THE HOUSE.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 656, 5 November 1909, Page 5

THE HOUSE.

, : !^ , ;:'r::jh^i^^.LpCAt:' , BitLS.^. ; -jV ;i M. ■:--,/' '■:. '■ VWhen' the/ House resuiated .'.yestarday the/ fol- : lpwing'Bills:werevrea(l a:!firsi timo:—Gity of AucMaiid'Enabling Bill7Mr." ; Baume), Boofton , E^eatiou-Reserve/Bill (Mr'.'Wilford),for Mr.' ■■■.:■•'-■ Gnmness)/i';'\ , ';fti: '■■*;■., ■'. 'r , ■'::■' ■ / : ! »V ; ; .■';.-.. ;" : ;-..,-'■;■■■ - WEIUnGTPN ; WATER /.-'SUPPLY DILL; ■;,.: Mr. LUKE;m reading of ..-.'••'the •: Wellington /Water ■ Supply /loan/ ; Moneys ; Diversion ■Bill.Tciplained: that in 1905 the rate- '.- of ■; a'-ioan-of■5235;5p0.-/-Of. ! that"amount ,£190,000 • jtae'for,: the'purpose,()f buildingreservoirs and : /: Mproyinjf;-the-'wa'ter/supply of the. city arid l.Buburhs.,:' Included' in , the;.£l9o,ooo was 'the ; .'Biiin; of ;.^MoP'jfor-:-a-.:filter. at,-.Wainuj-o-mata. ...' Haying .given'■Uμ), matter'thorough 'cbnsidera- ■ , tm," ■ t.heTp6unoil :had ;now;.come to : the con..elusion", that', the-! filter, .could; stand over.' for /. ;Eo.m'e'Hlwe..:/:,ln' addition.,to.'the'-,£9ooo','.there .//^-^OOO/maaV W_6t ■?av'irigs'"in connection. ■ with:other'works. What the council now pro- , . Mse'd-;wae" that ; : the should be diverted fflr.the;following ■purposee':--i£rpoo as, a' contrV : outipn - towards 'the; cost', of; a ■: combined ■ pipe '■■ /and/traffio" bridge , over,: the Hutt';Eiye.r. .-and 7 th'o'.balance.fbr'eiten'dißgithe .ivater.supply to -,:; the ■heights of Eoseneatt and the heights on '. the eatt:ahd- ; 6outh l --eides"of;New'to\jT!i' ; PaTk,-to-' ~ ■■:" know viyhether the' favo'urablfl , to.;the proposal.. 'ItVnras : bad in'>prinoiplo : that .directly the ratepayers had authorised a. loan /.the.;lflciJ;vauthority.; 1 concerned 'should —wish-. 1 .legislative sanqtion. fo iiave portion' the ; a'mouht ..diverted.Vi He -also considered. ,, ■-:that; "•": [i i Jvas :aVvery "stiff Vcontribution for .the ■•(!■.City Counoil'. toVpayHowards the cpet'.'.'of. tilt ./'new'Hutt-Bridge. - '.■ •. . : ■• ,■ " .' 'V .—•; ?H ■■Mr.<^ILFOBD : (Hutt) explained the position : ;;:. of the ,City (Jouncil'and other lotjal -bodies in /k/:regard'to':fhe n«WHutt Bridge./ In- : the-course' y ; ■: ;of. the'/nwr.' future,.tbe city -ffould; hayo to S;,/.face- a/very..:huge expenditure ;in connection •/ :/;Vr.rth iteiwator'suppljt, and the .present scheme, ;'; . : was almost'like "atfcking'a mustard plaster .'on'< •:;■■:::& .wooden- leg;''/:He/'believed v : that :; the .rate-: ...',';.pay^rsi.'who: were-Very . apathetic, and almost U:;< required.;a::homb tp/inake; them .realise'' that' ;' anything (was .'going.'.'.oil in /regard, to local 1 .--. ~ affairs, , shjbnld/be! made'vfnlly conversant with . .':'■ the v :posttion:s:V';-'- v " : '"'.-.:.'''- . ' ' '-' v': - ■■'• ■': .^Mr.>LTJKE ( -iriv reply,: :said .that; the City Council would; get an .honest return for its .--. contnbution/tbwarda the cos.t of the n«W Hutt . // ; -> v ;.-.;■;'V.--;;- . ■ rThei/Bill. was,,readi>'■Secondi time,- and set. down:;:or, : OTmmittal;:'iii;Thursday.:'./.;./. , : .•■ ;:^ : i-y ;^A| M R '-i c WNTY/BiLL.. .■:"/;..;,:.-, y in- moving tho : eecond reading ! pf. the; TVainia'ri: County Bill; . said, it,was/designed'to .effect the establishment , ■• of /.a :"tew:_■county; , which , ' would': comprise two' _ : ro!)a/boar.ds-trom the' County of 1 Selwyn , .—No. . objjctiori had'been raised to the proposal. The capital.--valiie. of /the' , : land ' comprised ' in the - . .proposed .county/ was /about, three . millions, -, ■whilst the annual income would be JE8453. -. .: j' -, The.second-reading.was -passed, f.n'd the BM - .' was down for committal .bn'Thursday n<it. ;.'. ■ :v^^/ : '/.' ; -:..:';;,. : /'': .:•:.;; .:The.jNeW ; ;Plymouth~.Repreatidn "and 'Race-- .: course, Eesetve.. Exchange'BUl (Mr: Okey)," ;• .whlch:_ proposes. to/,allow. the Tidrpugh council ;. to/exchange-a cprn«r of the'recreation reserve , for a/ : small jyarea held by -the Jockey Club. V. passed., its, second reading /without discussion,and, was 6«t.down-for committal next Thiirs- •" ■:day.;.-, , ;- i ;/.-'..-*y;-C:"-'"^'C.';•■■■ ■■• : v-- , '-.■. ; '■■■■■f" f - :, .:- , ■ .'.' v'A e '#Vckland ; 'V:and:, Suburban. Drainage , . Amendnientißill.