THE HOUSE.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1788, 28 June 1913, Page 6

THE HOUSE.

The House met at 2.30 p.m., and at once adjourned to the Legislative Council to hear the Governor deliver his speech, reluming for business twenty minutes'later. NOTICES AND QUESTIONS. The Hon. D. BUDDO (Kaiapoi) pave' notice of his intention to introduce tho Saturday Half-Holiday in Shops Bill. Mr. T. K. SIDEY (Caversham) gave notice that 'ho would introduce tho NewZealand Mean Time Bill. Mr. G. HUNTER (Waipawa) gave notice that he would introduce tho . Gaming Amendment Bill. ' Air. J. A. YOUNG (Wnikato) gane notice to ask the Minister for Marine whether lie would have the report of the.Amokura inquiry laid upon the table of the House, in order to give members an opportunity of discussing the report. Mr. W. A. VEITCH (Wnnpmui) gave notice to move: "That, in the opinion of, this House, the time has arrived when all civil and political : rights 6hould bo restored to all State employees." Mr. C. A. WILKINSON (Egmont) gave notice that he would move tho Address-in-Reply. Mr. W. A. VEITCH (Wanganui) gavo notice that he intended to ask the Post-inaster-General what steps, if any, he proposed to take to establish an up-to-date

steamer service on tho Wanganui River. He gave notice of a further question asking tho Government whether they would have a report prepared as to the possibility and the probable cost of improving tho river as a waterway by the construction of a series' of locks. Mr. T. M. WILFORD (Hutt) gave notice to ask whethor the Government would this year introduce legislation to permit of a referendum being taken on Biblereading in schools. Mr. W. A. VEITC'H (Wanganui) notioe o£ the Wanganui Harbour District and Empowering Bill. GOVERNMENT BILLS. • The Hon. A. L. HEEDMAN (AttorneyGeneral) • gave notice of the following Bills:—Tho Land Transfer Amendment Bill, the Amendments Incorporation Bill, and the' New Zealand Institute of Architects Bill. LEAVE OF ABSENCE. Leave of absence was granted as follows:—Sir. Joseph Ward (four weeks), Sir James Carroll (one month)', Mr. T. Buxton (one month), the Hon. A. T. Ngata (ten days), Mr. J. Vigor Brown- (s-ix days). ' THE HUTT ROAD. Mr. T. M. WILFORD (Hutt) asked tho Minister for Railways when he would lay «on the table of the House the report of the Commissioner (Mr. W. S. Short) ou the Hntt Road. The Hon. W. H. HERRIES (Minister for Railways) said he would lay the report on the table of the House as scon as" possible. It was now in tho hands of the printer. THE ROYAL ASSENT. . Mr. SPEAKER read a proclamation declaring that his Majesty tlio King had been pleased to give his assent to the Shipping and 'Seamen's Act, 1912, and that the Bill might come into operation as from May 1, 1913. The Expiring LaW3 Continuance Bill was introduced and read a first time.' ORDER OF BUSINESS. The Hon. W. F. MASSEY (Prim© Minister) indicated what h© proposed to ;ask.the House to do. Later he would move a resolution concerning the death of Sir Arthur Guinness, but as honourable members knew it was near to. the end of the moutli, and the Government must get the Imprest Supply Bill through, I if not on that day, then in the oourse of a day or two. Ho suggested that tho Bill should be put through that day, and that speeches might bo brief, as a long debate on the Bill would not, under the circumstances, be altogether seemly. If the Imprest Supply Bill were passed the House could adjourn until Wednesday, but if not the House would have to meet again on Tuesday. He did not want to prevent members from ventilating their grievances. As a matter of fact, he had one or two of his own which be was anslioua to ventilate. Mr. W. D. S. MACDONALD (Baf of Plenty) said that so far as the Opposition sido. of the House was concerned, thoy were not going to debate the Bill at -any length. • IMPREST SUPPLY BILL. •> A BRIEF DEBATE. The Imprest Supply Bill was introduced by Governor's Message, 'i Mr. W. Nosworthy (Asliburton) was, on the motion of the Prime Minister, appointed to .tako the Chair for that day while the Hou.se was in Committee. Mr. T. K. SIDEY (C-aversham) expressed surprise at the absence from tlie Governor's Speech- of