THE ESTIMATES.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1246, 30 September 1911, Page 8

THE ESTIMATES.

JUSTICES OF THE PEACE. STATEMENT BY TU B HON. J. A. MILLAR. The Estimates were further considered in. Committee of Supply. The first item taken was: Class VII, Justice Department, d£3"G,B.'!o. Mr. I!. H. RHODES (Ellesmcre) meed that members should bo given more consideration, in tho matter of appointment of. justices of the pence. In his own die-, tricfc repeated rccommcmfcutions to the Minister had been ignored save for a formal reply. 1 In Akaroa serious inconvenience had been cau.-od by the difficulty in obtaining the services of a J. P. Mr. A. S. MALCOLM (Clutha) supported what had been- said by the member for. Ellesmere. Personally ho had made many recommendations without avail. To his inyvd, the Department should appoint a Justice of the peace wherever he was wanted. There should bo one in every township. This was a more -important matter than Hie Deportment seemed pvo•»red to admit.

: Mr. F. M. 1!. FISHER (Wellington Central) stated that the Attorney-General had eeen reported as saying in Ashburton that the Department never appointed a Jimtico of the Peace without consulting tho member for tho distinct. . Personally he had never been able to get a Justice of the Peace appointed and when any applicants came to him nov,- he udvised them to join tjic Liberal' and Labour Federation.

Tho Hon. J. A, MILLAR said he did not know what tho Attorney-General meant if ho luid said what had been attributed to him by tho member for Wellington Central. Presumably ho meant that' tho member for tho district was consulted 11s to whether a need existed for an appointment. Usually a magistrate's report was obtained in connection with these appointments. If a. member sent in three names it might bo deemed unnecessary to make so many appointments in a small town. In that event the member might be asked to say which one ho required. Sometimes notice was sent to a man that it was proposed to appoint him as a Justice and he did not reply. In such cases no appointment was made. At present recommendations to appoint Justices of the Peace carno from all round tho -House. Somotimes a member recommended as many as 20 or 25 persons for appointment in Ms own electorate. At the present timo tliero were over 2(100 Justices on tho roll. It was the custom to appoint Justices aunually and sometimes a supplementary list' was issued. With 2000 on tho roll, if 200 or 250 per year were appointed, half tho country would bo Justices in a very few years. Where new country was opened up, naturally justices had to bo appointed. An effort was made to distribute the appointments as far as possible. It was not considered necessary to appoint three or four justices at orno timo in a town with a population of seven or eight hundred. Ansiroring a question raised by Mr. Jennings, in reference to comments to witnesses by magistrates on tho Bench, the Minister, said it was tho policy of the Department not to interfere with tho course of justice. It was not considered necessary to intervene, when an a 'Utchtion had' occurred between l a magistrato and a witness, uuless it wero sufficient to warrant the removal of tho magistrate from the Bench.

To an interjection by Mr. Jennings, tho Minister replied that two petitions 011 tho subject which had been sont in were being considered. ' Mr. H. J. H. OKEY (Taranaki) advocated tho appointment of female justices. The Hon. J. A. MILLAR promised to lay tho proposal before tho Minister in chargo of the Department. Mr. W. H. HERRIES (Tauranga) asked . whether any provision was made for purging tho list of Justices of the Peace, so that names of those who died, got into gaol, or left the colony, or anything like that, could be removed. A list of justices should be published annually. The MINISTER said he was informed that a' list of Justices of the Peace was published every three or four years, no saw no reason why it should not bo published annually. Crown Law Expenses. Mr. A. L. HERDMAN (Wellington North) asked what wns to bo the policy ill regard to Crown law work in future? Was it tho intention of the Government to appoint Crown barristers in other centres of the Dominion as they had uone in Wellington? Tho Hon. J. A. .MILLAR _ said tlio change had been introduced with a view to economy. As a result thousands of pounds worn being saved.' It was not proposed meantime to extend' the new system to the other centres.

