THE COUNCIL.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1580, 25 October 1912, Page 6

THE COUNCIL.

JOSHUA JONES CLAIMS, '■ The (Legislative Council met at 2.30 rcsterday afternoon. ' On the motion of the- Hon. J. RigK the Joshua Jones Claims Committee was granted a further extension of seven days within which to bring up its report. BIRTHS AND DEATHS REGISTRA- ;, TION. •, Tho amendments mado by the House of Representatives in tho Births and Deaths Ecgisfration Bill wero explained by tho Hon. H. D. Bell, and agreed to. ! DEFENCE AMENDMENT BILL. ■''Iβ Committee on the Defence Amendment Bill a considerable number of technical and minor amendments were made. During a discussion on the section regarding attachment orders, Tho Hon. J. ANSTEY remarked that by imposing further fines, etc., as was dono by this amending Act, they were only increasing the irritation which the Act caused. The object should bo to molce the-Act'fit in more easily rather than to pile up the fines. Mr. Anstey proceeded to refer to what ho considered a most objectionable act on the part of an officer who, he said, had hauled a man before the Court because of a most trivial breach pf discipline.. Such an officer, said Mr. iAnstcy, ought to bo cashiered ior such an action. A man who would do as this officer had dono had not, in his opinion, any right to remain in tho service. Tho Hon. J. IS. CALLAN remarked that the previous speaker had only been able to quote one case. It was only human nature that there should bo some officers jwho would offend as had been stated. i The Hon. Geo. Jones i "It's only human nature to be" disgusted with it too." : The Hon. J. B. Callau, continuing, argued that they should not condemn the .Act because of the acts of a few men. who 'ivero inclined to be arbitrary.

! The Hon. J..EIGG moved that Sub-sec-ifion 13 be altered to read: "Section 27 of the Wages Protection and Contractors' Liens Act, 1903, shall havo application to jmy attachment where the amount of ivages exceeds £1 per week, and not otherwise, and tho section is hereby modified accordingly." The Hon. H. D. BELL opposed tho .'amendment, which was lost, .leaving the eection so as to exclude tho application of the AVages Protection Act to any at'tachment. . .

Considerable discussion took place on the section dealing with courts-martial, tho opinion being expressed that there was no necessity for nn iron-clad army system and that in times of peace civil law should bo sufficient. for all requirements. The section, however, wont through as it was received from the House of Representatives. ~ .:-,'.;

■ In passing, a suggestion was made that the provisions of the Army Act, especially applicable to New Zealand, should bo made easily obtainablo by those who served in Zealand.

: The Hon. H. D. BELL undertook to ijneet this suggestion. It was also pointed out that under tho volunteer system there had been powers ■of court-martial, but they were very rarely availed of and it would be the samo now.

I In Sub-section 2 of- Clause 6t, which provides for exemption from service on the ground of religious belief, tho words "contrary to the doctrines of his religion" wcro altered, on tho motion of the Hon. ■ 11. D. Bell, to read "contrary to his religious belief." '

The Hon. J. T. PAUL expressed satisfaction at tho greater room allowed by this clause to tho conscientious objector. Ho referred to a cass which occurred in Christchurch the result of which was that a young man was placed in bad company after conviction. Tho Act had been carried out in' such a way as to disgust many •peoplo who were in sympathy with the Act. He was afraid that unless these things were emphasised in public the military authorities would get worse in their administration of the Act. The military authorities should be condemned for somo of the things that had been 1 allowed.

Dealing with Clause 70, which provides , Hiat the Territorial Force may be called out for active service in New Zealand, the Hori J.. T. Paul asked if the Minister would give him an authoritative assnrnnce that the Territorial Force would not bo called out in connection with industrial disputes. Tho Hon. H. D. Bell: I will give you no such thing. Absolutely no. The non. ,T. T. Paul was inclined to : TiiTSiio his point, whereupon the Leader of the Council asked if the point raised had anything to do with tho question. Ine Chairman of Committees: I will , have to rule the lion, gentleman (Mr. Fmil) out of order. ; The remaining clauses were passed with- , out alteration and tho Bill was reported ■ .with amendments. WIDOWS' PENSIONS. Tho Widows' Tensions Amendment Bill Was put through Committee and reported i .frith technical amendments. The Council rose at 5.20 p.m.