PARLIAMENT.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume L, Issue 12386, 6 December 1909, Page 7

PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

(Per Press Association.)

WELLINGTON, December 4. [ After 12 the debate on Mr Wright's : amendment was continued, and provoked recriminations on both sides of the House, the Opposition demanding that the report of the Judges 011 the 1 irregularities in the Income Tax Department be laid on the table. Mr Massey said it Mas rumoured that persons connected with the Legislature were implicated. The Premier stoutly declined to do I so, and said if the House carried the motion someone else would have to do it. Mr Wright replied at 1.50 a.m. The motion was put and negatived by 40 to. 21. In the House after 2 a.m. the debate on the Valuation Department was proceeded with. Replying to Mr Okey, the Premier said the amount saved by retrenchment was £303,603. He could not promise to give retrenched civil servants employment. The Inland Revenue -Vote was passed without further challenge. Tho Post and Telegraph Department ■vote was passsd with the exception of ,'£67,700 for Class TIT. for conveyance of mails by sea, which was postponed. On the public buildings vote Mr Massey said n very serious mistake had been made in not rebuilding a portion of the old Parliament buildings burned down He hoped this would yet be done. Sir Joseph. Ward said that if the old buildings were re-bxiilt, it would probably cost thrice what was being expended, owing to the necessity for providing accommodation for members. Mr Massey said that the fire had | not neen accidental, and that the Pre- j jnier had been talking nonsense. If the contract had been pushed on for tho addition to the buildings, it would have been ready for the following ses-" sion. The vote was passed at 3.20 a.m. HOSPITALS BOARD. Tho Hospitals Bill was brought down from tho Legislative Council with amendments., which Mr Fowlds moved be agreed to. Several members strongly opposed the deletion of "Inuse 72. Mr Fowlds said the House would have an opportunity to consider the matter again when tho Friendly Societies' Bill was before the House. On tlm motion of Mr Massey the House adjourned at 3.30 a.m. LOCAL BTLLS. - Thr> following local Bills were read a second time, the final stages being fixed for Saturday next: — Knitake Comity Bill (Mr Okey). Wellington (City) Streets Empowering Uill (Mr Luke). Wniroa Harbour Board Empowering and Loan (Mr Carroll). Opun.'iko Harbour Amendment Bill (Mr Dive). W.unukurau Reserve Bill (Mr Hall). Taranaki Agricultural Society Empowering Bill (Mr Okey). Otno;o Dock Trust Lands Reclamalion and Street Widening 'Bill (Mr Clark). Gisborna Hiojh School Amendment Bill (Mr Carroll). Otago District (Hospital) Board Kai+.angata Reserve Vesting Bill (Mr Allon). New Plymouth Harbour Reclamation Bill (Mr Okey). lieefton Recreation Reserve Bill (Mr Guinness). Heathoote Road Board Waterworks Bill (Mr Laurenson). Auckland City Loans Consolidated and Empowering Bill (Mr Baume). Otaao Harbour Board Empowering Bill (Mr Millar). Otago Dock Trust, Merger Act, 1908, Amendment (Mr Clark).

Otaki County Bill (Mr Luke)