HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume L, Issue 12385, 4 December 1909, Page 5

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

WELLINGTON, December 3 The Home met at 2.30.

FRIENDLY SOCIETIES BILL. ■ The Friendly Societies Bill was introduced by Governor's message, and read a fiist time. ■ The Prime Minister moved that on and after Saturday, the House sit from ten a.m. till 1 p.m. for the consideration of the Orders- of the day, only local Di'Us- to -take pvoJeekinco/ and thereafter Government Bills, which was agreed to. .

THE LAND QUESTION. Tho House resumed the interrupted debate on the question that the report of the Lands Committee do lie on the taMe"-sw Thomson and Wallace entered a plea for the freehold on behalf of the Pi Mr CHogt tleupheld the leasehold and denounced the Government's supine- • ness-on the land question. In the evening tlie second reading of the Defence Bill was carried pro forma, on the motion of the Premier, and referred to a Select Committee. The House went into Committee ot sunplv on a motion by Mr Allen to reduce an item of £1,100 for extra clerks and reporters.—Lost. no oaq Mr Hanan moved to .reduce £2 203 library salaries by £1 as indication that they are excessive for the work done. The Premier gave details of the library and work done Sy the statt- as warranty for the expenditure. Several members bore testimony to the value of the library and the assistance they had received from the staff. ■• .. . , ,; The motion was negatived. Mr Massev moved to strike out an item of £4GO to the financial adviser to the Government i-i London. After considerable discussion touching largely on Mr Reeves, late High Commissioner. Tho motion Avas put and carried by 135 votes to 25. ' . > On the item of £4.00 to the Commissioner of Taxes and the Valuer-Gene-ral Mr Wright moved to reduce the amount by £1, as an indication that the Government should inform the House as to the position in regard to the Commissioner of Taxes, against Avhom charges had been made. Mr Herdman supported the amendment and asked for. general particulars of the case. '■'~, . . ~ The House Avas still sitting when the telegraph office closed.