PARLIAMENT.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2222, 7 August 1914, Page 7

PARLIAMENT.

REFORM OF THE COUNCIL THE BUDGET AND.THE WAR. EXTRAORDINARY PROCEEDINGS. LIBERAL AND LABOUR MEMBERS ! LEAVE THE CHAMBER. : . Tho Legislative Council met at 2.30 p.m. The Private Bills Committee reported, on. the Dominions Trust' Company Bill, that the allegations of the preamble had not been proved to their satisfaction. Tho Hon. DR. COLLINS gave notice to move that it was desirable that the Government should introduce legislation ■ to deal with venereal diseases, and to eftter into agreement with the Australian. States. MAORI REPRESENTATION. NOMINATION FAVOURED' BY NATIVES. . The. Legislative Council Bill was. further considered in Committee. , The third schedule was reported without , amendment. The Hon. H. D. Bell moved a new clause, dealing with forfeiture of the deposit of £10 in certain cases, and this was carried. .-'■.- r. The Hon. Sir. lVm. Hall-Jones, on behalf of the Hon. Sir G. jM'Lean, moved ;new clauses, in place of Clause 20j proividing for the election, instead of noimna r '■■tion, of three .members of the Maori race, oa the basis of two for the North Island. i and one for the South Island. The Hon. H. D. Bell spoke strongly against the proposal, which ho con tended would not, give satisfactory repre : sentation. ' • ' - The Hon. T. Parata said the only thing j the Maoris found unsatisfactory was that the seven years' term of nomination, had been replaced by' a six years' term. They believed in election for the Lower. House, but favoured nomination to the" Upper Housej which they considered the most dignified. Thev would like to have their most influential chiefs nominated to tho Council. Ha earnestly appealed to the Council to let.Clause 20 pass. It' was A great act, he said, when the late Queen Victoria gave such special ■ representation..* As long as bno Maori remained in New Zealand* they wanted that special representation. The Hons; G. Jones, S.' T. George, andO. Bari spoke' against tho nominative teni for Maoris. ■ "■■',", The Hon. Sir Wm. Hall-Jones supported the elective -principle for tho- Natives, He referred to the Hon. Mr. Parata's re--marks as. expressing the views \of the chiefs. The Maori chiefs might! favour the nominative system,' but what about the rest of the Maoris.' The time was 'dining, he said, when special representation would be done away with. ' . On a division Clause 20, as printed, was carried by IB votes to 10. The noes were: The Hons. George, Paul, Barr, Louisson, G. Jones, Beehan, Baldey, Hall-Jones. Harris, and Thompson. . The Bill was reported with amendments. ';'■' BANKING AMENDMENT BILL. The Banking Amendment Bill (No. 2) was introduced from the House of Representatives, and'put through all stages.' At Bis p.m. the Council rose till to-day. THE HOUSE ' The House' of Representatives sat at 2.30 p.m. iMr. E.'B. CLARK (Chalmers) gave • notice to ask the Primo Minister whether he would introduce legislation levying a special tax on the totalisa'tpr, : picture .shows, and all places-of amusement, the. proceeds of such tax to be used for the" maintenance of these who might lose their lives in-the defence of the Empire. Two days' leave of absence was granted to Mr. J. Bollard, seven days to the Hon. J A. Millar, and four dnys to Mr. J. V. Brown. The Lights on Vehicles Bill (Mr. Buddo) and the Southland Land Drainage Bill (Sir. Josoph Ward) wero introduced and read a first time. -■ . EXPORT OF GOLD. ______ The Banking Amendment Bill- was in., troduced by Governor's Message, and as the Minister of Finance .(the Hon. J.. Allen) claimed urgency for the Bill, it was passed through all stage's. The MINISTER explained that'.under the Act passed already this session by tho House, no penalty l was provided for tho export of gold. Under this Bill it was ' provided that if any attempt was made to export contrary to the provisions of that Act, it should, in the event of the exportation "being discovered, be forfeit to the Crown, Mr. W. H. D. BELL (Wellington Suburbs) pointed out" that ill.the event of the export of gold'being successfully carried out in contravention of..the- law, no penalty was provided by the Bill for the perpetrators of the offence. • Tho Hon. J.'ALLEN said that; this point lrad.been considered, .but tho. Crown Law Office thought,' and ho thought, that the penalty provided for was ample. After oil, tho object of the Bill was to prevent gold being exported. CASE OF MR. JENNINGS. - Mr. J. H.BRADNEY (Chairman of the A to L Petitions Committee) reported that the committee, t'o which was referred back' the petition of Mr. W. "J". Jennings to bo reimbursed for expenses incurred on account of his removal from the Waitara Harbour Board,' had directed him to report, that tho committee had no recommendation to make. The report was laid upon-the table without debate. . NEWS OF THE WAR. SIR, JOSEPH WARD asked the Primo . Minister if'he could see his way in the present troublous times to have any offi-cial'information,-which was not confiden-. tialj coining into, the hands of- the Government regarding, events in Europe posted' in tho lobby of tho House ibr the information of members. This information would be of infinite value to members,'especially in view of the fact that, there were daily all sorts of rumours current. --' ■ The Rt. Hon. W. F. MASSEY said,he would be very glad indeed to give effect to the'• request of the Leader of the Op- ; position. -He knew that' what the right honourable gentleman had stated was quite correct. 