PARLIAMENT.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVI, Issue 72, 30 July 1913, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

TUESDAY, JULY 29

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Wellington, July 29

The House met at 2.30

The Hamilton High School Reserve Bill (Mr Young) was read a first

The Local Bodies’ Loans Bill was brought down by Governor’s Message and read a first time. The State Advances Bill and Rangiora Drill Shed Bill were read a first time.

IN COMMITTEE. The House then went into committee.

At clause 2 of the Magistrate’s Court Bill, Mr G. Laurenson objected to the proposal that every magistrate appointed hereafter shall be a barrister of not less than five years’ standing. Mr G. W. Russell moved that the clause be struck out. The Hon. A. L. Herdman said tha if the clause were struck out, he would have to withdraw the Bill. It was necessary in the interests of the coun try that the clause should remain.

The House, divided on Mr Russell’s amendment, which was negatived by 39 to 23. The Hon. J. A. Millar then move.' to provide that clerks of magistrate’s courts who had been ten years in ofiic, shall be eligible for appointment. The Hon. A. L. Herdman said tba he could not accept the amendmen unless provision were made that theclerks were barristers or solicitors.

Mr Millar agreed to the alteratioi of the amendment, which was carriec on the voices.

A new clause was added to provid that letters cf administration and pro bate be granted by a magistrate wber the estate did not exceed £IOO.

A new clause, moved by Mr A. H Hindmarsh, was adopted by the Minis ter and included in the Bill. The clause provided that in claims up t; £•SO magistrates should be empowered to give judgment under the “equity and good concience” provisions of the Act.

The Bill was reported with the amendments.

THE POLICE FORCE BILL

In committee Mr Veitch claimed that members of the Police Force sho*4d bo allowed to form their contemplated Association. He had been for over 20 years a member of the railway staff and knew the history of the formation of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants, and tinsame arguments and the same tactics were being employed against the pro motors of the Police Association as had been adopted towards thp Rail way Association. That was a mistake as it was an error to suppose that organisation amongst Government employees was to bo subversive of ■ discipline. The Hon. A. L. Herdman, in reply, said that there was no analogy between the police force and the railway servants. If an association was formed and industrial trouble arose, who would control tho force? Xo Minister or Commissioner, but some irresponsible labor leader who controlled tho union.

The Hon. W. F. Massey contended that there was no real unrest or dissatisfaction in the force. It must be recognised that where 800 men were employed there must he some malcontents. ff the men of the force had any grievances there was nothing to prevent them going to the Commissioner. and through him to the Minister. The Government was quite prepared to meet the men in any reasonable way.

Progress was reported at 12.45, and tho House rose.