PARLIAMENT.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 589, 30 July 1913, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

THE ADVANCES EILL

MAGISTRATE APPOINTMENTS. JMY 'IT.J.I-X.r. Al' i I. —.J'IIKSS .VVM.K.'L.VTIO.V. 1 Wellington, Tuesday. The House met at 2.30 p.m. The Hamilton High School Reserve Bill was read a first time. The Local Bodies Loans Rill was brought down by Governor's message and read a first time. The Hon. Mr Allen said the measure was a consolidating one. It had one important new provision for allowing the larger local bodies to go upon the marke for loans up to half a million a year with the Government guarantee. Under the present law the superintendent of the Advances Board could borrow money outside without getting the consent of the Government n*r3t.

The measure provided that the Minister was the only one who could borrow. The Bill would deal with advances to settlers, workers, and local bodies but administrative powers would not be dealt with. The most important feature was the provision for a sinking fund of one per cent, which would be paid to the Public Trustee. That was in addition to the old Reserve Fund. It was also proposed to remove the Minister from the Advances Board. The board would consist of the Superintendent, ValuerGeneral, Commsissioner uf Crown Lands, and two others.

Mr Russell said if: the Minister was removed from the Board the Government would not be able to keep in touch with the committments made by the Board, and the Minister would not have the opportunity of observing the .Movement of the board. The Minister, replying, said no single loan could be granted without the sanction of the Minister. Provision was made for allowing the Minister access to all documents of the Board.

The House then went into Committee on several Bills.

At clause 2 of the Magistrates Court Bill, Mr Laurenson objected to a proposal that every magistrate appointed hereafter shall be a barrister of not less than five years standing. He contended that a Magistrates Court was not a court of law, but a court of equity. Mr Millar supported the objection. He held that the amount offered (£7OO yearly) would not attract the persons to be moat desired. Mr Wilford said the Magistrates i Court was the most important court in the land, and he objected to making ' it a close corporation for lawyers. He ; supported the objection. The Hon. Mr Herdman said theclause was not put in the Bill with the j intention to benefit any particular sec- : tion of the community, but to improve the Bench. Jn the past appointments ■ had been made which turned out to be failures. He hoped the provisions of the Bill would attract a better class i to the Bench. I Mr Laurenson said he knew of a i man who had passed his lawyer's ex- | amination brilliantly but who was a ■ dismal failure on the Bench. Mr Russell said the Bill provided . for the appointment of magistrates by j the Government. He asked what was to become of the Public Service Commisisoners. They appeared to be j ignored under the Bill, and patronage reserved to the Minister. He moved that clause 1 be struck out. Mr Herdman said if the clause were struck out he would have to withdraw the Bill. It was necessary in the interest) of the country that the clause remain. Messrs Hannan, Bell and Lee supported the proposal to confine appointments to barristers. Mr Atmore contended that a lawyer who would take thß position at £7OO a year had not the confidence of the public otherwise he would be making over that amount. Mr Russell's amendent to delete the provision making it mandatory that future magistrates shall have five years' experience at the bar was negatived by 39 to 23. The clause making eligible clerks of the magistrate 3 courts for a magistracy provide they are barristers or solicitors was included in the Bill as was another clause providing that letters of administration and probate shall be granted by magistrates where an estate did not exceed £IOO. The Bill was then reported. The Committee then considered the Police Force Bill.

Progress was reported at clause 7 and the House rose at 12.45.