PARLIAMENT.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2288, 5 September 1908, Page 3

PARLIAMENT.

THURSDAY EVENING’S SITTING

[Press Association.]

WELLINGTON, Sept. 4

After midnight in the House on Thursday niglit, the amendments by the Legislative Council in the Oamuru Reserves, the Incorporated Societies, and the Coroners Amendment Bills were agreed to. The Civil. Service Amendment, the Pawnbrokers’ Charges, and Taujio No. 2 Block Bills were read a third time and passed, and the Houso roso at 12.20 a.m.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. AFTERNOON SITTING. The Legislative Council met at 2.30 p.m. The Attorney-General moved the committal of the Law Practitioners Amendment Bill.

Hon. J. ltigg thought the Bill did not conserve tiro rights of thoso at present studying. If seven years’ practice as a solicitor was sufficient to qualify for positions on the Supremo Court Bench it- was sufficient to allow of such person practising as a barrister. The question to considor was whether tho standard of education set up for solicitors was adequate, and ho believed that the answer would be affirmative. He thought tho examination could he simplified without detriment to tho profession. For instance, ho did not think it necessary that a solicitor should have a 'knowledge of Latin. He -moved as an amendment that tho Bill bo referred to tho Statutes Committee.

Hon. W. Kelly, who seconded tlio amendment, entirely disagreed with the Bill. In his reply, tlio Attorney-General said that, what was required of a barrister was to pass an examination on known law, and any man who could not pass that had no right to take six and eightpence out of any person’s pocket. A man was also required to pass an examination in international law, conflict of laws, and jurisprudence, and any ordinary intelligent young fellow should be able to pass the'examination. The Bill was not raising the question of caste or making the profession exclusive. Nine-tenths, of the legal students of the Dominion wanted tlio Bill. The amendment was negatived, and the Bill committed. A new clause was inserted to make the Act inoperative in the case of every person who has been admitted as a solicitor before the passing of the Act, or is admitted as a solicitor before December 31, 1911. The Bill was reported. The Oamaru Harbor Board Loan Bill and the Waikohu County Bill were passed, and the Council adjourned at 4.45 p.m. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. AFTERNOON SITTING. The House met at 2.30 p.m. On the motion of the Premier, it was decided to place ou record the high sense of the services rendered to the country and Parliament by the late Mr. A. D. Willis, formerly member for Wanganui, whoso death occurred a few days ago. The third reading of the Town Boards Amendment Bill was moved, and during the discussion Mr. H. G. Ell suggested that if ono Minister was in charge of all local government matjters ho would then be an expert. Sir Joseph Ward said that if one Minister had to deal with all local government questions, at would involve his going into other Minister’s departments for information. The whole question involved the creation of another Ministerial Department and the appointment of an extra Minister, and he did not know ,if the country was disposed to have that. Mr. Massey: There are too many now. Sir Joseph Ward: Well, the lion, member may. say so, but I don’t think others will agree with him. Sir Joseph Ward added tha\ he was sure the country did not want Ministers to work themselves to death, and when the country realised what was on the shoulders of Ministers it would understand what was necessary. Mr. Massey did not agree that an increase of Ministers was necessary. Mr. Hornsby: They want undersecretaries. Mr. Massey: They don’t. If Ministers devoted themselves to their work instead of gadding about the. country attending race-meetings and opening every tuppenny-halfpenny school they would not be overworked. If anyone had a right to complain it was the Leader of the Opposition, who had more work on his shoulders than anyone else. Sir Joseph "Ward: You give me your correspondence for one day and I’ll give you mine. Mr. Massey: You give me your secretaries. Mr. T. Mackenzie held that more Ministers were necessary to cope with the work. After further discussion of a general character, the third reading was carried and the Bill passed. The Police Offences Act AmeiuL ment Bill was read a third time and passed. In committee on the Second Ballot Bill, Mr. Massey said that the short title of the Second Ballot Bill was misleading, as there might be three or even four ballots. The Bill would lead to political corruption, and was a distinctly retrograde measure. A huge mistake was being made in forcing the Bill on the electors, who had not asked for it and did not want it. Sir Joseph Ward said that no more than two ballots were possible. It was a mistake to suppose that the Bill was a party measure or that minorities would be disfranchised by it. Tlio House, rose at 5.30 p.m. EVENING SITTING. The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. The debate on the short title was continued and carried on at great length, a stonewall being obviously intended. The Premier said that everybody recognised the Opposition’s little c/ame. ° Mr. J. Allen denied that the Bill was being blocked. Tlio Opposition were anxious to put forward all the arguments against the Bill to show exactly what its nature really was, so that Government supporters might vote in accordance with their real opinions. At 8.25 p.m. the short title clause was passed by 39 votes to 14 votes. On clause 2, Dr. Chappie moved a series of .amendments to sub-clause 2 which the chairman ruled out of order as being negative of tlio second ballot. Progress was reported to consult the Speaker. The chairman’s ruling was uphold by the Speaker. . • \ ' Sir Joseph Ward moved ail amendment to sub-clause 2, clause 2, providing that where at tlio first ballot the first eandidato has polled 500 votes more than the second lie shall be deemed to have obtained an absolute majority, even though lie should not liavo done so mathematically. Mr. Massey supported the principle, even though it pratieally meant the destruction of the absolute rnaJ °sfr Joseph Ward acknowledged the suggestion came to him from the Opposition side of the House. Mr. Mussey moved that tlio figures 500 be reduced to 250. , Sir Joseph Ward could not accept that proposal, saying it would be too narrow. , , , . Mi‘ Massey’s amendment was lost, and Sir Joseph Ward’s was carried by 36 votes to 15 votes. Clause 2 was agreed to. Clause 3 was agreed to by 40 votes to 12 votes. ... i Clause 4, referring to tlio interval between the first and second poll, was carried on the voices. Clauses 5 to 8 were passed unaltered without debate. At clause 9 exception was taken to the compulsory character thereof. The clause was carried by 36 votes to 12 votes. Clauses 10 to 14 were agreed to without discussion.