PARLIAMENT.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1865, 20 September 1906, Page 3

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL,

PRESS ASSOCIATION Wellington, last night. The Counoil mot at 2 30 p m. The Regulation of Bollnmyj Bill (Mr Roov(s) was read a first time. The Napier Athenaeum and Mrohanios Institute Empowering Bill arid the Napier Hospital Site Extension Bill (Mr Ormond) were road a second tituo. The Attorney General moved thoseooud

reading of the Arbitration Aol Amendment Bill. Ho explained that the nunturo had nothing to do with tho Conciliation and Arbitration Act. Under tbo existing law nf 1980 tho term •• submission " was defined, ns “ Ma'tors of difference had b on found in practice, in strictly that there woro many oases whioh woro not matte; s of difference'.” Ho instanced questions such as valuation by arbitratijn mutually agreed upon, tho value of improvements and other matters of like character. It was intended jo cnlaige tho expression 11 submission," and to make this amendment of tho law retiosprotivo. The second reading was agreod to without discussion.

The Attorney-General moved tho sooond reading of the Motor Regulation Bill, dosigned to make further provision for regulation, registration and identification of motor oar?, and to farther safeguard tho public, Soveral members u r ged that it would bo preferable to have ouo ompreh'onsive measnro dealing with tho whole question to a Bill like tho present, m-klng numerous amendments in the existing law. The Hon. W. M, Bo t moved the adjournment nf tho debats for a week.

Tbo Hon. A. Pitt said tho motion was at his suggestion, If it were agreed to be wonld in tho meantime have a Consolidation Bill drafted.

The motion was agreed to. The Fire Arms Bill wa-> rocomruittid on the motion of the Atio-coy Gsneral, and farther amended. Imprisonment as ft penally for youths was limited, and a new clause was inserltd which provides for the forfeiture of fire arms in the event of oonviction of a youth under fifteen for breach of the law. The Bill wee reporter 1 . The Fisheries Consenation Bill was recommitted, and fanhir amendments made in the regulation ” clause. The Bill was reporled, and the Council adjourned at 8 40.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

The Honee met at 2.30 p m. FIRST READINGS. The ChrislohurcH Tramway District Bill, City of Christoburoh Municipal Offic s Bill, Borough of Port Chalmera and Otago Dock Tiu-t Exohange of Land Bi 1. Workers' Dwellings Act Amendmert Bill, arid Offensive Publications Bill were read a first time. RECIPROCITY TREATY. Mr Henan moved for a wetk's exterisiOD to the Industries and Commerce Committree for its repoit on the treaty. J* Mr Massey obj-cted, intimating that he thought ten minutes was quite enough to deal with the t eaty according to its deserts. The Premier pointed out that some fresh evidenoe had ootne in late as to the effeot of the treaty on fruits, Thß extension was granted, QUESTIONS. The chief answers to questions in matters of general interest are — In re Colonel Loveday’s circulars, that the purpose of the circulars was to ascertain for the information of the Government bow far the proposal would meet with acceptance. It has not received unanimous approval. There have been requests for a reduction of the oadeis’ contribution, and one influential Sobool Committees Association has expressed dis approval of the sobemo. The deposit and contributions will all be returned. In re a close season, that it is not proposed to gazette a general close season for native or imported game next year (1907). -Bear shootiog will be prohibited in certain specified areas, and there will be a close season thoughout the colony for native pigeon, pukeko, and kaka as pro vided by section 40 of the Animals Pro tection Act, 1900. In re the Exhibition, that the Union Company and Huddart Parker Company have already intimated to the Government that they will undertake to have sufficient steamer accommodation provided during the period referred to, but the Government is not satisfied with the proposed fares, and hopes to effect a further reduction. In re school books, etc., that changes in school books are necessary to keep pace with modern developments, and they are fairly considered by the Education Board; that uniformity is as much out of the question as it was a year ago ; that the antiquated system of pass examinations of testing progress will not be reverted to. Progress examinations by the teacher are, however, necessary as common place ' matters of school routine in regular re t curence. Such progress examinations, on the results of which in due course the ,fe>omotion of the individual pupil is based, Jffl™ place at various times throughout the and there seems no dominating reason why, if found expedient, it should not be arranged that the annual series of -V such examinations should be completed, and the chief body of promotion made at the close of the calendar year. An obvious - practical difficulty at present suggests itself in the requirements of certificates of competency and of proficiency, in which are needed the decision and personal judgment

of the Inspector. A day will be given for the discussion of tbo Imperial OoDfereuoe should time permit. An orohestra of 56 performers has b'en seoured for the Christoburoh Exhibition. A married woman’s property measure giving the wife a half ehaie in the homestead site is under the consideration of Cabinet. The potato duty will ba osueldered when V, the whole tariff is reviewed. f Regulations are being drawn up with a shorter quarantine for imported dog?. The Dew education syllabus is not at all sxaoting, but some practices in Bomo of the schools (examir a’.ion?, etr) often ore very much en. In the matter of tho repot ta of Mr MoNab’a speech in tho Financial debate, that the Minister's attention was called to the slatemenis when thry »ppra-ed in the press, The etakmer.t that preference was shown to certain papers, and that the telegram was tranem'ttod as tho expense of the State, whioh was not the case, the Mmiaier took to be simply an infliction j that their own arrangements had brtksr

