PARLIAMENT

Hokitika Guardian, 24 July 1926, Page 2

PA RLIAMENT

[BT TELEGRAPH PER PRESS ASSOCIATION

the council

WELLINGTON, July 23 • The. Legislative Council met at 2.30 to-da.v. Air Isitt gave notice to introduce the Religious Exercises) in Schools Bid. In° Committee'on the Census and Statistics Bill, a North v. South argument was raised to some extent over The question of electorate boundaries, and Hon Witty moved first in the direction of delaying the next censtls until 1936, and then of a ten year census after 1931. Both amendments were defeated and the Bill passed Without amendment. ' The Evidence Amendment Bill and Death Duties’ Amendment Bill were put through their final stages and passed. Replying jo a question Toy Hon Cohen, Sir Heaton Rhodes stated that the question of superannuation for nurses in Departmental institutions, classified as non permanent, is subject of a report to be submitted to the Cabinet by the Public Service Commissioner.

The Council adjourned at 4.15 till Tuesday next.

THE HOUSE. The House met at 2.30 p.m. /The House went''at once into Committee of Supply to further ■ considci the Estimates. The following Estimates were passed: Post and Telegraph Department, £2,496,929; Tourist Department, £75,670;' Department of Internal Affairs, £338.961; 'Public Buildings, £260,568 ; Afaintenapce to Ronds, £124,000; River Protection and Improvement Works,,- £9,000. At 12.20 the House adjourned till 2.30 on Tuesday.

WOAIEN JUSTICES. The Hon F. J. Rolleston, in moving the second reading of the Justices of the Peace Act Amendment Bill, Aon Thursday, said the most interesting clause was that, enabling women to bo appointed justices of the peace, thc principle of which had been affirmed by the House on two or three occasions, and had alsq been .affiarmed by the fact that women could be appointed to the bench of thc Children’s Court. He did not think there would he any conflict in: the House on that clause. The remaining clauses were more or less technical, and were designed to simplify the law without violently altering it in principle. Wien in committee he proposed to add a new clause enabling members of the Legislature to witness declarations. . '

Air Holland, leader of the Opposition, complimented'the Minister on paving the way for women being made justices. He only hoped the Government would carry it out to the logical conclusion and appoint women to office. He also approved of the provision giving members of Parliament power to witness documents. *

Dir Veitch repeated his complaint that working men were.riot appointed justices, and more generous administration of the law in this connection was necessary. j The Hon R. A. Wright said that working men wore not 'appointed to the commission of the pence because it was not possible for working men to perform the duties of office during working hours. It was not,due to any party prejudice.

Mr Savage argued that working men who wanted to make a declaration should have the right to make it before a working man. Sir Joseph Ward generally approved the Rill and desired the Minister to say whether he was prepared to appoint women to the police force and allow them-to act on juries.

Messrs Dl’Combs, Horn and Buddo favoured the appointment of more working men to the commission of the peace, while Dir Lysnar roundly condemned the appointment of women. In reply to complaints of memhers that either recommendations had been ignored, the Minister said there already were 5700 justices hi the Dominion, which worked out at 3 per cent of the populatnn, so that if all the justices asked for were not appointed it might possibly he that, on inquiry, it was found there were already sufficient in the district. He was prepared to consider the suggestion that summonses should be delivered by registered post in out-lmck •’districts. The Bill was read a second time.