PARLIAMENT.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1815, 30 July 1913, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

A DAILY SUMMARY.

Party skirmishing began early in. tho House'of Wepresontatn-es yestoduy ad there was a pitched battle beforo the sitting ended, the subject of. contention being the Police Force Association. , In the afternoon two important Bills were introduced by Governor s Message. Theso were the State Advances Bill aud. tho Local Bodies' Loans Bill, measures which consolidate ami amend in somo important particulars tho enactments governing tho State lending operations. The Prime 'Minister tablyl Departmental reports'on the subject of nlleged land aggregation and on Ins motion they were referred to the Lands Committee for inquiry and 'report. • , Troublo first arose when tho Magistrate's Court Amendment Bill was being considered in Committee. Opposition members attacked a sub-clauso providing that only qualified barristers or solicitors should be appointed to tho magistracy. The only legal member who joined hands with tho critic •of tho clauso was Mr. T. 11. Wilford. Tho other lawyers in tho House united in repelling a cnargo that their profession was more intent upon making a cliso corporation of the magistracy than upon improving its efficiency. The debate raged warmly upon this single point for about two hours in the afternoon (Mr. C 4. W. Itu'ssell moving to striko out tho contentions sub-clause), and was continued with unabated vigour in tho evening. Ths discussion took a new turn when the Opposition challenged a ruling by the Chairman of Committees. Mr. Malcolm had called tho member for Kaiapoi (Mr. Buddo) to order on tho ground that he was "imputing motives" and not speaking to the amendment. Mr. llussell moved to take the Speaker's ruling on tho Chairman's decision. Tho Prime Minister supported the motion, but there was'a good deal of talk belore tho Speaker was called upon'to give his decision. Eventually the, Speaker reversed the ruling of the Chairman, upholding the view that a member was entitled to impute motives provided tliey were not improper motives. The House went to a. division upon Mr. Russell's amendment immediately afterYards, and negatived it by 39 votes to 23. The Hon. A. L. Hcrdman accepted an amendment moved by the Hon. J. A. Millar giving Clerks of Courts of_ ten years' service the right -to bo appointed ns magistrates, provided had qualified as barristers or solicitors. The remaining clauscs of tho Bill were temporarily discussed, and tho last clause was reached at 10.30 p.m. Tho event of the day followed—a bitter contest,; heavily charged with party feeling. over tho attempted formation of th° Police Association. It arose when tlio Police Force Bill was. reached in Committee. The debate began with a duel between the Hon. A. L. Herdman and Mr. AV. A. Veitcli, Labour member for Wauganui, which was conducted, on the whole, In a spirit of studied moderation. Before long, however, as other members engaged, tho tone of the discussion became very warm, and for the next two hours thero was a political "rough and tumble. The Minister adhered firmly to his contention ;hat an association upon union lines would bo inimical to the discipline of the Police Force, and would eventually endanger the public safety. In this attitude lie was sturdily $wpportcd by somo members of his party, but one or two others seemed inclined to seek a. middlo course. In the end the vrrangling stilled rather suddenly. Tho Opposition onslaught ceased at 0.30 a.m.. and a quarter of an liour later seven clauses of the Police Bill had been passed. The HouseVoso at 0.17 a.m. •Two nioro speeches on tho Reform Bill wcro delivered in the Legislative Council, the speakers being the Hon. AV. Earnshaw and tho Hon. J. Anstey. Mr. Earnshaw supported the Bill .and Mr. Anstey indicated that he would vote against it.