IN PARLIAMENT.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1238, 21 September 1911, Page 5

IN PARLIAMENT.

DAILY SUMMARY. AN 'IMPREST SUPPLY DEBATE. The Legislative Council got to work, again yesterday, after more than a week's holiday,'and welcomed Sir Charles Bowen back to his place sis Speaker. The Guardian, Trust, and Executors' Company Amendment liiil (a private measure), the Friendly Societies Amendment Bill, and the Stono Quarries Amendment Bill were read a second time, and tho report of the Joint-Library Committco was agreed to. Tho legislative activity that was to begin upon the termination of the Financial Debate was not in evidence yesterday. So far as the proceedings of the House were concerned, it was a day of Imprest Supply and general discussion. Mr. Massey raised a. very interesting discussion on electoral .registration, and the Prime Minister had. to answer a number of questions' which arose from the widespread uneasiness' as to the methods now employed in tho compilation of tho electoral rolls.' It appeared from Sir Joseph Ward's statements that \ono outcome of .the electoral census, which was taken for the first time a few weeks ago, is that about 30,000 people who ought to be on tho rolls have been struck off, and it may be necessary, in his opinion, to employ a large forco 'of officials in undoing these mistakes and preventing people from being improperly disenfranchised. In the meantime, tho purging of ■the rolls has been discontinued. The bringing down of an Imprest ' Supply Bill at an earlier period of tho month than usual occasioned surprise. The reason appeared to be that some of the Departments are urgently in need of money. Sir Joseph Ward gave particulars of the needs of the some,of the leading Departments. Sir. Herriea took occasion to state his views on the flotation of the five-million loan. In spite of tho official defence of that transaction, he 6till regards it as "one of our failures." Hn also pointed- out that the Budget omitted all mention of tho fact that more than two millions of debentures would fall due this year, and liability "of the same nature, amounting to four and a half millions, was in store for next year. Polynesia loomed largo in the discussion. Mr. Allen dealt with the recent troubles in the Tongan Islands, and sup- . ported the suggestion of annexation to New Zealand, which was also favoured by tho Prime Minister. Mr. Wright again dealt in vigorous fashion with tjio charges against the Cook Islands Administration, and tho abortive secret jn- ' quiry of Sir Robert Stout. The Bill was finally passed soon after two in the morning, and the House then rose.