(Mr;'Baurae),-Timaru Borough ". ; Loans-ConsolidatiQh'.(Mr.; Craigie), and.-Elles- ■-.-.- were,JJomam'.Board Empowe'riilg Bill (for the ■ V 6 ? t «ng.':VP,.pf l recr i eatipri, reserves,' Mr'.' Ehodes) ;-■ a 150,.: passed-, their -'secoud reading,' and were .-.. set , .down.fdr/committal :next Thursday. ~. : : :CANTERBIiRY.iAqR|CULTUBAL COLLEGE. -taoved-the 'second / reading: of the. , : Canterbury. .College and' Cahter-bury-Apicultural.iCollege/. Amendment/ Bill. •■ iie.explainoditha't-the./object'of- the ; measure ' : !a:''fairer-; , ;representation -for ■South Cauterburyv-on/tho-Bbardrdf -Governors - ?i -the ■Canterbury: Agricultural :V- Collego at Jjincoln.. bouthvCanterbury,.he claimed.'-should have, one'of ; theithree members ■■elected.'iby/ the ' ■'■■•4 e,:i i.^^. r^''\ nd '''P« tt '? , a l -'. Soii et'es. f At present No n T , th -S^^^My:: elected the -three! members. ; , o.wld3.bD"jcctqd..-to.-,'the'. Bill P,ecause ; ltr.ftas^an.'attemnt : to , deal".with, the - watter/in-a •piebemeal-instea.d- of-':a-'c.omprehen- ■.;- Bive_,m.aaner.-Hio sympathised.witli the desire ? f ."s°' I W'] Canterbury, to bo represented. -The : institution,tfas:aftcr:aU a Dominiori-:-institution. : He suggested. : thatM:he. Bill should'stand "over lor .fuller ,-consideration-; during the recess.:. If necessary, .ho'.wquld/br.ing in a-Bill , to deal- with It next,session. r ; : : '.--^..:■■■>.■•■ - ,-.'; ■■,■.■.---■■•.•.■- ' ' •■.. .■Mr;-G.,:-W;',RUS'SELl'^aid'he'Would v have-to : o PPp?e,'the..Bill./]ltj:would;be,daiKjerous.tp in- / tro.auce',th(^,Tvarc)/ system :\n . connection 'with .Bniversity.-.CoHoril- control.- : -■ ■'■■:■■.■, ,-. : : ,\M r^9;^TH()MSQN:?:(Wallace):;supported: '■■■ :■•%.?]*-i ;T he;^^ : boon.-detrimentil ,to'primary:.education.; ■■■-■• PjihMua) aiivocated the nationali- . - satlpn: pf-'Lin^'/College.' Ho said : it -had ./ ten class of students; ;.-.. with.-tne'soiisllf .wealthy commercial men.-the .....sons of woal,thy ; m;9n':,in.the/Old-Land;.-;and '. with a certain percentage of no'er-do-wells—by ."■ the son.* of pepplflin'the/Old .World' who found , it/: a cheap ■•'and/ffconvonient '■ boardinghouso. , -Mr..HAßDr.tSotw'yn) 'said the. Inst speaker, ;. Kncir nothing about tho collpge, which was a cnhonnl one, ind a credit to the Dominion ■■'/• Aflei fmthor division the second readmß vtti icrccd to, nnd th» Bill was referred to :.V the Education Committee V ELECTIVE EXECUTIVE BILL. Sir WILUVM ffI'EWAED moved tho reading oE the Electho 'Cxecutivo Bill. Tho ;// Bill, he «aul had been twice before ieferrcd ■'.';" to committee , ;— in 1891 and IP O -4—who had re- '*■.-;• ported that tho party government system was . not adapted to Now Zealand J?rior to their becoming Ministers, tho BilJ h.id been sup- "' pnrled by Messrs Buddo, Jtl'Nab, Fowlds, and ' .: Jlnll-Joncs Sir William Slcn.ud quoted the ' epinions of Mr. Goklftin Smith and Mr. Symo, ■ .-a vntor on tho subject, in support ?:. ,: 'ief'hts pioposals. Thq exutiriJ sjstem was cop'ifeajry'to common sense. It had been said is

Great Britain that the sixteen cleverest men in'iParliiment ■wero.set t° -govern, the-country,' while the' sixteen next. cleverest were employed to. .the work;of ■:■'■'. Could thero- be .anything more Gilbortitin than, tho present'', state .-of- things? ,(Miv Massey:; Hear, hear.) : He:'would not 'be dismayed' if he wero nguin -.unsuccessful with his Bill,; for reforms of this kind must always bo brought forward by';private,members. , : ../'•/. Prime Minister Opposes the Bill. ! The PRIME MINISTER 'complimented .William Stewardon his mngnificentconsistency in.regard to .the Bill. .He did ,nof agree -that a Government as a Government was opposedto the-mover's system for that; .reason and that reason only., There were higher.and hotter reasons for opposing the'proposal; The. fact, that men .holding .different views might conio together in a Cabinet did not help the mover's argument, Ho*; could, Mr.'-Balfour and Mi , . Lloyd-Georee work together in an Executive? If men whose opinions were irreconcilable were placed together in an Administration the result could only be a standstill. They would not get rid of party outside of Parliament itself even with the Elective Executive in operation. He did not believe that, when' the Executive was eleotcd, all ambition would be extinguished in the niJnds of .other members who were: hot appointed.,-. - ■■ ' . < ; .' ' ' ■ Mr. Wilford: , Competition '■: is the soul of trade. •;.'