'Rumours had been cur-rent-that morning, and so far as he could ascertain, there was not the slightest foundation for them. ' . , . : Mr. T. H. DAVEY suggested that information coming to the Government should be posteu in some suitable place for the benefit of the public. ' ' Tho Rt. Hon. W, F. MASSEY said he 'would be very glad to give effect to the , suggestion'. He added that he had sen!, a cablegram to- the High Commissioner to keep the Government supplied with all information about the war. ■THE BUDGET. ' ' SUGGESTION'TO DELAY IT. ; . SIR JOSEPH WARD asked whether it wiis tho intention of the Government to. present the Financial Statement that day. The PRIME MINISTER replied that it was. •''•'■'."'..' _. , , .. • ■ Sir Joseph Ward said he regretted that the ' Government wore presenting the Budget at such a'time. From tho mo-' incut of the declaration of war he felt,' as Leader of the Opposition, that parties in tho ordinary senso of the word had vanished. But the Financia! Statement must contain most, controversial matters of party politics, and at such a juncture is the present the Opposition had either to . sit (|Uiet or join iu strong party criticism i at a timo when they wished to avoid it. Ho would suggest to the Prime.Minister ! that he defer the delivery of the Financial Statement. If the Government wanted ! Ways and Jleans; that could be.granted i by, the House without discussion. The Prime Minister could.not tell what mighthappen in the course, of the'nest fort- ; night. Within that tihio something [might happen to make it necessary to'ad-

iourn'Parliament; it might even become necessary to postpone the general election. If tho Statement was brought town now and the Opposition discussed it adversely, their criticism would be misunderstood beyond these shores. There-, tore the Opposition proposed to offer no criticism. Tho Right Hon. W. F. MASSEY ■-aid he was .somewhat surprised at tho suggestion put forward by the Leader ot the Opposition. Tho Financial Statement had bean completed a week previously. It-was the most important document to be put beforo Parliament in the course of the whole • session, and the people of the country were anxiously waiting to hear from it the financial position' of the country. . Surely tho honourable gentleman,.did not suggest that this information should be withheld until tho end of the war? That might not bo for months, and months. Whatever might be the position with regard to discussion on the Budget, tho people were entitled to know at ohco tho .financial position of the country. He saw no reason why party rancour should not'be avoided in- discussing the Financial -Statement. He was sure that if he were Leader of the Opposition at the- present juncture he oould discuss the Financial Statement, and point out its defects; without any party- rancour whatever. He was quite ready to take all the responsibility for what he was doing, and be' believed that if the Financial Statement wore withheld there would be apprehension and alarm throughout,the country. SIR JOSEPH WARD argued that the Financial Statement must contain many proposals of ■ the Government outside of finance.' He would suggest that the Government submit a' statement of the financial position and ask for Ways and Means, which Parliament would give without disoussion. - . .'"■' Mr. G. W. RUSSELL'(Avon) and Mr. A. M. MYERS (Auckland East) supported the proposal made by the Leader of the Opposition.. The Right Hon. W. "F. MASSEY said he sincerely' appreciated the fact that party warfare had been suspended in the last few'days, but it peemed'to him that, the speeches made by the honourable members who had spoken-applied nut only to the Financial Statement, but to any .legislation introduced by the Government. Followed to a logical conclusion it would meanv-hat Parliament must adjourn, and to. this he was not prepared to agree. . (Hear, hear.) He would ask honourable members to recollect that.the position in Europe was going to be very much-worse before-it was better.' They would no.doubt hea,r presently _ news of engagements by land and sea in which British troops were cancerne.d, and there Would be. excitement right through the Empire—such excitement as had not yet been experienced. In view cf ill the possibilities, he thought the proper thing to do was to lay the Statement beforo Parliament now. It was 'the duty of Parliament .and-tho Government to allay