PARLIAMENTARY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2241, 19 November 1907, Page 3

PARLIAMENTARY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Pross Association. WELLINGTON, Nov. 18. Tlio Council mot at 11 a.m. LIBEL LAW. Mr. Sinclair asked whether the Government during tlio recess will take into consideration tlio existing stato of the law of libel in New Zealand with a view to tho introduction ol legislation next session to bring it into lino with tho statute law of England, particularly as regards tho consolidation of actions against- newspapers. Ho said lio wanted to got at what was known as “chain” libel actions against newspapers. It was well known that news was published throughout tho Dominion under the agency of tlio Press Association, and wholesale actions wero sometimes brought in consequence. The Attorney-General replied that lie recognised tlio importance of this question. The present method enabled plaintiff after plaintiff to proceed against any number of newspapers, and so get damages far beyond what they wero reasonably entitled to. Tho practice should bo discontinued, and the system of consolidating actions instituted. Tho jury should bo asked to assess damages once for all. This was a desirable change in our law. In most cases tlio slip on which an action oi tho kind referred to by Mr Sinclair was made was without malice. There was no suggestion to limit tho fullest measure of damages to which a plaintiff' was entitled. Tho libel law in Now Zealand was far boliind that in England and Queensland, and ho would impress on his colleaguos the desirability of amending tho law' in the direction indicated, as well as a general revision of the law on the lines of tho libel law obtaining in high" COMMISSIONER’S OFFICE.

Mr. Macdonald moved a motion suggesting tho reorganisation of tlio High Commissioner's office, tlio transfer of officers between Wellington and London, and the desirability of removing tho office to a more central site. Dr. Findlay explained that most of those employed in tlio office were purely clerical hands, and had no need for personal knowledge ol New Zealand. He said that the Hon. \V. P. Reeves possessed an intimate knowledge of the Dominion to-day, and declared that a knowledge of politics and English questions affecting us was also desirable as a part tWhe equipment of the High Commissioner. Mr. Reeves’ appointment•expired on June 30th, 1908, and the . uggestions made by tho mover of the motion would be fully considered by the Government before that date. On Dr. Findlay’s suggestion tho motion was withdrawn. CLASSIFICATION BILL.

Tho Public Service Classification Bill was committed. Clause 4 provides for four divisions of the service. On the motion of tho Attorney-Gener-al an amendment was made merging die first and second division, tho only test for admission being a salary, £SOO. Tho second division under the amendment takes the place of the old third, and the third takes the place of tho old fourth. The AttorneyGeneral, in (answer to a question, said ho had interviewed the Premier, who promised the salaries of clerks and assistants of the Council would bo placed on the same footing as clerk and clerk assistant of the Bill sets up a Public Service Board, and specifies its constitution. An amendment was made empowering only such servants (as are “permanent heads of Departments to be appointed to tho Board as members of tlio first division. Minor amendments wero made in jwveral other clauses. Clause 16 limits “temporary appointments” to tho servico to six mouths. . , , The Attorney-General moved a new clause giving the Goyemar-iii-Council power to make appointments for l-> months “in la-ny case in which he considers the public interest -so requires.” The clause as amended was eventually agreed to by a large ma-

3 I’lie Bill was reported with amendments and passed. PUBLIC HEALTH. The Public Health Act Amendment Bill was committed and reported with a number of amendments of a minor character. CHINESE IMMIGRANTS. The Attorney-General moved the second reading of the Chinese Immi"rants Amendment Billy which passed tho llouso on Friday. Mr. George pointed out that tne education test could possibly be evaded by a Chinaman who escaped from a ship. The law provided that the captain could be fined £SO and the escapee £SO las well as the poll tax or £IOO if he was -recaptured, but as far as he. could see there was nothing in the Bill imposing the education test under such circumstances. Mr. Trask said the Bill was a most drastic and impolitic one. If it were passed it should not be put into oporation for at least twelve months. This would fallow its provisions to be made known. , , . Tho maiority of members strongly supported "the Bill’s second reading, which was agreed to on the voices. • In committee Mr. Rigg moved an amendment that the ,education test should consist of "writing’ as well as reading “one hundred words of English.”

HOUSE OF representatives. BOOKMAKERS’ SENTENCES. Mr. Gray presented a petition by ill' T. E. Taylor anti 9399 others praying for commutation of till© sentences missed on a number of bookmakers’at Christchurch. The petition expressed the belief that the men had been sent to prison not for •trespass but because they were rivals in popular favor with the tote. On Mr. Gray’s motion the petition was referred direct to the Government. , RAILWAYS SUPERANNUATION. The Premier,’ in answer to Mr. Field, said that ho proposed to submit an -amendment to the Railways Superannuation Bill providing for the employees of the Manawatu Go. to come under the scheme on condition that £SOOO was paid' by the directors as back pay' for til© men since the scheme first came into opelution. •

GENERAL. The remainder of the sitting was devoted to the consideration of Local Bills. By 1 n.m. all the Bills except two contentious ones had been through the Committee stages. MR. MASSEY OBJECTS TO OVERWORK. When it was proposed to put these ■two into Committee,' Mr. Massey said he would not object to taking the third reading -of the other Bills,, butt ho objected'to’go into Commit-’ tee ou contentious measures at such; an hour. The House had met at 10. a-.-m., and there was every prospect of sitting until 2 a.m. Ho protested against the driving to which the House bad been subjected during the .last three weeks. A lot had been said about the past Administration’s record in that respect, lint it was gentle compared with the present, though there was a slight difference in methods. _ He moved to report ivro"ress. This was lost by 26 to 23. ’ ° GENERAL. Tho following Bills were read ia third time and ‘ passed -Waipawa Borough, Waipawa County, Groymoutli Harbor Board Loan, Auckland Harbor Board and Birkenhead Borough Enwowering Bill, Mamoto■to Hospital Charitable Aid, Waira.u Harbor’ Board, Hastings ’Recreation

Reservo, DunocELn District Drainage and Sowerago Aot Amendment, Gisborne Harbor Board Enabling, Makaru County. Mutt Park. The following wero road a second time: —WaimUto North County Bill, Opunnko Harbor Bill. BILLS PASSED.

