PARLIAMENT.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVI, Issue 96, 27 August 1913, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 26. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Wellington, August 26. The House met at 2.30 p.,m. The Irrigation Water Supply Bill was introduced by Governor's Message. In reply to Mr G..W. Russell, Mr Massey said that the Bill proposed to appropriate a sum of not more than £IOO,OOO for the opening up of lands for settlement in arid territories, principally in Central Otago. THE . PUBLIC TRUST OFFICE. The House went into Committee on the Public Trust Office*. Amendment Bill. During the discussion on the short title, the\Hon. A. L. Herdraan, in reply to Mr Russell, declined to disclose the evidence taken by the Public Trust Office Commission. The evidence had been given under the distinct promise that it would be treated as confidential.

At a later stage Mr Russell elicited the fact that the Minister had seen the evidence, whereupon he declared that the position was most unfair to those who had given evidence under the pledge of secrecy that their statements should be handed to the -Minister and possibly made the subject of review by Cabinet. He contrasted .this position with that-taken up by the Public Service Commission under the Mackenzie Government, who- did not allow the Government to see evidence given under the bond of confidence. He contended that as a member of Parliament he had as much' right to see confidential evidence as a Minister had. The short title was then passed. •Clause 3—the personnel of the Board amended so as to include the Minister of Finance. ; The proposal to include two nonofficial members of the Board excited considerable criticism. Mr R. McCallum moved to amend the clause so as to ensure appointees coming from the Public Service. The amendment was lost on the' voices. Mr McCallum moved to strike out danse 20, indemnifying the - Public Trustee in cases irhere -he accepts in error* but in good faith any written statement of statutory declaration as £oj.jt|ie birth,, death; marriage, dr other matter of pedigree and relationtKffb or other !matter of factvppon which the title)ltd any: estate or arty part thereof may depend. He (Mr McCallum) 1 contended thlit tins ’ prb-

jjiptbe given to the Pijh* iic Trustee unless the Minister. w.a s prepared to protect private trustees n the same way.

The Minister explained that the •lav,*? was copied from the English A.cb, which was working well. Three ,\asos have occurred in the history of die office where, on the strength, of statutory | declarations, wrong persons have‘been paid. It was necessary to protect the Public Trustee ■ .in cases kind. I'd »K)I I > ■" pilr J). Budclo said that the clause would undermine public confidence in the office. The Public Trustee should protect himself in the same way * as a private trustee did,! by an indemnity. He contended that the clause would not protect w the Public Tnistee, out 1 would protect the Public Trust Fund from liability.

Mr McCallum contender? that the dause in the Imperial Statute did not, apply in the same way as that introduced into the Bill.- There it applied to a custodian or a trustee, and not to the administrative trus-

Thc Hon. A. L. Herdman contended that the clause was necessary to- the efficient worldng of the office. There were cases ponding at the present time into which an element of doubt entered. The clause would enable the trustee to settle these cases more expeditiously than otherwise would be the case.

Mr W. A. Veitch suggested the limiting of the operation of the clause to-smaller estates. n

• The Minister offered to make the clause operative on estates not exceeding £SOO in value. He was also prepared to strike out the retrospective part of the clause.

The Opposition was scarcely mollified by these concessions, their contentions being that smaller estates were the very ones that, ought to he relieved from the operation of the clause and that discrimination between large and small-estates would be fatal to tho business of the office, and that if one class of estate was exempt all should be exempt.

A division was taken on the question of amending the danse in the direction auggesed hy the Minister, the voting being: Ayes 41, noes 10. The danse was amended.

Mr Russell then moved an amendment to provide that the danse, shall not absolve the Public Trustee from any liability which he would bo required to discharge if ho were a private trustee.

On a division the amendment was lost by 44 votes to 16, - ’ The Hill was reported with amendments. THE PENSIONS BILL.

The Committee considered the Rendons Bill, which passed through with mach i hery amen d m ent s. The House rose at 12.50.