excitement and alarm, and the proper way to do it. was to go quietly oh with business. In any case, the disbussibn on the Statement would.not begi'i at once, but the Government must get .the Estimates through.' The arguments used by honourable members on the Other side of tho House had failed to convince him that the Government were doing a wrong thing in bringing down the Statement .new-. - ■ LOCAL BILLS. '. ' ". HUTT'PARK. - ■ The Hutt Park Amendment Bill (Mr. T. M. Wilted)/was put. through Committee, read a third time, and passed. TO'SUBDIVIDE A COUNTY. Mr. G. J.'ANDERSON (Motaura) mov : ed the second reading of the Hokonui County Bill, the' object of which was. to separate the northern part of the Southland County to form the proposed'new Hokonui County. The Bill, as he ex : plained, had been reported upon unfavourably by the Local Bills Committee. The second reading was. lost on the voices. .-,; ; . .■-•■■:•- ' :.'■• PRIVATE MEMBERS' BILLS. TRADES UNIONS. -Mr. J. iM'COHBS (Lytt-elton)'moved lh< second -Teading.of tho .Industrial-.Unaom and Trade' Unions' Bill, o replica of. tht English Act'. 1 'It hod to do, as he explained, with unions being allowed to use un ion funds for political purposes. ■ Tho Bill was read a., second time, ;anc referred to the Labour, Bills Committee.* NATIONAL PROVIDENT FUND. ■ Mr. H. G. ELL (Christchuich South; moved the second reading of tho Na tional Provident Fund Act Amendmen' The Hon. F. M. B. FISHER congratu lated the honourable nieniber on hnvwj introduced the Bill, and said that m < Bill to be introduoed by the Goyernraen most of the best proposals in. Mr., Mi: Bill would be contained. - - - Before the debite .concluded, the JSa tional• Provident Fund.Amendment Bil to which Mr. Fisher had referred, wa: introduced by Governor's Message,. ant read a first time. ■ . , ... •,. Mr. Ell's Bill was read & second tim< on the;voices. ~ _*___•' PROCEDURE IN THE HOUSE BUSINESS TO GO ON. CONTENTIOUS SUBJECTS TO BI "■AVOIDED.- - ...! Replying to a question without notici after the dinner.adjournment, ■-■-, ■ The Right Hon. W. F. MASSEY salt that before the adjournment somj members had asked him whether i would not be advisable toadjourn Parlia ment from that evening until Tuesday a 2.30 p.m. He thought that to do -thi would entail tho taking of too innch risk It would be necessary, ho thought, t< keep. Parliament alive, so that .if tin occasion required Parliament could bi convened on any one of the days betweei -Friday <j.nd. Tuesday. Something ver; serious might happen demanding the .at tention of Parliament, and, it shb'uld bi possible for the Government to .convent Parliament at a' few minutes' notice. . Another suggestion was that the. Housi should defer further consideration of thi Licensing Bill until a future date. .Hi would be glad to meet the convenience o: members, but he had announced publicl; that lie proposed to take the third .road ing of the Licensing Bill on Friday, ant he-had been given to understand tha several members had ...waited in Welling ton on this account. A suggestion , hat been made.also, and an implied proniisi given by him; that'something mould b| done to prevent any unnecessary incroasi 'in the price of breadstuffs. He had givei instructions to the Law Drafting. Offict 'to have a Bill drafted.' He had seen thf first draft of the Bill, and it was. a vcrj good Bill, but was not exactly wlrot In (Mr. Massey). wanted, and he had there fore sent it" back for alteration, and jl was just possible ..that ho might get i.l again the-next day. If ho did. he. woulc iisk Parliament'-to deal with it, but .hi did not think it .would be necessa/rv foi Parliament to put tho Bill through al stages. After that h* would ask tht F-ouse to go on with further consideratiol of the Licensing Bill, which was not. i contentious measure in the party sense ol the word. . . ■ He thought the proper thing for Parlia ment to do was to go on quietly and calm !y -with the business of the country Speaking of .the Government he said In would try to avoid in every possiblo wa: any contentious measures, such, for in stanne, as the Defamation Bill, to whicl (tie Leader of the Opposition was opposed Tie would suggest that Parliament go oi quietly sitting for a few hours'a day and then any important matter that tie mantled attention' could.be dealt witl without delay. ' , .' OPPOSITION MEMBERS LEAVI THE HOUSE PROTEST AGAINST BUDGET . CONTENTIOUS MATTERS OBJECTED TO. Before the Minister of Finance rosi to deliver .his.Budget Statement, SIR JOSEPH WARD (Leader of thi again'entered a protest at tbt proposed'stop. He said that he.had en tered a mild-' protest against proceedini with the business in tho afternoon. -Hi thought it'was unwise and unfair to thi

