THE SECOND BALLOT.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1917, 27 November 1913, Page 4

THE SECOND BALLOT.

BMH MEMBERS' STRAIGHT XAI|.

■OPPOSITION" DENOUNCED.

HON. F. M,jß. FISHER DEALS fITH CPUTICS.

The-.Legislative: Council' sat at 2.30 p.m., ..- Consideration of amendments mado by tho Houso in tho Legislature Amendment Bill was tho first business of tho day. Tho Hon. H. D. Melt moved that tho amendments "bo- taken into consideration next day." Tho -Hon. W." 0. F.. Carncross asked tho Minister how ho proposed to treat the Bill. He- moved as am amendment that next sitting day tho Council should resolve itself into "Committee of the Whole' Council to consider the amendments /made- in the House. it seemed to him that this was the proper method of dealing with tho Mill, seeing that as it left the Council it was a thoroughly harmless measuro on which there could be no difference of opinion, having been passed as a matter of urgency. It had como back a very different measure, having had added to it nn important constitutional amendment. It .was to prejscrvo the"dignity of tho Council that life moved F. is amendment, for it would not bo in keeping with the dignity of the Council to. pass, tho Bill simply' 611 the'inotiom that the"'amendments bo agrecfd to.'" '

Tho Hon. 0. Samuel seconded the amendment. Flo had not tho slightest doubt that tho amendment would be accepted:.', by .the.Leader of tho Council, ior it was necessary in a case such as that; before the*. Council that it should havo special treatment. What Mr. Carndross-.'had,proposed rt in '.strict accordance with precedent. ' Tho Hon. H/ D.'Bell said that tho honourable gentlemen had courteously informed him of the course they proposed .to'ta'ke. It. was only just to saythat he was as anxious as any member of the Council to. conserve the..rights and privileges of tho Council, and ho woiild yield at once to tho' long cxporionco of Mr. Carnc.ross, and he would accept the proposal'that 'tho Bill should -be in the handsof.tho Council in every respect and in'every manner as'fully as it would- have .been if it had been introduced in t(io.'present form. Ho ■would gladly avail himself of tho opportunity of. Toting for the amendment and preserving to-the Council its full powpr and,authority...for. .tho measuro before, it, ~, .; The Hon. J. Rigg protested against what ho termed the irregular proccduro adopted in embodying _' a Government policy mcasnro"in''fV Bill which had al•ready passed tho Council. The,,amendment was agreed to on tho .voices. , \-, , ~.,.. ~ ... Tho Hon. J; Rigg later' gave notice to move as an amendment to the motion that'tlte"Cbairman do'leavo tho chair to-'permit' tho Council to go 'into' Committco on tho Bill, that the Council disagree with the amendment's mado by tho Hoiiso;in;.the; Legislature: Amendment Bill,;flnd'.appoint .a committeo to drawup reasons.for..sci;doingj,.ini..

„Tli6 Houi:'H:-D. .Boll'saift'that when the '.'amendment oamo up tho following day ho would raise a point of order, 'that tho Houso had already agreed to go ip,tp .Comniitteo on tho Bill, , : ;;■;;!'/■;! FiNAt.RusH, . . Tli'd- : Hbn. H. :; D."'Bcll gavo notico to movo that on and after next sitting day. Cfoyernment Bills should be permitted to pass through all their stages in ono. day. ■■• '• ■>. ThofHon; 11. D.-Bell gavo notice of his intention,'.to introduce-the Fire.Brigades Amendment Bill, and tho Land Agents Amendment Bill. OTHER BILLS.. Tho Government Railways Amendment Bill was read a third time. The Mutual Fire Insurance Amendment Bill was recommitted,: and.after, an unimportant amendment had been mado in ■it, tho Bill was read a third time. Tho.Post and Telegraph Amendment Bill, was committed, but progress was reported on the motion of tho Minister before all the clauses had been considered. The Board of Agriculture Bill was: committed, reported without amendment and read-a.third timo. 'municipal corporations. The Municipal Corporations -Amendment Bill was committed. Tho clause originally in the Bill providing that';tho Mayor, of a. borough should be'* elected by tho councillors from. ainon'g their number Was struck out,'-as .the Statutes Revision Committeo hatl recommended. 'A new clause was inserted providing that the Mayor should be elected by all the electors of tllo district, in- every year in which a general election of councillors is held. This -means that a Mayor will hold office'for two years. If the office of Mayor 'becomes vacant by, death, resignation, or otherwise within one year after the date -of tho general election, a newMayor, must.bo elected by the electors. It tho vacancy occurs after tho lapse of mbro than' a year the iiew Mayor is to be appointed by tho council. Practically tho whole Bill was agreed to,, by the Committeo, but two clauses were postponed at., the instance of tho Jlmister. '..".".'; .\ The; Council rose at 5.20 p.m.