PARLIAMENT

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 59, 4 December 1918, Page 6

PARLIAMENT

j; , THE LIQUOR BILL [.-' ~-..■■ ... f" ' PASSED BY TIIE HOUSE 1./. ■ . . ! 'QUESTION OF COMPENSATION l' : : . 'notto exceed four and a half millions ! PERMANENT SIX O'CLOCK ! ■-••• CLOSING ! ■ -~—— :'' The Legislative..Council met at 2.30 jp.iD. yesterday. i The Aviation' Bill and the Electric ■Power Boards Bill were received from '■the Lower House and read a first time. I SIR FRANCIS BELL (Leader pf the .Council) moved the second reading of 'the Electric Power Boards Bill. He ■pointed out that there was a popular .demand for the utilisation of the natural ,'i-esourcee of the country; henco the presentation of the Bill by tiro Government. iHe hoped the Bill would hnvo the sup;port of the Council. He was aware that some people desired that the Government jehquld have a monopoly pf electric jpower, but .it was felt by the Administration that opportunity should be given, 'in the manner provided in the Bill, for ;the public to have the advantages of |electric power as early as they might .'wish. ! .The Hon. E. MOORE considered that jnnder Government supervision every fajcility should be given to syndicates to ■establish power schemes. He would like ftp see the Bill extended in that direcition. • The Hon. G. J. GARLAND opposed 'the views of the previous speaker. Every Icare should be taken that such schemes 'as that under discussion should not fall [into the hands of private individuals. ■He was in favour of the Bill. x : The Hon. SIR WILLIAM HALL-JONES ajjft-eed. with Mr. Moore in the great that would accrue by the Intilisation of hydro-electric energy. How'ever, he did not think that private in•dividuals should be entrusted with the 'great powers provided in the Bill. He judged that the services of Mr. Parry ■should be retained for the purpose of I supervising the electric power schemes of ithe 'Government. Postponement Suggosted. ! The Hon. SIR WALTER BUCHANAN 'said that very few of the Councillors ■had read the Bill. He was not throwing cold water on the Bill, which he favourled, but it evidenced the difficulties that jwould confront the local bodies where .the scheme was put into operation. He 'was. strongly of opinion that very little' could be done before the Legislature mot iagain next session, and for that reason ihe thought they should not pass the Bill jnow; 'This would permit of full con-' sideration being given to its provisions. ■■ Thfe Hon. A. F. HAWKE' was of opinion that the Bill should go'-through ■ns.it wii£. If they wanted to keep up (production they should not dflay tho ipaesage of the Bill. J The Hon. G. 11. THOMPSON did 'Dot think it wise to postpone consideration of the Bill. ' !'■ The Hon. ,T. Grimmond and the Hon. :T. Mac Gibbon also snnorted the Bill, jand hoped it would soon come into opera■tion. > A Good Deal Mights Be D.ono, ! .Sir , ' Francis Bell, in the course jof his reply, said they werejortunate in {having had the assistance of Mr. Parry. Unfortunately, they could not retain his ■services, although every effort had been 'made to do'so. No matter what salaries 'Governments might pay, they could not ihopeto compete'with the inducements joffered by private firms. Although Sir 3A'alter Buchanan had said that, much' could not be done before next session, yet lit might be pointed out that a good deal might bn done before then in the :way .of constituting and electing the power, boards. ] -The Bill was read a second time, put through its remaining stages; and passed. ; The Crimes Act Amendment Bill and tho Reformatory Institutions Bill were ■received from the Lower House, road a first and second time, and referred to the Statutes Revision Committee. , At.4.45 p.m. the Council adjourned un-til-2.30-p.m. to-day.