PARLIAMENT.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1578, 23 October 1912, Page 3

PARLIAMENT.

THE COUNCIL. TOWN BOARDS BILL. The Legislative Council met at 2.30 yesterday afternoon. The Hon. 11. D. BELL gave notico of his intention to move to-day for leave to introduce the Town Boards' Amendment Bill. PUBLIC SERVICE BILL. The third reading of tho Public Service BUI was postponed to enable the Bill to be recommitted for the purpose of having amendments made to some twelve different clauses. The section providing that the Act should come into operation on April 1, 1913, was deleted and replaced bv « new.clause providing that tho Act, except Section 3 (interpretation) and Sections 6 (political influence) to U (administration) shall come into operation on April 1, 1013: Seclions'3 and i and G to 11 and sub-Section 1 of Section 12 also Sections 13 and It (powers of the Commissioner) shall come into force on the i passing of the Bill. The Hon. H. D. Bell I f-Jl*" ne<l *hat v the amendment to Section 12 (Commissioners to inspect Departments) tfas the most important, as it empowered tho Government to have the Departments inspected before the Commissioner entered upoq his term of office. Clause • 37, providing for separate examinations being held for the different divisions, \ras struck out, the Minister explaining that objection had been made bv the Education Department fo the clause, as the . junior civil servico examination already provided the examination for admission. If a further examination should be found necessary later, it could bs provided fov bv regulation. The Bill was reported witli amendments and set down for its third reading to-day. - DEFENCE AMENDMENT BILL, The Hon. IK D. BELL moved the second reading of the Defence Amendment Bill, which has already been explained at length in the House of Representatives. The Hon. J. B. CALLAN'said he had no sympathy with those who'objected to register and perform military service. J.lie penalties provided by the Act were not at all too strict. As" to persons objecting on religions grounds, it was different. The Bill'provided that they should do certain duties not of a military character, but he did not think persons who objected on religious grounds should bo subjected to any service at all. The Hon. J. E. Jenkinson: "Would you fine them or make them contribute in any other way?" The Hon. J. B. Callan said that it a magistrate ruled, after inquiry, that a man was acting in perfect good faith, ho would exempt him entirely. Ills' Hon. W. BEEHAN did not think it wise to forco the shirkers into line— the (probability was that they would shoot their officers. He thought thev could get any amount who would conic forward voluntarily and shame the shirkers. Ihe Hon. J. ANSTEY remarked that: during the three years the Defeuce Act had been in force it had cost at least a !"A> of mone - v > and yet how strangely littlo it had accomplished. It was an extremely regrettable fact that thousands of. our young- men were still as unable to take any part in the defence of the country as they were three. years ago. Unfortunately New Zealand had endeavoured to establish a military system of defen-.-e, and .this, in his opinion was a mistake, and the cause of a great deal of irritation. He regretted that the amending Bill would rather accentuate tho military system. Instead of so many fines and military punishment he thought it would have led lo better results if attractions had been held out to young people to join in the defence of the country. Mr. Anstey did Hot approve the system of court martial?, and ho also argued that the Government had' been wrong in importing military officers from. England to, take charge o"f the. defence organisation in New Zealand. Tho conditions were entirely different in England to what they are in New Zealand. Ho did not think it was a good thing to brins. from England.Hid iron heelof despotism. We should, said Mr. Anstey, have gone much steadier in this military system, and we would nave accomplished more if wo had gone on steady lines. ■' He fully recognised tho worth of General Godley, but that officer had come from Home, and he arrived here not 'knowing anything about local conditions. Continuing, Mr. Anstey said there had been much meddling and stupidity which had prevented young men who'would bo willing to do their share or more than their share. He knew of cases where lads had 'been asked.to ride twenty miles to drill, and when they got there there was uo officer present, and they had to come home, losing a day. They had sometimes to go. miles to parade, and had nothing to do —they were called to camp and got nothing 'but physical drill, of which they could get plenty at home. Under the present system the country was spending an enormous amount of time and money to 1 accomplish nothing. To his mind, more could be done if the system was made more attractive to the lads. • Unless something was done in this direction there would be continual objections, but he regretted there was nothing in the presentBill to meet this position. The Hon. Major HARRIS did not think tho objectors should lie encouraged at all. They would take gradually to tho work and come to their senses. The Hons. Captain Tucker, C. M. Luke, and G. Jones, also spoke. The second reading was agTeed to. "WIDOWS' PENSIONS, The Hon. H. D. BELL moved the second reading of the Widows,' Pensions Amendment Bill, which lias passed through the House of Representatives and enlarges the operations of tho original Act. Several speakers congratulated the Government on having brought in the Bill, but urged that further extensions nright still be mado with advantage. The Hon. H. D. BELL, in his reply, remarked that beforo any further extensions were granted, they must consider and protect tlie revenue. Ho could not make any promise in this direction. The second reading Was agreed to. TAIERI LAND DRAINAGE. Tho Hon. ,T. ■B. CALLAN moved the, second reading of the Taiert Land Drainage. Bill,'and this Was agreed to after considerable discussion. Tho Council rose at 5 p.m.