PARLIAMENT

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 26, 25 October 1919, Page 8

PARLIAMENT

PUBLIC WORKS DEBATE THE SHORTAGE OF LABOUR FREEDOM OF SPEECH The Legislative Council met at 2,30 p.m. yesterday. BILLS OF EXCHANGE AMENDMENT DROPPED.' The Statutes Revision Committee recommended that, in view of the nature of the amendments to Statute Law proposed in the Bills of Exchange Act Amendment Bill the measure should not be further proceeded with at this advanced stage of the session. Tho recommendation was adopted, the Hon. Mr. MacGrogor, who introduced the Bill, acquiescing. VARIOUS BILLS. The following Bills from the Lower House were read a first time and referred to committees : Grey town Borough Loan and Empowering Bill; Wairoa Harbour ■ Board Empowering and Loan Bill; Wellington City Abattoir Charges and Renewal Fund Bill; Westport Technical School Site Bill; Waimakariri Harbour Board Reserve Bill; 'J'olago Bay Harbour Bill. The following Bills were received and read a first time: Marriage Amendment Bill; Hutt-Railway and Road Improvement Amendment Bill. The National Provident Fund Amendment Bill was read a second time pro forma and referred to tho Statutes Revision Committee. BAY OF ISLANDS HOSPITAL BOARD. SIR FRANCIS BELL. introduced tho Hospitals and Charitable Institutions Amendment Bill, which give 3 the Government power to abolish by Order-in. Council the Bay of Islands Board, and, upon its abolition, to constitute lour new districts and boards The Bill was put through all stages and passed. 'Hie Leader of the Council suited that tho measure was one desired by all four of the new districts to be established. FREEDOM OF SPEECH.

In the debate upon the second reading of the Mice Offences Amendment Bill The Hon. J. T. PAUL expressed tlio opinion that the drafting of clause 2, dealing with incitement to -"violence, disorder, or lawlessness/' was not in accordance with the best principles of British liberty. He suggested that tho clause did not provide tho best means of achieving pood government. Replying, SIR FRANCIS BELT/ referred to the experience of the 1913 strike in which there was reason to fear that men who wove originally not a mob were incited by their leaders to become a mob—and an uncontrollable mob. Freedom • of speech stood as of old, except that it was .to be prevented by tho clause to which Mr. Paul, had referred from degenerating into a license that would bo dangerous to tho comuiutfho Bill was read a second time, then put through its final stages and passed. BILLS PASSED. The following Bills were put through their final 6tages and passed: Native Townships Amendment Bill; Counties \mendment Bill; State Forests Amendment Bill; Police Offences Amendment Bill. HOUSING BILL. The. Statutes Revision Committee reported t.lic Housing Bill with amendments. which Sir Francis -Bell said wero designed to provide that the position of present tenants of houses should not he ignored. An additional clause extends tho protection of tenants from ejectment. It runs as follows: Subsection (31 of section. 13 of tho War Legislation and Statute 1 Law Amendment Act, 1918, is hereby repealed, and the following substituted in lieu thereof:'"l'ho Court may refuse to make an order in ;ny case, notwithstanding proof to its satisfaction of the grounds specified in paragraphs (a), (b), and (c) of the last 'preceding sub-section or any of such grounds, it tho Court is of opinion that the making of the order would cause undue hardship to the tenant." Tho Bill was reported from committee with tho above addition, and was read a third time and passed.

The Council rose at 4.45 p.m. It will sit on Monday eyening at 8 o'clock.