down. , During the oonraa of the dtecussron rn tho usual moti'.n for adjoummset, Mr Massey commented on tho above answer. Ha said it seemed to bitn that certain

papers had obtained an advantage, inas much es the furnishing of Hansard duplicates to favored jiurnala of loog spejohes blooked the wirer sganst all Others. Ho also protested against Ministers getting duplicated copies of their epeeob reports. To this the Minister replied, first, by reading two letters, one from himself to tho chief of Iho Hanrard staff, osk.ng if members of Parliament have tho right to obtain dnplicito.'i of their Hansard roports i provided they aek for them in timo for th?

incidental transcription and reports Go™ the same, tho chief a'atiog that tbe right of giving duplicated copies of Hmsard reports (if asked for in time) ' Tjas long been recorded and never ques tinned, After receipt of that reply one paper’s representative had aaked for the duplioate report of Mr McNab's speech on the Finanoial deba'o, and had got it Throe others had got it also, without any knowledge of tho political oolor of two of them, Any journa'ist who applied would have got the same advantage through the 11 vide" system, irrespective of color. The representative of tho Ohristohurob Frees, the Minister added, would oerlainly havo got it if he had applied, but that gentleman did not seem to te aware any one had applied.

ADJOURNMENT ON QUESTION DAY The standing order was, after discussion, altered so as to rusks five minutes tbe limit of time for all speeches during tbe disoussion on the adjournment, with ten i, piuutes for Ministers,

NOTICES OF MOTION. Several motions woro ngrood to. Tho Houso adjourned at 5 30 for dinner

EVENING SITTING. The House resumed at 7 30. Tho Juvenile Offenders Bill (Mrßaumc) was discharged from tho order paper. LAW PRACTITIONERS ACT AMEND WENT BILL. Mr Laurouson moved tho soeand reading. Mr Bullard opposed tho measure, Tho Bill was road a second time by 32 to 20. ELEOTIVE ENEOUTIVE. W. Steward moved the second reading, prefacing his remarks with a brief review of tho history of a measure which has been elevon times before the House. Ho reeogniaod that a Bill of suoti importance ought to bo a Government measure, but that could not bo oxpooted until tome Govt lMiuent felt itself

backed by pttbiio opinion. Still, ns (hero was a large teetieu who thought with him, ho was justified in bringing down tho Bill. It had never been toad u aooond tune, but ho was sure tho tuna was not far off when the prinoipa! would havo public opiniou behind it. Tho plain issue was whother the Cabinet ooukl bo better eoleoted by tho House nr by ouo man. Tbo new eyst m would stroi'gthon tho position of individual Ministers, enlarge the libeity of individutl members, ensure tho decision of great questions on their merits, an 1 give opportunities for revising tho composition of Cabinets without the many inocnvoniouces of a no confidence motion. He admitted

the good results of tho past, but denied they were due to the present system. He denied tho allegation of novelty, citing Switzerland, Mamo, and other countries, adding that in this country novelty ought to bo no objection. Tho arguments pro and oon had been used so often that he would not enlargo ou them. Ho would content himself with stating thorn, and waiting for anything in tho debate that might require reply. Mr O. Mills oould not let the occasion pa s s without renewing his oppcs'tion to it. He characterised its principle as absurd, ns likely to binder mombers io the discharge of their duties, os an insult to every leader with a polioy wbioh he had ioduoad the country to nooept, as destroying o’gauisaticn of business, and as produntivn of ohaos.

Mr Gray supported the Bdl ‘'cordially,” Ho explained its provisions, cited she example of lcoal bodies and public eompmies, and contend'd that novelty was a detriment to any measure in this oounlry of many successful novelties. Mr MoLvchlan said he had always sapported tho Bill, and would do so again, Hai it bem in force he tbonght tho Freni or would a few weiks ego have been saved muoh trouble.

Mr Ell congratulated the mover on his ability and oourßge, Ho invokod tho ex ample of Switzerland, whioh had established the eleotive executive and many other institutions wbioh had achieved pErmanenoe. He dented that the Bill would abolish parlies, Mr Thomson also oomplimmted tho mover, and argued in detail that ths B:il would cot dace to good government. Mr Hanan pointed out that the present system had done good work in the past, and no attfmpt had been made to prove tbat it had resisted the popular will or retarded its effeot. Tne new system would opeu the door to intrigues and logrolling. It had not been before the oountry in any way. Sic W. Steward thanked the House, in reply, for its oourtesy. He saw do hope of immediate results, but much ior even tael success. He claimed that no organisation would be destroyed, or Ministers bampero' 1 , or party abolished, Parties in tbe older Whig and Tory sense were abolished long ago, but national differences would remain and be rationally treated. Replying to the argument that the Bill had not been before tbe country he eaid that would be easily remedied, ai in a very short time they would be all before the country again. The House divided ; Ayes 22, Noes 32. The Bill was lost.