WESTPORT INQUIRY.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1846, 4 September 1913, Page 4

WESTPORT INQUIRY.

MINISTER FOR MARINE EXONERATED.

MILITARY TRAINING.

ENFORCEMENT OB! THE DEFENCE ACT."'

Tho Legislative Council met at 2.30 The Oliristchurch Electrical Supply and Empowering Bill, tlio Dunedin District Drainrtgo and Soworago Amcndnent Bill, and tho Borough of Mornuigton Tramways Bill, all local Bills, wero received from tlio House of Reprosenta--t-ives and read a first timo. ! The Porpotual Trustees Amendment Bill, ft private/Bill, was rctcived from the Houso of Representatives, and read a first time. The Pensions Bill,'a Government measure, was receiyed from tho House of Representatives and read si first time. FRIENDLY SOCIETIES: ' - Tho Hon. 'H. D. BELL moved that a committee of twelve members he set up to consider tho report of tho-Registrar, cf Friendly ..Societies, and inquire into tho position of Friendly Societies and their rolations to tho State in tho matter of social insurance, with power to confer with any similar Committee appointed by tho Houso of Representatives, tho committeo to consist of the Hons. \\. Beehan, W. Earnshaw, H. Gumei. J. E. Jeaikinson, C. Louisson, C. M. Luke, OH. Mills, J. Rigg,. J- It- &!"<=!"";> L .Thompson, J. 13arr, fliid J. 1. laiil. This motion was carried, as .was - also .tlio consequential motion tliat tho report of the Registrar bo referred to tlio committee. , _ ' . Tho Hon. W. BEEHAN moved, "That this Council regrets that the Subvention Bill relating to Friendly Societies (which was promisod by certain Ministers) is not being brought down • for consideration.". llo'did not. think tho committeo .■was necessary, and ho urged that the (.»ovOnimcut should have at onco introduced tho Bill and referred -it for apjproval to the Friendly Societies. He-ad-vocated a subvention scheme, but liav'ing doiio go, lie askeci to bo allowed to '.withdraw the motion. ■ Tho motion was withdrawn accordingly': . MAGISTRATE'S COURT BILL. ' The .Magistrate's Court Amendment .Bill Was committed. On Clause 2, providing that clerks of court may be appointed to tlio Bench a ftcr ten years of sorvice as clerks of court,-the Hon. J. 'T. Paul pointed out that a 1 man serving in tlio c6iuitry as clork of a Magistrate's Court for, say, eight years, would bo disqualified for appointment to the Benoli if ho wero promoted to. tie position of second cleric in ■o city office. . Ho jnoved to make tho clause read "a clerk of the Magistrate's Court."' • Tho Hon.'H. D, BELL saul ho would havo to oppose tho amendment.. Tho ob- ■ ject of tho Bill was to raiso the status of tho magisterial bench, arid to_ insist upon proper qualifications ,in appointees. It was admitted that the clerk of an important'court, had exceptional oppor- , tunitie's for acquiring thatknowledge that' was nccessar.v in a magistrate, and it.-was provided that they Should have a choice of promotion to tho Bench; but I Mr. Paul's amendment would make it , possible for a junior clerk in a. Magistrate's, Court to bo appointed to the . magisterial bono'h. : The Hon! J. T. PAUL saidi the effect ;. of. tho"clause as it was in the Bill would be to debar <ihe Governments fromappointing a man who was fitted for tho work of a magistrate, merely because -]io had' accepted promotion to a position ■ which gavo him, an opportunity'of acquiring that knoweldgo which would make him a more saiitablo person for 1 -appointment. The Hon. 0. SAMUEL did not agree wholly, that Mr. Paul's.amendment was ' a good ono, but Jio pointed out that tho work of a deputy dork in some courts ■was not materially different from that of tho clerk. Surely it should ho possible to draft a clause which would not disqualify as candidates for the magistracy men .Who, being deputy clerks, sat -daily with a. magistrate in places where more tfhan one magistrate -was stationed? ' Tlio Hon. H. D. BELL said tho honourable gentleman must roaliso that Sir. Paul's amendment would let in any junior clerk. Tlio Hon., J.' B. CAT,LAN said ho realised that eases of hardship could occur, and if lie could see a way to prevent it he would vote for an amendment. It was necessary, howovor, that somo' hard-and-fast rule . of servico 'Should ho insisted upon. If an amendment wero proposed to rednco tho term .of servico from ten years to seven years ho would .support it. Tho Hon. H. D. BELL pointed out that tho Government were giving. to magistrates only tlio extended jurisdiction, and tlio qualifications required Tinder tho Bill for tho granting of this extonded jurisdiction were being relaxed ; .but tho Government were asked to rcdiico tho qualifications morn than they ■wero propared to, when they wero asked to make "'a rale under which any clork in a Magistrate's Court.could 'bo appointed. A barrister; was required tc fiavo fivo years'' practice beforo appointment, anil if a clerk passed examinations as a barrister and rdlioitor he would be qualified for appointment aftei fivo years' -servico as clerk from tho daitt of his admission.' • Tlio Hon. 0. SAMUEL urged tha.l the Government should reserve to it-sell ■ a fairly wide disorction! A. barristei could, be appointed fivo years after admission, even if ho had lievov practise! as a barrister. In this direction tin (lovernmont had a wide discretion, an< he did not think that the Governmenj should restrict its discretion as appliec to tho appointment of clerks of court and so make it impossible for the Gov ornmcnt to appoint a good man win had all the qualifications except thi technical ono of length of service. The- Hon. 11. D. BELL hoped mem bers would bear in mind that tho cxtcn sion of the qualification for tho Magis trates extonded jurisdiction to clerks o oourt was a concession which, was no in tho present law. Under tho'law as i stood, only a barrister and solioito could.bo appointed to exorcise tho ex tended jurisdiction. The amendment was lost on tn voices. . Subsequently Mr. Bell said that i had been pointed out to him tha "clerk" included "deputy clerk,bu aid not include any other assistan Tlio Bill went through Committe , without further debate, and; was w ported with minor awcuunwiifcs. Tho Bill was read a third time ii» passed. . • ■ Tlio Council tobo at Li p.m.