- ■:. .■"•' "'-■ ' : '-' ', '■■■ ■. ■ ■ : -. Tht)' speaker; (continuing) said :that Sir 'William''Steward .could ..not point, to any great country 'as haying 'adopted-the system which he recommended.'.lt was the" spirit of eniula- 1 tion "in public life which had pushed England •and other' countries to', the fore. Hβ would .ask members, to supposed that, Mr. .Ell and Jlr. •Buchanan , were elected under- the proposed-.sys-tem. " ' Both , ' were-, very popular,, and.hevbelieved that' under, .the. syetem .they would be elected.' ')' ...'■"•■■' ' . ' : Mr. Buchanan: It viould be. a bad ; look-out for'thoother fellow. (Laughter.) ■ - Resuming, Sir Joseph said-that it would be impossible to shift Mr. Buchanan from certain strong'opinions, which 'he held with 100 teams brbullock's, and tnat'2oo teams would not make Mi.' El).'depart from well-formed views , which, he held in'oppbsition to Mr. Buchanan._ Under, such a system, what an unhappy position a , P.rime Minister would hold. .Why, if, ■ for instance,: tho. ; graduated land■: tax was .under consideration, Mr..; Buchanan would jump , across.'the ■ table and-,>demand, -that. Mr. Ell. should be ejected if he did not agree to his views. Then again," if the question of franchise were under discussion, Mr. Ell might be, found amiably hugging -Mr. Buchanan, and saying that he should come round to his. way of thinking for the sake of harmony; ; He wished:also to point out what ■ would be the 'position if-as a result of strained relations, say, ■two-or more Ministers;resigned ■ during;a recess. ; :Thn,.members would not have-a; say in the 'question as: to 'who'was to _be' their_ sue-: cessors, with : the;result■ that .until Parliament reassembled a new , . Minister \would- be .autocratic so far as the administration ;pf his. Department was concerned. Ho had'nsyer heard il ufged l that the Ministers .should be selected from the' dominant party in .the House. His opposition-- to' the Bill ,was;.due .only'to '..the fact .'that he believed it to he a bad'system. . View'sof Taylor/ '•'•< -• ".-.'. .... '_, ■.MW'.'T l ; ;E.".'TAYLOE;.(Christchurch North) declared that -.the, Primo Minister; had shown a: total incapacity' to'iinderstarid tlio. basis,'oi thn'pnnc'iplo'b'phind' the proposal. '.Sir Joseph 'did-not'.'seem* to be ■able, to i see '-tho. difference between; party; politics, arid, party government. .No'.other. .party .but the dominant party could select .-.the ■■ Executive. . The present method of 'olfccting the'.Executive 'was an : anachronism— it.;deaied'the efficiency of tho democracy, and, further, it'impeached':',the judgment of the "wliolepf the members.' ■■. If.somo; years ago the proposed, system had been in force, Sir William- Bussett would undoubtedly have been included; in tie Cabinet, aud his selection would; have given- general satisfaction, and the people would, hayo known that he could, not possibly have; injured, the policy.'of the.'Executive. ■ -Would the present Cabinet' have : been selected : by ; .the Houso; or the. country? : Ho :would reply "No;" .' 'No' one would deny, that the- Eon. ,'JL'. Mackenzie, had ability' and business, capacity, but he: would not:have received eleotioiii' :• His; jpre«Su:o-.; ii a-, Radical •'■ Cabinet was; just ; as. remarkable a';pKenomenon as the presence of ' MrV'-ißalfour ■ would 'be in HiAsquith's jlCttbitietUt ;ilonie..'.'.. : • .■:'*:: :' ..' It was &\disaster : that .the two parties in tho country had nlmdst-merged. Could '-any"mem--h er HVj^'W'rfP^i Policy .of the-Govern-' mentr,'..'