THE ELECTIONS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3358, 26 October 1911, Page 3

THE ELECTIONS.

MAY BE HELD NEXT YEAR

) ; PARLIAMENT NOT YET FINISHED ! Mr. Massey asked the Premier if ho ‘ would expedite business and proceed l only with* those measures which have 5 been partly dealt with, and not deal 5 with anything further.Sir Joseph Ward said there was a * certain amount of work to he done, and ’ he was going to ask the House to do . it, whether it takes tb the end of this j week or the end of next. It might be , necessary to ask the House to pass 5 necessary legislation to enable the genj. oral election to take place after ,the [. middle of January. As things were going now, it was absolutely impossible ’ for him to estimate when the elections ’ could take place. At the present rate 3 [ of progress the first ballot would take r place prior to Christmas and the recond during the holidays- There was a cerj tain amount of worth on. the Order 3 Paper which must be done. He would 1 not drop these Bills which had not been ) dealt with, so far. The present Parliamerit expired on 21st November, and ] he would like to sav to those members 3 on this side of the House that their coui- stituenhs wbukl honor and appreciate 3 them for staying to finish the business i the House. 3 A letter of appreciation, of Mr. Pa--9 rata’s services in the House was ref ccrded-hy the. Native Affairs Committee ] and endorsed by Sir Joseph Ward and 3 others. f The Public Reserves Domains Amend--3 merit Bill was- reported without amendr imevit, and read a third time. > Sir Joseph; Ward moved the second f reading of. the Representation- Cornmisv sioo’s Reports Validation Bill: He said 3 that under the'existing law writs for - ©leetions? were issued .on, first December, 1 and were returnable by 29th December, l He wa® considering an ‘amendment to - have all second ballots taken on . the i same day. y ■ The Bill was read;, h second time and

reported! from committee without amendment, and the House adjourned. WASHINC-UP BILL. GOVERNMENT'S BORROWING POWERS. WELLINGTON, Oct. 25. In the House in the evening the Post end Telegraph and Representation Commissioners report Validation Bill was read a third time. Sir J. Ward moved the second reading of the Public Service Classification Superannuation Amendment Bill, which provides that all moneys payable to the ’Superannuation Kund shall be paid m first to the Post Office account. The postmaster will then pay, when directed bv the Board, all moneys properly payable out of the fund, the balance beiiif paid over to the public trustee. This” the Premier stated, would effect a saving of £750 per annum. Provision is also made for the transfer of officers from one Department to another. In Committee bp proposed to move an amendment to provide that reasons be given to teachers for transfers to infeiior positions, where pay is lower than previous appointments. If the reasons are not satisfactory, the teachers could appeal. Mr Allen asked that the teachers should be admitted to the fund who had failed to enter the fund within the prescribed time. Sir J. Ward, referring to petitioning teachers, said that until the actuarial report upon the public service generally had been received he was not prepared to make a statement. Then the whole position would be reviewed. The Bill was read a second time. Sir J. Ward moved the second reading of the Reserves and Other Land’s Disposal Bill. The measure was, lie said, generally known as the Washing Up Bill, and various, clauses could be discussed in committee. The Bill was read a second time. The Hon. R. McKenzie moved the second reading of the Railway Authorisation Bill, providing for the construction of railways authorised. Mr Dive moved an amendment that the House is of opinion that the Opunake line should he added'to the schedule. Sir Joseph Ward said that it was not possible to provide for the lino this session. Ho said a. circular emanating from the machinery of the Opposition was being sent round the country stating „thnt the borrowing powers of the Government for this year was eight million, yet Mr Dive came along and asked for further expenditure. Mr ‘Massey :• “I know nothing of it. ' Continuing, 1 Mr Massey said! if his party'bad anything to do with the circular he would have known, it. He did not believe there was any circular. Mr Dive’s amendment, was lost by 41 votes to 16. THE COUNCIL. ADJOURNED TILL TO-DAY. The Legislative Council met at II a.m.j passed several Local Bills receiv-

ed from the House, and adjourned till 2.30 p.m. The Council resumed at 2.30A number of Local Bills received from the House passed the final stages. The Governor’s amendment in the Shipping and Seamen Bill as passed by tlie House was agreed to. The Attorney-General moved the second reading of the Workers’ Compensatibn Amendment Bill, after which the Council adjourned until 2.30 tomorrow.