PARLIAMENT.

King Country Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 398, 23 September 1911, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

[I!Y TKI.KCKAVU. I'BKSS ASSOCIATION.]

Wellington, Last Might

The Council met at 2.30 p.m

The Mental Defectives Bill was reported with amendments, the chief of which were that two medical certificates should be given to the InspectorGeneral, upon an application from a parent or guardian to commit a minor to an institution and that periodica! visits of inspector or an official visitor, should apply not only to such institutions but to every house in which a patient is kept.

The Friendly Societies Amendment. Bill was reported from committee with minor amendments.

The Stone Quarries Amendment Bill was read a third time and passed. The Council adjourned until Thurs day next.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House met at 2.30 p.m. Sir Joseph Ward informed the House that the report of the Electoral Boundaries Commisison would noc be available before Monday. The report of the Imperial Conference would be ready on Thursday evening next. The House went into committee on the Estimates. Mr Massey's amendment to reduce the vote of £1350 for Legislative Coucnil salaries by £5. as an indication that the Council should be made elective, was further considered. Speaking to the amendment Mr Massey said he was strongly of opinion that e ; ections should be on the proportional representation system. The Hon. Geo. Fowlds was certain that the time was coming when the present system would have to be altered, and when the matter came to be settled it would be found that the Upper House could not be elected on the same franchise as the General Assembly. He thought a portion of the Council should be nominative to allow of men who had done good service for the country to have a place there. Mr W. T. Jennings believed the nominative system had done good work.

Mr Fisher said if men were appointed to the Upper House for public services, or for knowledge of public affairs, there would not be so much against, the system, but immigrants and people who had never uttered a single sentiment in their lives had been appointed. Mr Herries contended that members in the Council now represented the Premier, because he appointed them. The same position would apply to any Premier.

Mr McLaren ha!d that Mr Masaey's amendment was designed to catch the unwary. After further discussion the amendment was negatived on a division, by 37 to 32.

Mr Fisher then moved to reduce the amount by £4, as aa indication that the Upper House should be abolished. The amendment was negatived by 44 to 13.

Mr J. C. Thomson moved to reduce the item by £3 as an indication that the Legislative Council should be elected by the House of Representatives. The House adjourned. EVENING SITTING.

On the resumption of the House in the evening, Sir Joseph Ward, speaking to Mr Thompson's amendment, said the proposed system would not suit tne country, and it was idle to move for an alteration in the Constitution on an item in the Estimates. He was prepared, at the proper time, to submit a well-matured and workable scheme.

Mr Massey said if they could not amend the Upper House, in whien the majority of the people had lost confidence, as at present constituted, he would vote for its abolition.

Sir Joseph Ward, in a further reply, pointed out that different sections of the public should have a voice in the Upper House, and that they had now. He was opposed to the election of the Council on a similar franchise to the House, and deadly opposed to a restricted franchise. He was not prepared to commit himself to "a regular botch." The matter should go to the country.

Mr Thompson's amendment was negatived by 30 to 8. Mr Massey asked the Premier if he would bring in the promised legislation following on the Hine Commission, making it impossible for members of Parliament to accept any commission for any transaction the Government was concerned in, or selling land to the Government.

Sir Joseph Ward said it was not the j nicest possible thing to legislate to i keep members straight as desired. The object could be attained by an alteration of the Standing Orders. j After further discussion the item "Legislative Council salaries" was passed, and the whole class for the legislative department, £27,057, passed. On the vote for the National Provident Fund Department, £>ir Joseph Ward, replying to criticisms and suggestions, said the fund could not be run by the Insurance Department. Canvassing had not been contemplated, nor would it be satisfactory. The department was advertising the scheme thoroughly. CHEAPER TELEPHONES. After midnight, Class 11, Department of Finance £45,584, was passed. On the item for rural telephones in the Postal and Telegraph Department, class 111, £960,070, Mr Massey asked for greater consideration and assistance to settlers who were expecting a great deal in the matter. Sir Joseph Ward said the new system he proposed to introduce would provide that the charges for one subscriber to exchanges not open continuously would bp unaltered. For two subscribers up to one mile the charge

would be £3 10s, and for 3, 4, :> and 6 subscribers on one line up to three miles, the charge would lie £1 extra. From three to five miles the charge was £6 each plus £7 4s for a capital charge for the first year. This was to be reduced to £4 Ss without any charge on the capital cost for the first year. Ten miles would be £8 8s plus 10s against £44 4s as heretofore. The system will allow settlers to ge( telephones at a cheap rate. Assistance will be g'wen to private lines. He intended joiner further into the whole question, The vote passed and lh<> House nisi" at 1. 50 a.m.