.Of course, r.np , orio '. could. The one :question, which.should.be the .question of.'cleavage should bo the of land'and taxation. Without, any feeling of-bitterness he :would-say, that New Zealand now had a Liberal party, absolutely destitute;of any policy that waff Worthy of .being., called the 'name :'of: policy.' Meinbers liad:np more idea .at the land legislation which would be brought down during the next .six months than they had as to any land which might be proposed in ' Japan. ; He -considered- that '.the vpeopto should elect 'Parliament; the. House should elect the .Executive.; there - should'.'be no. nominated , Upper House; and the : people should' have , the right of. revision by wny of a full referendum/ with power of: initiative..and veto'. -v, . / : Mr. J.:C. THOMSON (Wallace) strongly supiportedvthe Bill: He would like to remind the •Prime' Minister th:it nineteenvyears ago he told the electors at,Wiriton that he was in j.favour■ of ■the'-Elective Executive''system,'and that'.he recognised that the. existing system was inherently -bad. . '...':■ 1.' ,- ;. ;■:.-. . : '■••". , Objections;by Mr.: Massey. ": ; r V ;, ;; ;' ! ' Mr.::MAs'sET; thought that the' Bill .was "no nearer; the. statute-book than it, wasin pre:vious.: years! Following upon ..the remarks ■ of ,!a 'previous;speaker',- he would like, to .say that the.: Opppsjtibn didn't opposo merely for tho sake,of opposition. If the .Government, brought: down , a proposal'.which it? members approved,' they' cordially' supported-.it, butMf they .wore opposed, to the proposal ..they'fought it for all they;were'worth. The Opposition-put principle before-party. He doubted whether election by 'caucus, would be, an ■ impro'voment on •' the' present .system.' ;The Prima'Minister.should-have . the ■ right; to. .elect'.bis own Ministers, 'but oyniag to;'the, fact that the;present Ministry/was incongruous, .it was,unable to^put'a-polity before , the country!; It was. tlip.duty Ministry, to'l-'lay'; its 'policy before, the .country.' The people fought to know .where the. Government was 'on, :yarious.'questions,-, notably.,the.'land : question. ;■■■-' ..-'-.. -';; ( ■'■. --. "'■■:■ ■• /:■/■'■,'. . Mr;. Ell: ; We would, like. to. know where you are on that question. What about 'endoyrments? ,',.'.'.'.• .. '' : ;■:'■"/■"■'.- ■ . ;'... ■:.: ■'■': • Mr;' Massey:'. I believe !in. genuine .endowments,, but not. in eham endowments.' If.you want-to : kn6w'mpre plainly I tell you we shall know.'-njhefe the members of the Government are when the : land question.comes on for consideration.' v ■. ' ■ ■'■'■} '■■::. :•■':' Resuming, .'Mr.. Massey .said that when a Ministry announced its policy it should stand or.falt by' it. IJ : a' Government found-that a' majority ■ of the'.members were "opposed, to it,: ■it : should,go but of office.' ■; . ';';•';' •'.:-' .. 'A; member: Did the'■ Government go to' the cbun'try-6n. the M'Na'b-laid, policy? ; . . : : '■<Mr;'.'.Massey. No, it hauled' down itsnag.'lf it-had :been a< selffrespecting Government -it would'have' gone to the country; ■ •;-■ .-■.•■ • ■■'Cdntinuirig, ' Mr,:' Massey'said ~he -had , no more' admiration for the referendum thanfor the. ElectiTe Executivo. Any .member who would-'not 1 vote straight out on air questions ■wa^.not.nt ; to hold position! .'■:; ' . Opinions of Other Members.. r.: ' '■. • . ■'l ilv. 'WElGHT,' '(Wellington gave his whole-hearted - support .to the , proposal' contained in the measure.: Under the present system, thelPrime Minister."seemed "to, :be: an. autocracy within-the-democracy. Hβ appeared to have power ■ to call;.upon. ■&■ Minister to resign, -and to;, call ,whomsoever.;he liked .to the Upper House.;. In fact, the Prime Minister was ■ master of: the. position. : ■:- ' ' : " ■ . .•■:. • Mr.-.'I'OOLB (Auckland ;West) held that the intermingling of convictions resulted in the best- forms of policy; More defiriiteness ih i regard' to■■ the 'Government's policy.- was ,neccsit would, erolpng,; cost the. Govern'ment. thousands- of-votes. .'lf;:'?the:. -.Elective Execiitivo system were. in. force,', there ,would bc.a detiniteness.of policy .that could not be queried by-the ..country. . ■:. "'.;' ,-.., . Mr, 'Baume on' the Present..Cabinet. V; .''■ ■.•.Mγ..- BAUiIE: (Auckland East) said he : had voted ; ngainst tho second reading before, but Would- vote ' for it this time, because he bolieyed it would'be impossible to find a stronger exemplification.of the weakness'of the', present system than had been afforded, by recent years; "Cnbinqt (is, not representative,", said : Mr! Baume, -"either of the intolligenco or the personal choice of tho members of the i House or of this side of the Houso. I am not :;referring only to Cabinet under its present leader. 