country. He had made it clear, so ■ far as the Opposition was concerned, that they would do nothing. Having made his protest he proposed to absent himself from the House, 'Government members: Don't do anything; )iko that. ; ..' Sir Joseph Ward: I shall not sit here. Ctker members may do as they like. He would not sit and make any comment with regard to the 'Financial* Statement. It was the most important document which any Government could submit 'to Parliament, and it was prepared before tho crisis arose. Apart altogether from the members of the' House, the papers in the country, on both sides, were standing loyal. Ho protested against such a document going over the country when 'the people were not thinking about Parliament, but were thinking of. the great emergency they were placed in, as an outlying post of the British Empire. Members should be allied'on both sides of the House, and yet they got tho most contentious measure, the Budget proposals. Their eense of responsibility was 'such that they were not prepared even to discuss it, or express on opinion upon it. Hβ had entered, his protest, and ho was sorry the Prime Minister, aftor mature consideration," had not seen his way to comply with that request. Hβ had to do what-ho felt was Ms. duty. He :was not going to take .part in what. he. recopnised .was the beginning, or should be the beginning, of a great party conflict. : Sir. Nosworthyt You havo been.asking for it.for days. Sir' Joseph Ward: I attach no importance to the' interjection. We asked for it before the, days of trouble in I have strong feelings about this matter, and I amexpressing my convictions. Under these circumstances I can only regret the siep being taken. Prime Minister's Views. The Eight Hon. W. F. MASSEY (Prime Minister): I regret exceedingly to hfcar from the lion, member, that he proposes to absent liimself during the reading of the Financial Statement. I would like to go further aid say that it is a very unwise and improper-course to adopt, and I say it quite respectfully. The hoh. member ; should recollect this. There are other proposals that must be submitted to Parliament, whatever happens, which are quite as. contentious. I am speaking now on the. Loan. Bills. It is' : quite certain during the present session, that we must have Loan Bills. Those are taken advantage of every time for. .party purposes. ■ .■ ■ ■;.'■■". Mr. Russell: They would not this time. Mr. Massey :.l am glad the present party warfare has been, dropped, and I wouli b.} glad if tho. same thing could extend to the end o£ the session; but I do not 'object to adverse criticism. As far as the Financial' Statement being contentious, I cannot .agree with the right hon. gentleman..' While contentious subjects are' sometimes—l will go so far. as to say always—raised in connection with, the Financial Statement, the Financial Statement itself is not a: contentious matter. It simply states the financial position.and e.ime of the more, important proposals. The Financial Statement was practically completed last week;-some.slight alterations had to be made, on Monday. Members asked for, and a promisjs was made, that they should have'the Financial Statement this week. Some hundreds of copies had been posted to different parts of New Zealand, under, seal, and were waiting to be released, in the different newspapers and centres.' , : ' Mr. Russell: You are not compelled to break the seal'.' ... Mr. Massey: They know it is .coming, and it would be a serious incorivenience. The hon. gentleman, without, feeling any disrespect for' the Minister of Fiuanm?, considers the step lie has proposed "as his duty. I think it is our duty to keep-our promise.' ' ..',■;."'■ ' ■ No Party.Warfare; Mr. G. W; RUSSELL (Avon) said that' they had no desire: to mafia party capital ottt M .-what might be in, the Financial Statement, and they would not hi embroiled in party warfare at the present stage. The Minister of' Finance was aware that he could not bring down.'suca a Statement, without touching on party mat- . ters.. It had been suggested that a Financial Statement only should bo presented t> the country now, and the debatabto matters deferred to a quieter time. The . Prime ..Minister, ."had :admitted v, .the proposals; to-be'presented"to the. House that' night had been' prepared a week ago. They would' have to be changed. ' The 1 whole , financial affairs of. the country would have to bo clia'nged in view of the present trouble, and' y.t-t those contentious matters were brought down. They, as an Opposition, had ceased exist,' and they desired that, nothing :of such a contentious nature should' be brought down. Hβ appealed to tho Prime minister, even at the last moment, to.defer the matter,' so that it would not go-forth to tho world that the Opposition "had been forced to walk'out of the House in protest Mr. J. PAYNE (Grey Lynn) added his protest 'to that of the Leader of the Opposition and Mr. Russell.' Opposition and Labour Benches Deserted, The House went into Committee of Supply at three minutes to eight, and the Hon. J. Allen rose to read his Statement. "■ The Opposition, led by Sir Joseph Ward and Mr. G. W. Russell,- and followed by tho Labour Party, immediately vacated their seats aiid left the House.