Bills put through committee in tlio ty Bill which did not pass the final morning (except the Murchison Coiincommitteo stages) wero read la third time and passed. WASHING-UP LAND BILL.

Mr. McNab gave notice to introduce a Washing-up Bill with regard to certain small land matters. GAMING AND LOTTERIES. Mr. Herries resumed tho debate on tho question that the report of tho select committee on tho Gaming and Lotteries Act Amendment Bill do lie upon the table. He regretted that owing to being engaged as chairman of tho Native Affairs Committee ho had boon unable to attend the meeting of the committee, as ho was desirous of moving several important amendments. He was the only member of the Racing Conference in tho House, and thought ho should havo been givon an opportunity of attending the conunitteo meeting. As chairman of tho Native Affairs Committee lie would not think of taking important matters before that .committco unless tho Maori members w r oro prosent Ho described the clauso making it an offence to publish dividends in newspapers as “ridiculous,” and said that whoever had drafted it was a humorist. He pointed out that there was nothing to prevent newspapers from publisliing' bookmakers’ odds or starting prices*. —Ho also complained that a “bookmaker” was not clearly defined, as it was not stated whether his clerk was included in tho definition although he might ha shouting tho odds as much as the bookmaker himself. The Premier said ho objected 'to Mr. Herries easting reflections on members of tlio Committee who had pushed the Bull through. Ho (the Premier) for ono had no idea that Mr. Hermes desired to attend tlio Committee, and if ho had been asked ho would have agreed to defer ■the Committee to enable him or other members to attend. With regard •to the Bill, he objected to an evil which was ruining numbers _of youthful members of the community. Racing clubs wero also anxious to put- a stop to the evil. Continuing, he said lie was agreeable to let the Bill go back to the Committee, and thus allow of Mr. Herries moving his amendments. The Bill could then bo reported to the House tomorrow. (Proceeding, he said he was desirous of placing legislation on the Statute Book this session, and liopod he would be able to do so. He moved that tlie Bill be referred back to the Committee. Mr. A. L. D. Fraser pointed out that though no report had yet been presented to the House, copies of tlie report and amendments made in Committee liud appeared in tlio leading papers of the colony, which lie characterised as a breach ol' privilege. ■Mr. Dawry said lie did not move a resolution in Committee to admit of other members being present, as lie knew ho'had no chance of getting a resolution carried, ho being one 'against six. Mr. Diavey did not think it would 'do any good to send the Bill back to the Committee. If the Premier was in earnest to get the Bill through it would he best to let the Bill proceed now. .

Mr. Massey said lie was with tlie Premier in desiring to minimise the evils of gambling, but he contended [there'were clauses in the Bill which [did not minimise but rather intensified the evil.

■Mr. Witty urged tliat tho report should not be referred back to the Committee.

Mr. Major hoped the Premier did not intend to force the Bill through this session. If lie did then it would considerably delay tho session, as those members who knew least about racing would do the most talking. ■Mr. Ell contended that there wero too many race days, which should be reduced. The Bill did not go as far as he would like, but still he welcomed and would support it. Mr. Fraser contended that the Bill and ilts proposals had mot been sufficiently considered. AVho, he asked, was tlio author of tho Bill? lit was, he added, submitted with the name of Sir J. G. Ward, but he thought the Premier had never seen the Bill until it was. printed. Messrs. McNab and Fowlds hail never been on a racecourse, and it was known that Mr. McGowan went only once a year to a racecourse . somewhere in tho Thames district. " Tho Premier himself did not habitually patronise race meetings l , and this brought them down to tlie Minister for Labor and the Native Minister, but these, he was convinced, had never made a beit with a bookmaker ■in tlieir lives. (Laughter.) Had there been a deputation of members to the Premier to bring in the Bill? No; but they had seen bluck-coated gentlemen about tlio lobbies-, and it was these men who had gone and bended the knee to the Premier to bring in the Bill. .As it was a travesty on the House he hoped the Bill would never come before the House. If it did he would take the opportunity of showing how antagonistic it was to the liberty of the people. iMr. Aitken said the deputation which waited upon the Premier bad come into tlie knowledge of certain Diets that had arisen as an outcrop from the racecourses, which showed tliat tlie evil was affecting the homes of the people and young people in a maimer very detrimental to their interests. He contended that the .Bill would not bring about a settlement of the question, and no proper settlement could be arrived at until

.the tdte and bookmaker wore abolished altogether. Mr. W.iilford regretted that a great -loss of time had taken place in discussing the report. The Premier, with the consent of .the -House, withdrew the motion, and the .report was ordered to lie on .the table.

GENERAL. Minor amendments brought down by Governor’s message to tho Infant Life Protection Bill were agreed to, and amendments made by the Council to the Public Trust Office Amendment Bill were agreed to.