'It would bo impossible for tho Prime Minister to .'say... that tho presont ' Cabinet represents either the' most intellectual or most capable or most, 'popular mon .amongst ■•■• his '-.■.■. party. : I' , challenge the. Hon. gentleman : to. say. that; ia'nd : 'l.6ay he cannot , dp it. When,you have a leader,' with. a : Cabinet of: which -'he Vis ■ not able' to say that,'you have, not 'the best Cabinet- that .could bo had." '.He, knew.' that !ho might , .have ..cast upoh ■'. him- of-a person«l :oha/racter-> on,, account, of •' those ,state-'- ■ jncnts.':bttt.he; wm quite ■ prepared:. to'": face anything of that kind...Mr..Baume'statcd that he wouldvpto. for.'the second reading,:'reserving', to jhiineelf..the ..right; to 'move,.some im». Iporta^tj'anieiidmetits'inf'committee.'/.: : '•■'>'.' ; .^-:

~^ r ,-i G -,r W,RUSSEI ' L (Avon), declared 'that, tne late Mr. Ballanee , was'the'greatest statesman whom Now Zealand had known. He would like to/point out, that Mr. Ballanee gathered around himself a body; of men every ono of whom,was a specialist. But he regretted to say -that, since, 'there, had- been gentlemen who' had passed over the Jlinisterial stage, who were selected,'not for their fitness, ;biit,becauso they would suit the Prime Minister of tho day. If the Elective Executive were [in operation", it would improve the' general ■'policy of the Government-and ■ give it solidarity. ". . ' - . ■' ' '..'..•. ; ■ : i -. ..;... Ths Division. ■;...- .'• : , ; Tlie division.on the second reading resulted as follows:— . ■ •. .'■■.'. ■■ ■ .':;■. ■;: Ayes (23): ■ '•. v-', : ./; 'Arnold .. Hogg ' • : ' : V BauDie ' Lang : '','■'<■ Colvin ■.-■- . - Laurenson ■...■•: .C'raigie . . Okey .-■ , '•; ■'■, ■;."■' Davey ".- . ■ Eussell ";■ vi Ell '".:..■ . Scott ' :■' ■:: 'Kgher Sidey ■ ' .Fortes ; Steward . ' '■-.. ■ Glover ... ', Thomson, J. C. ■ ; Hanan. . • ; - .- ■ Witty. ■', " ■''•'':■:■ Herriee . Wright • '' ' ~: : Hogan ' ■ " ' : : .■:'■■' -. .'"':■,■ ?' , : '■'• Noes (35): . ■ , Allen. 1 . ' Lawry ; :■'■. ■ ■'■ Andijrson - ' ■ Macdonald Buchanan ' M'Kenzie, Hon. E. .'■ ', BudiJo' - ■'■■-'•'..',-.- Mackenzie,' Hon. T. :' Buiok ~ . Malcolm '■ ' Burton • . ■ Mander ' . ■■■"■■' .CartpU .. .•■ ■■-." Massey.- .. '~ --. . Dillpn . . • ■ Millar--:'" ■ " ' ';■?. '. Dive-; . Ngata.' ./ Fitild,-'- ': : • Npswcrthy :,' Fraser , . ~ .. ' . Parata, ~'..'" Or'aham ■ ' ■ . Pearce ' '.'■-. Guthrie • ■": , ■-. PhUiips i---.. HaU : ' . Seddon .' . Hardy; . Stallworthy , '...-;' Herdman Ward . Hino; - : . • ' Wilford ' '."-. i Jejuiings '•■ ■. . • '•' j. ' Tho House then adjonrned till''this afternoon. . ' ; - ' ■-■'... ■-. .; . ;" INEWS AND NOTES; ■ LENGTH OF THE SESSION. ; "Judging by the progress which thft Government is making "with its businees," said Mr. Massey, in the House yesterday, "the session will .not ba concluded till this' time aext year. If the; Government had gone aboutiits work in' a business-like way " ..Mr.-.Witty: Who blocked it? ''Mr.■■'■Massey: ATno blooked it last night, intentionally wasting time, .so that Mr. Herdman's'Bill: should not come on? , The : -Prime Minister: It will be thrown out anyway, so what does it matter? ':Mr.'Massey: Then why not. let it come up to-day'? '...■.-'.■■ The. Prime Minister, denied that time had been wasted by the Government. He thought that so" far they had got on with'the business very well,;)and he believed that they would complete it: very well before the session was over. :...' J ' ■' ■; ". ' • /;■ ~.'■;■■.■. ■ •.. " •; : ,:; ; IIWANTED: '" Reccmmendatiens were made by the Joint -■House;- Committee yesterday that a fence be erected from, the gate at tho foot of Bowen Street;: to' the .top of :the stone step's, near the'front, door of' Parliament House,.and the■ path widened, "so that poi'sons may pass without difficulty," and that- a fence be erected from :the Charlotte Street gate' to: the-House and ._.bridge, ."so that hon. members may go out in the grounds for recreation without being molested by strangers," -Eecomniendationswere also,made for the improvement'.,of 'the kitchen accommodation; and provision'- of smokingrooms and a lobby for members of both Houses before'nexf-sessjon..: . .' ~; ■ ■ ;, .