all reference to amendment to tho electoral law, and he asked tho Prime Minister.what the intentions of tho Government were in regard to a change in tho method of electing members c-f the House. The Hon. D. BUDDO (Kaiapoi) remarked upon the absence from the Speech of any mention of legislation for the reform of local government. Mr. G. W. RUSSELL (Avon) said there was one, question about which he would under ordinary circumstances have had somothjng to say, but under the pnsent circumstances ho would not mention it. ■Tho matter ho referred to was the election for Grey. • Tho Hon. W. F. MASSEY (Prime Minister) : If the honourable gentleman has a question to ask regarding the Grey election I Shall be very happy to answ-cx it. Mr, G. W. Russell: I do not need to ask a question. I know what tho law and I know what tho action-of the Gov-' ernment has been. Howev-er, he continued, be did not wish to say one acrimonious word, and he refrained out of respect for the laito honourable gentleman. Mr. H. ATMORE (Nelson) asked whether provision by way of pensions was lieing made for the old messengers compulsorily retired on account of their age. Mr. W. D. S. MACDONALD (Bay of Plenty) referred to the advances to workers, and the rule that advances were nev-ea* made to renew old mortgages. • He thought that in the present money stringency this rule might be-relaxed a little. BUSINESS TO COME , The Hon. W. F. MASSEY (Prime Minister) reminded members that they were not in'order in discussing -his Excellency's Speech that afternoon. • The reason why no reference had been made to a Bill for tho reform of tho electoral law was that there were other important Bills which were much more urgent. This session thero would be a Consolidating Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Bill, a verv important Land Bill, a very important Native Land Bill, and tho Legislative Council Bill. These were measures that would occupy the time of Parliament for a considerable part of the present session. When these were dealtwith, an amendment of the electorali law would be submitted to Parliament. He could not promise that this would be done this session, but it would certainly be done before next election. Replying to tho member for Nelson, ho said that the messenders who..had beon retired would dq provided for, and he thought the proposals tho House would bo asked to sanction would be generous. The pension would be about isl a week for ■ singlo men, and 30s. a week for married men, but these amounts were subject to small variations on account of length of service onu other considerations. The suggestion put-forward by tbe member for Avon, i who appeared to imply that the law had not been complied with, was quite wrong. The law. had been adhered to to the very letter. The writ had been issued'at the earliest possible moment," and the dato of the election had been fixed for July 17.Mr. Russell: I think you are «. very ungenerous man. You are trying to drag ; me into a row, and I won't be dragged , into one. The Hon. J. ALLEN (Minister for Fi- , nance) said the Speech had contained . mention of amendments to the local Government Law. Replying to Mr. Macdonald he said that he thought the Govern- . raent were moro concerned with enabling workers to acquire now homes, than to . pay off mortgages on old ones. • ! The Hon. W. FRASER (Minister for Public Works), replying to Mr. T. M. 1 Wilford, said that there were about 5000 co-operative workers at present employed by the Government. Tho Bill passed through all its stages ' in about half an hour, l" ' • - VOTE OF CONDOLENCE. | HONOURING THE LATE SPEAKER. Tho Hon. W. F. MASSEY (Prime Miri- ) ister) moved that tho House express its - senso of appreciation of the services rendered to the country by tho Into Sir 5 Arthur Guinness, and its sympathy with