?clr. HERD-MAN said he could not understand ' why tho new sjrstom was not applied in other centres if so much were being saved in Wellington. Ho considered that the Government had not shown proper courtesy in terminating at short notice the arrangement which had previously existed with Mr. 11. D. Bell. Mr. HERRIE3 said he liad looked over the Estimates and could not see where any saving had been effected at all. The appropriations were only .£7OO less, but the outlay was increased by .£13.50 for tho salaries of the two additional ollicers of tho Department; , ' Mr. Wilford: Now look what has been saved, by tliem. going to Palmerston, Picton! .and all the-so places. Mr. Hemes pointed out that this would - involvo additional travelling expenses. ' > ■ Tho". Webster .'Claims."-' . Mr. MAS3EY askfcd what the position was in regard to what were known as the Webster claims. 'Last year they had been informed that' the Webster claims supplied a reason for tho Attorney-General going to England. Three years before .'the' :\Vob.ster claims; had been mentioned la4'thO.'reason for-savery important official going to 1 ' Englaiid/.VWerc the claims now settled, or; were they, liable to be revived later on as justifying further trips to London? Thoro seemed to be something mythical about these claims. Mr. Massey also desired information in rogard to the To'Akau case. The Hon. J. A. MILLAR said he understood that tho Webster claims had been satisfactorily .settled. He would take an opportunity of consulting tho AttorneyGeneral during tho adjournment. Later Mr. Millar said that the position in regard to the W 7 ebsfer claims was satisfactory. 'l"ho Te Akau caso had not yet gone Homo, so far as tho Government could ascertain, but Mr. Myers, of Wcllfngton, who is now in England, had been instructed to act, should it reach tho Privy Council. Mr. MASSEY said that it had been stated'by the Chief Justice that an oath could not be administered in the Cook Islands, owing to .a defect in, the ,law. Ho wished to know whether this had prevented evidence being taken on oath in tho reccnt trial on a charge of murder at .Rarotonga.

The Hon.' J. A. MILLAR stated that ovidenco was taken on oath at the trial, and this could legally bo _ done, but an oath could not bo administered in the Cook Islands by a Royal Commission or other inquiry.

Mr. HERKIES.said that the Estimates did not .sliow the saving alleged to have bean effected through tho extension of tho work of the Crown Law Office. There was absolutely no saving so far as the cost. of criminal prosecutions was concerned. ' Mr. MILLAR said tho officers did a .good deal of legal work for other Departments, which, tinder the old sj-stem, would have gone to private firms. In this way ,£2500 was saved last year. Mr. HEIiKIES said that neither tho Estimates nor the accounts showed this saving. He thought a return of the fees paid in previous years to outside firms should bo furnished. Returns—A One-Man Show. The Hon. J. A. MILLAR stated that tho services of the Crown Law Officers wero utilised whenever it was possible. Answering Mr. Fisher, the Minister stated that li 4 could not promise to furnish a return. This could be dono only by the Leader of the House. Mr. FISHER said this was another example of the manner in which the House was treated in tho matter of returns. The Miuiatcr: "Doesn't ho (tho Prfme Minister) grant you returns every day?" Mr. Fisher: "lie granted threo out of forty-two tho other day!"

/file MINISTER (after further discussion): What do I know about this Depart-BK-ni ? Mr. FISHER: The Minister in charge of the Department is not. in this House. I don't know that he over will be. Tho MINISTER: There is a good chance of that. I t-bjnk! Mi'. Miissey: ]Jo won't gel here! Mt. FISHER returned to tho subject of returns, and remarked that what had happened only showed what a "ono-maa show" it was. Tho MINISTER said the hon. gentleman was talking about what ho knew nothing about. The Minister furnished the returns; but it was for the Leader of the House to give them to the House. Messrs. MASSEY and HEADMAN cited casts of votums which had been ordered by tho Honso but not furnished. Tho MINISTER replied that he was not aware of any returns which had been ordered b- the House and not granted. Rome returns, ho thought, never should be granted as -they would cost ,£7OO or .2SOO to prepare. Mr. Jennings: Hear, hear. A return v.-_as furnished last week which c«>t ,£6on, and .it was not worth the paper it was written on. Tho Auckland Inquiry. Mt. J. P. ARNOIiD (Dunedin Central) said that thero was something seriously wrong with the state of the Prisons Department when such conduct as that revealed by-tho recent inquiry at Auckland was tho subject of conversation and a cause of irritation in the gaol in February and March last and yet reached a ctlmax only recently. Feeling was intense among some of the married men in the servicr?, but because the chief of the dismissed officer was himself implicated they coukl obtain no remedy. Tho men consulted a Justice of the Peace, and the result of this action was that tho gaoler called thc>e men before him singly and cross-examined them before the warder, an inferior nfiicer. Mr, Arnold said the Under-Secretary for Justice deserved [ every- credit for tho pmiptitudo .with