- 'Mr. Massey "objected to! the proposed ""ipendi.fare' on -the ground that there: had lioen too much extravagance:in connection with ihe Parliamentary Buildings already. Hβ . ivould call for a division before 'tho, 'report r could' be adopted. , •':'■,"''', .;:■;■;■-' .■,,- -":,"' ■•' : ■;■■.';.-, "■'The' HoniV.K.'M-'Kenzie suggested i.lat the. ; matter 'should be referred, back to the commit-' tee.' He did not' think -that the House' would agroe to further expenditure. .. " ' Mr. Massey said .tho report proposed, improvements which he did'not think were sary, in-the case of temporary buildings.. Other improvements were necessary/and he -uggested to the Speaker that something'should ie-dono to supply artificial fans or other aids 'o ventilation for the chamber. On the preyip.is even-;' ing. the air was very unpleasant and oppres-' sive, and as tho;,weather grew warmer (he discomfort would.be worse.',,. ,'Y - v .'; : .'^- The Prime Minister said that fans had. been ordered,' and should come .to hand soon. He thought that on the whole good provision had been made for the comfort of members. ■ Tho proposal to refer the report back to the cpm'iniftee-. was'lost on a'division.-- . ;.,....,.;; •'. ■ ; CHATTELS TRANSFER BILL. M '.'■ .One of the objects ,'pf '.'the- Chattels Transfer' Amendment Bill, which has. passed its first reading in the' Council,- , is (according 'to a memorandum of the Law Drafting- Office) tp prevent the-.inconvenience resulting from tho tact-that 1 bills :of. sale \ may: be registered atj any office of the Supreme: Court within the.; provincial : districts in .which the chattels are Situated..' There are'. already I twQ- .-■ offices 'in Auckland'and three in AVellington, and the tendency is 'towards , a gradual : increase in; the number.' As. the law now stands, it is'j necessary to search for .bills of every: Supreme Court office.in tho provincial district, The practice is not unknown of' registering e.uch documents at an office'remote from the' place where the. chattels aTe situated, for the : purpose of avoiding, publicity.' This Bill. prof hibits registration except in one place (the chief town), in each'.of these districts;- TJnder : Section i' of the principal :Act, however, Otagpi :and 'are treated as. jlifferent pro-i vincial districts, and this', provision remains I unaffected by' the Bill. Clause's deals with unregistered bills'! of sale.. These, as the law'-| riow stands, are invalid against creditors in against execution- creditors ■ only' if tho chattels .are still in the possession of the debtor at ■ the time of the bankruptcy or execution., The.grantee of a bill of sale,- therefore,, can evade the requirement of registration,,by; taking; possession of the goods at the last moment betore bankruptcy or execntion Ihe Bill .provides that an unregistered instrument shall bo invalid if ,the-. goods have been in the. debtors possession at any time within four months..before: the bankruptcy or execution, and after the expiry of the time allowed for registration. Clause 6. repeals Section 29 of ths principal Act,'this section being merely an. accidental duplication (with' variaSons) of faection;79 (2) of the; Bankruptcy' Act, 1908. •; ''I- DESTITUTE PERSONS- BILIV ' ' C-? 1 }? Destitute Persons Bill introduced by Dγ ■tindlay ln the Council repeals and with-' numerous alterations the Destitute Persons Act, 1908, which is itself a .consolidation of the Destitute Persons Actj 1894, and its amendments. > Most of the alterations made by this Bill relate to the details of judicial procedure, following amendments are proposed in matters of substance:— -.; ■ -■ . .■■■:- :(1.) An amended definition of "near relative " with special reference to tho effect of adoption and to illegitimate: relationships. . .-':. ■I^-'.-.(2.) Power to order payment on account of past ; maintenance, as well as: maintenance for tbefuture. : '\ ■•■■'• '■:' .'"-.., ■; . ■. (3.) Amended definition of "parent" with reference to the liability of. parents for deserting children or leaving them without maintenance. (4.) Provisions, as to effect' of the death. or bankruptcy, of persons against whom maintenance orders have been made. ..