PARLIAMENT.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2692, 23 December 1909, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS

[Pi!U Pjiess Association.! WELLINGTON, Dec. 22. In the Legislative Council this afternoon, the amendments made by the •House in tho New Zealand Society of Accountants Bill were agreed to, and those made in the Magistrates Court Act Amendment Bill were disagreed with. , _ The following Bills were read a second time and ordered to be committed: Wanganui School Sites, Masterton Lands Trust Exchange, Customs Duties, Old Age Pensions, Race Meetings, Urewera Native Reserve, and Workers’ Compensation.

DEFENCE AND GOLD DUTIES BILL In the evening the Defence Bill was read a second time, put through committee with minor amendments, and passed'. “The Gold Duties Bill was passed, and the Council adjourned at 11.45 p.m.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. THE DEFENCE BILL. After midnight on Tuesday, Messrs T. E. Taylor (Christchurch), Hogg, and McLaren set up a stonewall of the Defence Bill. They moved many amendments, which were defeated by large majorities. A motion to exclude liquor from all defence buildings was defeated. The House, after 2 a.m., went through the committee stage of the Defence Bill quickly. The Premier moved that all volunteers shall become part' of the territorial force. The clause was added, and provision made that volunteers’ position shall not bo altered except bv their consept. A motion by Mr. Wright to have no camp within five miles of a brewery or a public house was defeated. MISCELLANEOUS. The Reformatory Institutions Bill was then taken in committee, and reported without amendment. In the Society of Accountants Bill, a proposal to extend the time for registration was carried. The Magistrate’s Court Bill was reported without amendment. RACE .MEETINGS BILL. On the third reading of the Race Meetings Bill, Mr. Massey moved that no club bo compelled to license bookmakers. Tho Bill was re-committed to allow consideration of the amendment, which was ruled out of order as being an amendment of the Gaming Act. The Premier said that that, at the proper time he would vote against the totalisator and bookmaker. The Bill was taken in committee, and put through the final stages, and the House rose at 4.15 a.m. THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE. At the morning sitting to-day, the Premier announced that the Government had decided to accept the resignation of Mr. Dinnie, Commissioner of Police. A number of local Bills W3Te put through all stages. ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS.

At the afternoon sitting, replying to questions. Ministers stated:,That Lord Kitchener has accepted an invitation to visit New Zealand, and suitable arrangements for the inspection of the military forces bv him will he made when the date of his visit is ascertained. That the proposals submitted by the Imperial Government to the overseas dominions in regard to the formation of an Imperial general staff cannot be laid on the table of the House. That the Rangatatau - block, near Waiatara, will probably be opened for selection in February, and the road will be proceeded with in a month’s time.

THE CONSOLIDATED STATUTES’ COMMISSION.

In reply to Mr. Allen’s question asking what action the Government intends to take in regard to Mr. Justice Edwards’ remarks on the consolidated statutes, the Premier stated that he had communicated with the members of the Consolidation Commission, and quoted 'their letter in reply, which admitted the truth of Mr. Justice Edwards statement that the Commissioners did introduce changes into the Consolidated Acts without specifically calling attention thereto, but they held that these were unimportant, and that they had power so to do, also that Parliament had full knowledge of the changes, and must be deemed to have accepted and ratified the action of the Commissoiners. The reply goes on to refer to the specific cases mentioned by Mr. Justice Edwards, the Commissioners explaining and defending their actions in regard thereto. The letter is signed by F. Fit. chett and W. S. Reid, and points out that Sir Robert Stout, being absent from the Dominion, is not a party to the memorandum. '? LOCAL. BILLS PASSED. The following local Bills were passed: Inangahua County Council Empowering, Waiwera County, Grey" Lynn Domain, Towera County, Kiwitea County Vaidation, Waipara County, Bluft Harbor Board Empowering, Inglewood Technical School. - , The following Bills were passed thro, ugh committee: Christchurch Drainage and Hutt Valley Tramway. NAPIER HARBOR BOARD LOAN BILL. The Napier Harbor, Board Loan Bill caused considerable discussion in committee, and was still under consideration when the House rose at 0.00 p.m. VARIOUS BILLS. In the evening the following local Bills were passed: Manukau Harbor Board Control and Auckland Harbor Board Empowering, Christchurch District Drainage, Hutt Valley Tramway District, Waitara Borough Reserves, and Napier Harbor Board Loan. Mr Arnold asked for extended leav© i for the Tramway Bills Committeeto sit. Messrs Massey and Taylor (Christchuch) advised shelving the Bill till next session. Sir Joseph Ward said, that the committee should bring in the Bill, and if it proved debatable it could be dropped till next session. .; • . Leave was granted the Committee to sit to-night. - . Amendments to the Native Land Act and Lands for Settlement Administration Act, in regard to their financial provisions, were introduced by Governor’s message., :'., , Sir Joseph Ward said . that under these measures power was given to raise £500,000 from the sum borrowed annually under the State Guaranteed Advances Act for the purchase of native lands and lands for settlement respectively. Thus the amount raised ostensibly for loans to local bodies would either have to he doubled or the whole million would he absorbed; In order to get over the difficulty, it was proposed to transfer the borrowing sections from these Bills, placing them in the State

Guaranteed Advances Act, a separate Department being created to carry out the iinancial operations of the Native Land Act and tne Lands for Settlement administration. An alteration had been made, fixing definitely at £1,000,000 per annum, the amount to be raised for loans to local bodies and purchase of native land, instead of mailing it subject to resolution of the House. The actual amount raised annually would have to be reported to Parliament. After some discussion, the Speaker ruled that the amendments would constitute an appropriation clause different to what had been agreed to by the committee of the whole House, and that three messages from the Governor recommending enpropriation be made under the Constitution Act. (Left sitting.)