his widow in her bareavcment. He re- I counted the career of'the late honourable gentleman in private lile, and afterwards | as ft representative ol the pcoplo in Parliament. Tho late Sir Arthur Guinness had, ho said, practically become the Father of tho House, having sat continuously for 2!) years,. or . 33 sessions, and during that time he diad seen many Ministries riso and fall. He (the Prime Minister) thougnt he was expressing the sentiments of every member of tho House when ho said that they received with tlio keonest regret tho sj'id news of tho death of tho member for, Grey. The genial Speaker of tho lionise oi Representatives, n mail of most kindly nuture, of unfailing patience, and of courteous bearing, bud won not only tho respect, but tho affection of members, and their grief was keen when they realised that his Had gone to bis rest, that he had put tho question for the Inst time, ami that never again would he occupy the chai'r which for ten years he had lilled so worthily. When tho late Sir Arthur Guinness said good-bye to his fellow-members at the end of last session, wished them :a pleasant time in the recess, and expressed the hope that they would all meet again during tho session, it had not occurred to any of them that Sir Arthur Guinii.ess would bo the only 0110 of them- to bo absent when tho House reassembled. But so it bad turned out, and in consequec.ee the House and the country were so 'much the poorer. For himself, the death of Sir Arthur had touched hir.i very closely. He had known him intimately for twenty years, as a private indiviunlil, as a private member, as Chairman of' Committees,' as Speaker of the House, land last session he had begun to know Sir Arthur as a representative of the important district of Grey. As' a representative of the people no detail was too small for him, no constituent was ever neglected, and it was easy to understand ,liow it was that time after time Sir Arthur Guinness had been returned as representative for Grey. The pcoplo had confidence-in him, and although no rniin was perfect,' it might bo said of the lato Speaker, "110 was a man. Take him for all in all, we may not look upon his like again." It was unnecessary to say, that the sympathy of every member of the House went out to Lady Guinness in her sol-row and her loneliness. and they hoped the sympathy of the House might in some small measure soften the blow that had fallen upon her. Further Tributes. Mr. J. A. HANAN (Invercargill) said that on behalf of members of his side of the House he desired to endorse all that had been so fittingly said by the Prlino Minister. The fact that Sir Arthur Guinness had sat as a member of the House for 29 yenrs whs a guarantee of his public and private character, showing he had possessed those' solid qualities of heart and mind which gained him tbe enduring regard of the people of the country. As a politician he had been a staunch smpporter of all legislation to benefit the.weak and the suffering, and his sympathy for the toilers, especially the miners, was genuine. Always, Sir Arthur Guinness had been a staunch sup-porter-of radical principles'. He seconded tli-B motion moved by tho Prime Minister. Mr. James COLVIN (Bullor) said ho wished to pay a. tribute to an old friend, the late Sir Arthur Guinness. Tho deceased gentleman had dearly loved tho Wcrat Coast, and had been dearly beloved by the people there. Mr. A. S. MALCOLM (Clutha),,formerly a resident of the Grey -district, said he knew tho regard in which Sir Arthur Guinnes3 was held -to the coast; he was a man very much' esteemed.,' Of the House, Sir Arthur hail been a worthy member. and he (Mr. Malcolm) wished to join with-the people of the West Coast in recording appreciation of their lato member. ■' Mr. G. W. RUSSELL (Avon) joined in adding his tribute to'the late Sir Arthur i Guinness, "a high-mfinded/just, devoted, and impartial man." ' ' ' Mr. ,T. G. COATEP' (ICaipara) said that as [/young member hie had reason to know that the "late SpeaJjw had always been courteous and generous, in'giving kindly assistants to inexperienced members. Ha esteemed it a privilclgo to be able to record Ms appreciation! of the late honourable gentleman. ' ! ... ' Mr. G. WITTY (Raicaj'ton) also paid a tribute to tho late Sjr Arthur Guinness's character as a prnitlejoaiij and to his fino record as a public mh.n. The motion was affirmed by the membora standing. On the motion; of tho Prime Minister, tho Houeo /adjourned until Wednesday at 2.30 p.tn'., ns a mark of respect to the memory of the lato Sir Arthur Guinness. Tho House rose at 4.10 p.m.