-.. . ■ (5.) Better jprovisions as. to ■■■ attachment of wages in satisfaction of maintenance orders; . (6.) i Amended provisions as to recovery from relatives of the cost of the maintenance of persons'in public orcharitable institutions. ■ (7.) Fnrtner provisions making it an indictab,ie offence to desert a wife or child'by leaving N(w Zealand. '.;■■'■■;.. ■' ■■ ■ . ■•/• ;■ (8.) Better provisions enabling a magisirate to have evidence: taken: before another magistrate in the'case of witnesses-at'a distance. ■ - (9.) Provisions for giving, effect'in New Zea-land-to affiliation and maintenauco orders made in Australia. ■ ' . , . ■.■-•.-•■■■■ (10.) Eepeal of Part 11. of.ithe Married Women's Property Act, 1908 (which re-enacts the Married Women's Property Protection Act, 1880), as boing obsolete, except'for'the purposes of ; the Licensing Act. :••' ' . ,- , .. :(11.) Eepeal of Part VI : of ,tho Divorce and Matrimonial Causes Act, 1908 (which-re-enacts the; Married Persons' Summary Separation Act, 189G). This Act, it is explained, overlaps .the Destitute Persons Act in an embarrassing man-ner,-and all necessary provisions- for the maihtennnco and summary separation of husbands and:wives aro now included in this Bill and governed by tho same procedure. , , ; ;y THE PROAtiSED LAND BILLV ", Mr. Baumo' (Auckland East) stated in the House last night that lie .believed thptMinister for, Agriculturer-th'o- Hon. ; ,T. Mackenzie, who is a freeholder— vo\il&, it he were given the opportunito, prpduco n thoroughly;'good ■; Land. Bill.'Ho; was waiting for/'tho: Government's Land Bill; to appear, and unless it was in. : a ,very.-'different' uirectinn from- what some: members seomed to-antieipato there was bound.to be a division, and a very marked divisipnr.of , memDfirt ; on.Msside'of tm Haiiw,-Thsr were i

■ entitled •to know soon what the land policy of .-..the; ..Government was to be, and, with other members who had spoken, ho hoped in the interests of the leader of. the party, that there .'would be. defmiteness on the land policy. . ' ' '-. "MENTAL INFLUENZA.". : ; )\. Some diversion was caused in , the House last evonirig by extracts which -Mr. Baunie, member for,. Auckland. East, read : from Hansard of 1907, to show what differences may bo united .in a-Cabinet. .The present Minister for Agriculture;:, having, been .told on one'occasion by tho present Minister for Education that.lie was : "sufferings from;, influenza/':.-retorted ■■■■ veryquickly that the'present Minister for. Educationliad been "suffering from mental:influenza ■air his lifo, on.:the,..subject of the land question.", ;- :■■*'. \ ->v : -,v-v ■;-.,.■;: ■-.- ■'•■■>.'■;;', .P^---; ■>■+:<. -• , Hon. :T.:' ; Mackenzie , : ;.Well;;'; , 'do :you disputed that?, -(Loud laughteri) : : *v'yw : :V' ■■ ■■•.■;:-,■ .-. ' v.Mr. , Baumo •.stated-;, that; ;.di)rjng , the/seven years he-had" been in:■ the' House he ,, had'never: •passed ;a ■.single reflection on" the ■■Minister;-for .Education''either on the land.'. question or any other , question. ?■:■ ■-.';■'■.'■'■'■■': : '" : i..i'' : ?\. '■■"'■ : V : ': : '^.V\ v .-■■.Attention , was recently called:to.the. ddiiirabienfsS of having mechanical appliances' 'installed ■»■ ?,, h .° W wa y stations .;whore;the Changing of tablets .is-necessary. '■ :'.{ "■*:.--."; , i ■.■.',,--V , .--.-..; ;.The Hon. J. A. MiUar has now.replied l thatautomatic tablotexchangers have already ;been :; erected 1 at' all ihe-imain-line stations-.on-the , ;Hurnnui-Bluff.. and ■Wellington-Auckland 'railway lmes.j-and-the , equipment-of;, the other-sta- ■■ tions with the,appliances for automatically ex-' xhansing". tablets is 'being pushed forward las rapidly as possible. On lines, where automatic' exchangers, have not been, provided a ■ specific instruction .is in operation that the" speech of trains when exchanging tablets is not.to exceed, fifteen:miles per'hour... During'the seven-years' that have expired since the installation. of the tablet was. first commenced- millions ..of ex--changes have been made, but: only two fatal '■ accidents, have occurred. -. ~.' -.. ■ . . Mr. Massey said he had never witnessed' , a. more dangerous operation than ; that, of exchanging tablets by hand.' ■■ Where apparatus could not be installed the speed of.the train should be rednced at. the stations to 10,. miles .an''honr.-'d; ; -": '■■ : \\- !:: ' '■■ VV^'f:^-; , ;:-^--^. ,, .'"