which ho had granted an inquiry as toon as tho men asked for it. which was. probably what tlioy should liavo done at first. ilr. MASSEY supported what Mr. Arnold had said, but stated that he took a somowhat different view of the inciuiry. He regretted very nmch that it had become necessary to hold such inquiries in secret. Very little of tlio evidence _in the inquiry at Auckland had been publishcd, but a very important' statement had appeared in one of the Auckland papers about ft prisoner having been released becausc of political influence having been brought to bear. Ho hoped this would bo cleared up, and that tho evidcnco would be laid on the tablo so that members might know what had taken place. Jlr. Mnssey mentioned that the Prisons Report had not yet been brought down. Jt had been a rule in the past that the iistimates of any Departments should not bo passed until tho report of that Department had been presented. He was sorry that tho rule had been departed from in this ease.

Powelka's Escape. Mr. F. M. B. FISHER (Wellington Central) asked whether the Minister could furnish any information as bo whether the gaols in this country were being made secure. He thought some information should be given regarding the extraordinary escape of the prisoner Powelka. Ho felt inclined to ask whether any portion of the sums voted by the House for travelling expenses had been allocated to Mr. Powelka so that he could get away. It was an extraordinary thing that ho had been able to get away twice, the second time successfully. Was anything being dono to prevent such escapes taking placo in future? The MINISTER, stated that tho UnderSecretary's attention was first drawn to the Mount Eden case when he arrived in Auckland on his road to Rorotonga. Tho matter was then allowed Ito stand until his return in July, when an inquiry wns immediately set up. This accounted for any delay. The Under-Secre-tary now had all the papers: and evidence befovo him, and there was no doubt that punishment would be inflictcd on the guilty parties. Mr FISHER again raised tho subject of Powelka and that of prisons.. The MINISTER:. We are trying to make them prisoner-proof. .1 don't know if wo shall succeed. Men break out of the strongest prisons-in the world somctimes. ' . . . . Mr. Fisher: Powelka did not break out—he walked out! Tho Minister: Yes; he got out, anyway. Mr. -Fisher: If you leave tho door open he might' walk in again! Mr. Massey:: If you make it prisonerproof he won't bo able to get in! The-MINISTER stated that the printing of the Prisons Report was being hastened. It had been delayed by a press of work, but insl ructions had been given to emoloy additional men and he hoped that the report would be laid on the tablo next week. Ho would have inquiries made into the question raised by the member for Manukau. Mr. LMTRFNSON (Lyftelton) referring to the allegation that political influence had been involved to free a prisoner at Auckland said that he would n"t deny that he had on occasion applied for remissions of sentence in certain cases which had seemed to justify it. Political Influence Denied. The Hon. J. A. MILLAR said he took the earliest opportunity of giving an emphatic denial to the statement appearing in a letter in the Auckland "Herald." Ho denied- that any political influence had been brought to bear in regard to the release of a prisoner. He had been released on the report of a Departmental officer who had gone, through the whole case. The. Cook Islands. When the Cook Islands voto was mentinned - Mr.-A. E. GLOVER (Auckland Central) slated that he had a number of letters inelndiiur two from tho .Queen of Rarotnnga. Ho would be cenorous to the member for Wellinffton South, who was absent. and would not read them. Mr. .Tas. ALLEN (Bruce) contended that Ihe House should not be asked to discuss the Cook Islands Estimates without having the report' upon tho Island Administration 011 the table. Sir ~T. CARROLL, in reply to que-s----'ions by Mr. Allen, said.the Government was daily expecting a reply from a gentleman who might act. as'medical officer in t'lo Coo!.- Islands. There would be one medical officer to make a circuit of the tfroiip and one to be stationed at Rarotonsra. Ho recognised that this country would have to undertake tho responsibility of pTovidincr a system of education for the Cook Islands. The island revenue was not sufficient for the purpose.

