this, and said tne object was to prevent unfair advantage being taken bythe State. Mr. Herdman attacked the State Office principle, which he believed was a wrong one. _ : , Sir Joseph Ward said there was no possibility of the State abandoning this branch of its business. The amendment was rejected. Thu- Advances to Settlers Office (£167,542).—1n replv to Mr. Massey, the Prime Minister said he could give no information in regard to the charges against Mr. Heves, Commissioner m charge of this office,, as legal proceedings have been commenced .against tne parties outside the Department. The vote was passed. Government advances (£15,792), was passed without discussion. A PLEASING INCIDENT. ’

On the .House resuming, the Premier moved an adjournment for ten minutes in order to' prepare a statement. Cn resuming, in replying to Mr. Massey, Sir Joseph Ward said he would undertake to have the - proposed Local Government Bill circulated previous to the -next session of Parliament, so as to give local, bodies time to consider the: measure. . , , • _ The ; Primo Minister asked the House to accept the first copy of a cable sent by members of the House of Commons to himself, dated 24th March, astol]()Ws;_<‘House of Commons cordially appreciate fiohle offer New Zealand GovG^^T^e^t.,, Tlii§ was sent* at the inistanco of 402 members of the House, of Commons, conveyed by a former memh . ■■:

her of the House of Representatives, Mr. Gathcart Wason, now memoe~ or ith j- House of Commons. who now piesci ted the House'with a framed illuminated copy of the cable containing 4(L signatures! including those of Messrs Asquith, Balfour, and Lowther (Speaker' of . tho House of Commons). Sir Joseph AVard referred to the gathering in • London in connection with the Dreadnought offer, and speeches made on that occasion. The Speaker accepted the presentation on behalf of the House, and returned thanks therefor. Mr, Massey moved a resolution .or thanks to the Premier and appreciation of the action of the members of the House of Commons. - * Sir W. J. Steward seconded, and the ' motion was carried. The House resumed at 2.30 p.m. FIRST READINGS.

Tho following Bills were introduced by Governor’s message and read a first time: Customs Duties Act 1908 Amendment, Stamp Duties Act 1908 Amendment, Internal Defence Amendment, validation of certain proceedings for taking land for public works (Rotoiti Valuation No. 2), Old Age Pensions Act Amendment, Regulations of Race Meetings. ROTOITI VALIDATION BILL.

On the motion of the Hon. It. McKenzie, the Rotoiti A 7 alidation . No. 2 Bill was read a second time pro forma and referred to the Native Affairs Committee. , DEATH DUTIES. On a motion by Sir Joseph Ward, the following amendment?, were guide in the Death Duties Act, clause 8, paragraph K, whicli provides, “that shares in mining companies shall be deemed property,” was struck out. Clause 32, providing for statements of suitable estates being delivered to the Commissioner, was omitted. Clause 33, sub-clause 1, providing for the Commissioner assessing death duties, was replaced by the following: “There shall be deducted from death duty payable in respect of any property situated out of New Zealand at the dentlii of deceased the amount of any duty which by reason of his death is payable in respect of that property in the country in which it is situated at his death.” A RULING BY THE SPEAKER. The Speaker gave his deferred ruling on a point raised by Mr. Massey that the amendments made by the Legislative Council in clauses 3 and 5 of the Lands for Settlement Administration Bill were breaches of the privileges of the House, which had the sole right of supply. As clause 3 originally stood it provided for the settlement of land at present vested in the Crown being vested in superintendents. The Council altered this so as to apply only to beneficial interest. Clause 5 contained a sub-section to a like effect, and tins was struck out by the Council. Mr. Massey contended that this was a breach of the prerogative of the House, which under Standing Order 415 has the sole right of supply. The Speaker hold that under Standing Order 415 all Bills for granting aids and. supplies are the sole privilege of the House of Representatives, and may not be changed or altered by the Legislative Council. He quoted May’s Parliamentary Practice on the same point. Sir Joseph AVard moved accordingly that the amendment of the Council be not agreed to, and: that the Hon. J. Carroll, the Leader of the Opposition, and himself be a committee to draw up reasons for presentation to the Upper House. . MOTIONS OF CONDOLENCE.

Sir Josbph; Ward moved a vote of condolence with the families of Messrs Alex. Sligo and : E. G. Allen (deceased), formerly members of the House, which were agreed to, and that the House adjourn as a mark of respect to the late members.

The House rose at 4 p.m. STAMP DUTIES AMENDMENT BILL.

In the House at the evening sitting, Sir Joseph Ward moved the second reading of the Stamp Duties Amendment Bill, which increases the tax on totalisators from 1$ to 2£ per cent., and raises he tax on bank note issue from 10 to 15 per cent. Mr. Massey disapproved of the State raising revenue out of gambling transactions, and preferred to see money devoted to charitable objects. The second reading was agreed to. The Public Works Estimates were brought down by Governor’s message, and the Statement laid on the table. KING COUNTRY LICENSES BILL.

Sir Joseph Ward moved the second reading of the King Country Licenses Bill, which, he explained, provided for restoring the State of affairs existing previous to the granting of wholesale licenses.

Mr. Massey supported the Bill, and hoped the inhabitants of the, King Country would be given an early opportunity of exercising a local option vote.

The second reading was agreed to. INDUSTRIAL SCHOOLS AMENDMENT BILL.

The Hon. G. Fowlds moved the second reading of the Industrial Schools Amendment Bill, which gives the Minister 'power to detain any infiiate of an industrial school beyond the age of 21 in case s where such inmate is morally degenerate or otherwise not fit to be allowed freedom from eontrol. Replying to objections raised by members, Mr. Fowlds said that the number of inmates that would be required to be dealt -with under the Bill -would be very limited. The Bill passed the second reading. (Left sitting.)