-;■:'-.. ■'■' ■v. . COST OF WORKERSV^HOMES^:: , ; v'. Asked by Mr. M*Laren how it was.that the expendituro in the erection of several, workers'; homes largely exceeded the limit of the cost allowed under the Act, the Hon. J. A; Millar.; stated that there were necessary expenses- included in'the total cost over and above the actual expenditure on the erection or construction, such as cost of.clearing .sites,, fencing, of ground, asphalting, .drainage,' etc. It was proposed to amend the Act,. and • '. he hoped;to,bring a Bill down shortly in the direction of raising the maximum cost of construction somewhat, ; ns .'.in , most cases it had been found impossible to,erect, suitable houses of five and six rooms within the .maximum cost fixed by .the Act—that was, if such was to cover all extras. ... •."...-, ...-;■■, ■ Replying .to Mr. Ell, tho Minister said it was Sroposed to give tenants .of workers'., dwellings ie: right to, purchase. ;■ ';-.-. : ': ,■■■.■■■■.,,.-";* ■ N.Z.ACCOUNTANTS , 'SOCIETY. \ With'respect to a question by "Mr.-Herdman' as to 'the'6vstem-.of..election of the council.of thi? New Zealand Accountants' Society, tho Prime Minister stated on Wednesday night that he had .made fall'.. inquiry into the , matter; , The Solicitor-General bad advised - him. that.'the Act made no provision for vote by ballot,,but oh the contrary it contemplated open voting. .No.troublo would arise in connection,with the instance in question.' ' '" l ".::-" ■ ■' ' ;; 9 .'.Mr. Massey:. Tho principle is wrong. ■''■■?■.:'■. '_ .Mr. Herdman: There should ,be an atrieuding law so as to enable the election to-.take ;place by.'ballot.•■..■•■■,',•■..■ ,■,-;■.,,-'. . '..; .'.- : ■ V' : .': JOTTINGS. . ;, -'\Vv.' '| ■■ ' ■•■Tlie'PublicPetitions'M ! toZ':Committee has reported that it has no recommendation to make on the petition of Wj. H. Newenham, of Wellington, praying for further eompenimtion for the, loss of his office,:in the Defence De'.partni'ent.-.'• A similar report'is given- o.a ,the- : petition of L, .C.'Eoskruge, of Wellington, retired Civil Servant, for payment of increase of .salary alleged to be,due to him. ' ' :' Yesterday, when local Bills were unjer consideration, there was a very thin attemlAnce of the House, a number of members being absent at the Manawatu Show. -It is expected, that a large number will go south to-night to attend the races at Christchurch. As P"rlia- ! ment ■ will not sit from to-night till Wednesday, it is probable that the city will be almost deserted during the weekend.by members.. "It , is a/great misfortune that,, those who were responsible for the laying off of the towns in New Zealand did.not provide that a}! streets should be 100 feet wide. If I had uiy way thero would beno street or right-of-way of lesser width than 66 feet."—Hon. R. M'Kenzie. Mr. Henry Bromley, late overseer at tho Boys' Training Farm, Wereroa, is petitioning Parliament, tlirough Mr. .Field, M.P.,'lor. compensation for ..alleged wrongful dismissal.. Ho states that ho is not desirous of reinstatement under; p'resent-.-.cpnditions, but is actuated mainly bv a desire to know how far *ne manager of'the 'farm/is -upheld, in certain alleged methods .of administration. •. '■:'.- •! This : sessi6n.makes ; the fourteenth time that Sir William, Steward has brought forward his Elective/Executive• Bill.- Sir William states that the system which he advocates is bound to.be adopted' some time." . , - Mr.iHerdman h'as given,notice to ask the Minister for Eailways whether a certaiai man who'was dismissed from the police force when it discovered-that he had a previous criminaLrecord was, after his dismissal from the force, given employment in 'the Railway -Department. ' .-'•''' , • . .' ;•• .; Mr. Allen has given notice to ask the Prime Minister whether'be has read in Tub-Dominion the remarks of Mr. Justice, Edwards .on .tho consolidated statutes; if so, what "action- does he intend to .take.. ... , ,: '' In reply to'a question,-Mr. J. Allen, was informed that it; was the intention .of the Government .to introduce tbe Friendly Societies Bill this ;- -' . ..'■'.' Seven days' leari of absence has been granted t Mr. J. \ igor Brown, member for Napier,'on the ground of urgent private business. ■', ; ' ',' .' ■ ■. ..,■'■ •■'. i ..-;■- •■.,■■••/■-■.— — ■ —.' ;: -. : '';. ."■''-.■