In this issue appears an announcement inserted by Mr. F. H. Adams, general ironmonger, Blenheim, and 'readers generally will find interest iu same. The sporting community are, catered for by Sir. Adams in the shape of an extensivo stock of all material appertaining to sport. The farmers' wants are also well met, and should command favourable attention when implements necessary for the farm are required. Each succeeding year is responsible for greater activity in bee-farming culturo, ana the forthcoming season will show that the "busy bees" of Blenheim will find comfort in the "Alliance Dove-tailed" Hives referred to in the advertisement inserted by Mr. Adams. ,A reliable bioscope operator as a partner is advertised for in this issue. Messrs. Dalgety and Co. advertise particulars regarding a, subdivision of the wellrknown Avondalo Station, Marlborough. The land is to be sold by auction on Saturday, December-2.

The Wellington Eugenics Education Sooiety will hold a meeting on Monday, Octobor 2, at 8 p.m. During recent years, Korea has not only occupied the attention of politicians, but has been closely studied by tho Christian Church. Although missions are of late origin there, yet tho Korean communicants now number over 200,000, and 80 per cent, of the work is self-supporting. At l'y-ngy-au, in connection with one Church, the midweek prayer meeting lias had, for some years, an average attendance of 1100, and is possibly tne largest meeting for united intercession which assembles anywhere in tho world. Tho Rev. Graham Balfour, of First Church, Duncdin, accompanied by Mr. William Gillanders, an old-time Victoria College student, recently made a tour of inspection through Korea, and will tell his experiences at the Kent Terrace Presbyterian Church to-morrow (Sunday) evening.

Dr. Arnold Izard will speak on "Engenics" at tho meeting ■ for men and women at the New Theatre on Sunday afternoon, at 3 o'clock, under the auspices of tho Wellington Brotherhood. Madame Groome and Sirs. Barry will assist in the programme. The Rev. E. O. Blamires 'will preach at the People's Seirvice in the New Theatre at 7 o'clock. On Thursday last the _ Wellington branch of tho Women's Christian Temperance Union'opened their annual convention in the' Baptist Church, ' Vivian Street. .Mrs. Bosall presided ovor tho gathering, and reports ■ were read from various centres in tho district. On Sunday, at St. Stichael's Cliurchroom, at Kelburne, Bishop Sprott will preach in the morning, and tho Rev. A. L. Hausell at night. Lieut.-Colonel J. T. Burnett-Stuart, Dirfctor of Military Operations and Intelligence at General Defence Headquarters, Wellington, will take temporary charge of tho Canterbury Military District, pending the appointment of a successor to the late Colonel John Hawkins. Colonel Stuart left for Christchureh last evening.

Messrs. Dalgety and Co. advertise particulars of a stock sale which is to be held on Wednesday, Octobcr 11, at tho Lovin sale yards. - Members of the Wellington Savage Club are reminded that a korero is to bo held in tho club rooms. Street, this evening at 8 o'clock. Messrs. Stewart, Damson and Co., Ltd., jewellers, of I-ambton Quay, draw attention to their new Caloris Ha.sk. The flask keeps all liquids poured . into it at practically the same temperature as that at whioh they were put in.

A splendid dairy farm in tho ICairanga district is advertised for salo by Messrs. Miller and Kutter. also two bush farms, situated at To Ivuiti.

Tho annual general meeting of tho Wellington Umpires' Association (cricket) will bo held at 8 p.m. on Tuesday, October !!.

Particulars regarding tho election of two members to the Pharmacy lioard of New Zealand appear elsewhere in this issue.

Tenders nro invited for (he erection of a public hall at Khandallah. Particulars aro given by advertisement in this isauu,