PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXII, Issue 170, 29 June 1900, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

(per press association.) LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Thursday, June 28. The Council met at 2.30 p.m. THE PLAGUE BILL. The Hon. W. C. Walker moved the second reading of the Bubonic Plague Prevention Bill. The Hon. Q. McLean condemned panic legislation, and feared the result would be to keep tourists away from •the colony. He agreed that the Governmeat required to take strong measures in such an emergency. The Hon. M. S. Grace thought the plague could be checked in any country if there was strict isolation. There should be no difficulty in stamping out the plague in New Zealand if they were fortunate enough to have discovered the first case which had occurred and to have taken prompt and proper steps for its isolation. The Hon. A. L. Smith said the vigorous action taken by the Government was in the real interests of the trade of the colony. The Hon. W. 0. Walker, in reply, Slid the introduction and passage of the Bill would show people at a distance that the Government was vigorously dealing with the emergency which had arisen. The Bill was read a second time, passed through Committee without amendment, read a third time, and passed. RESIGNATION OF MR. McKENZIE. A memorandum from the Governor, notifying the acceptance with regret of the resignation of the Hon. J. McKenzie as Minister of Lands and a member of the Executive Council, was ordered to be entered on the records. Nearly every member expressed regret at the necessity for Mr. McKenzie's retirement from politics, and spoke in high terms of his great services in connection with the land policy, and expressing a wish for his recovery. ADDRESS-IN-REPLY. The Address-in-Reply debate was continued by the Hons. W. Pinkerton, Gouiley, and Kerr. The latter speaker urged that greater encouragement should be given to the mining industry, particularly in getting machinery to mines in places difficult of access. Coal measures on the west coast of the South Island, now lying un'ouched, should be developed. The Hon. A. J. Cadrnan thanked members for their kind references to his eppointment to the Council. The Hon. W. C. Walker moved the adjournment of the debate. The Council rose at 4.50.

HOUSE OP REPRESENTATIVES, Wednesday, June 28. BUBONIC PLAGUE. After the Telegraph Oilice closed, Mr. Bollard asked why the Government had not requested Professor Thomson, of Auckland, to report on the subject. He believed sufficient time had elapsed to show that if it was a case of plague it had been stamped out. Mr. Ph-ani supported the Bill, but considered the charge should be put upon the Consolidate.) Fund. Mr. Massey had doubt as to the case being bubonic plague, and quoted the opinion of Dr. Bakewell in support of his contenton. Air. Fisher thought that the plague was largely made up of scare. Mr. Hall objected to the cast of dealing with the plague being made a charge upon the whole colony. Messrs. Hemes and Lewis thought that some provision should be made for compensating people whose property, in consequence of the plague, was destroyed.

Messrs. W. Fraser \nd Buddo urged that the Bill be proceeded with. Mr. Barclay thought the Bill gave the Governor too great power. Mr. Witheford would support the Bill with amendment in Committee. Mr. Guinness contended that the subject was a matter of colonial importance, and should be immediately attended to. Mr. It. Thompson had no faith in the reports of the experts as to the existence of plague. Mr. Ward replied, insisting that the evidence he had given showed conclusively that the case was one of plague. The second reading of the Bill was carried, The House went into Committee. The Bill was reported with amendments, read a third time, and passed. The House rose at 4.20 a.m. Thursday, June 28. ( The House met at 2.30. THE PLAGUE CASE. Mr. Fowlds gave notice to ask if the i Government was aware that the man! Kelly, who was alleged to have died j of bubonic plague, had been ill for six' months previously, suffering from I blood poisoning. j

MB. MCKENZIE'S RESIGNATION. Mr. Seddon made a statement that the Hon. J. McKenzie had formally resigned the portfolio of Minister of Lands. In reply to the formal announcement of the resignation, the Governor had torwarded a memo stating that he regretted the resignation, and stating that the duties of the various portfolios he held had been well carried out, especially that of Minister of Lands, and that the relations between the Ministers and himself had been from the first of a most cordial character. He moved a resolution to tho efl'ect that the House places on record its sense of regret at the resignation and expresses its sympathy with the cause thereof. Mr. Seddon proceeded to say that he felt keenly the separation. At one time he held that only' one of two things could separate his colleague and himself—the will of Parliament or death itself ; but ill-health had stepped in to efl'ect that result. There was'a feeling amongst the party that he should not ' have resigned. He (Mr. Seddon), ' under all circumstances, was of that . opinion, but Mr. McKenzie, with that \ independence that characterised him, I thought otherwise. ' Captain fiussell, Messrs. Stewart, \ Wart, Mills, miuxW) aitf MJweditJi ]

spoke in eulogy of Mr. McKenzie's public services and private worth. The motion was adopted without dissent. LIBEL BILL. Mr. Carncross gave notice to introduce the Libel Bill. [ LEAVE OF ABSENCE. Leave of absence was granted Messrs. McLashlan and O'Meara for one week. I FIRST HEADINGS. The District Court Act Amendment, Rabbit-proof Wire-netting Fences Act Amendment, State School Children's Compulsory Drill, Ratepayers' Disabilities Relief, Bicycle Dealers' Registration, Trustee Act Amendment, Mortgages, Police Oil'cnces Act Amendment, V\ eights and Measures, Animals Protection Act Amendment, Land and Income Tax Amendment, Victoria College Act Amendment, Industrial

onciliation and Arbitration, Factories, Shops and Offices, Hating on Unimproved Value, Public Contracts, Government Loans to Local Bodies Act Amendment, Imprisonment for Debt Limitation, Statutes Consolidation and Printing, Native Interpreters' Classification, Gisborne Harbour Board Further | Empowering, Government Valuation lof Land Act Amendment, Testators' Family Maintenance, Deceased Husband's Brother Marriage, Rating on j Unimproved Act Amendment, Masterton County, Lunatic Asylums Board of Enquiry, Canterbury College Empowering, Roads Obstruction Prevention, Rabbit Nuisance Amendment, Statutes Compilation, Law Amendment, Companies Act Amendment, School Attendance Act Amendment, Chambers of Commerce and Mines Registration, Commission Agents' Remuneration, Waimarino County, Abolition of Capital Punishment, Gaming Act Amendment, Magistrate's Court Act Amendment, and Public Schools Bills were introduced and read a first time. MORTGAGES BILL. Mr. W. J. Steward moved the second reading of the Mortgages Bill, which was designed to enable a more simple form of effecting mortgages on tte amount secured, increased, or reduced, or vacated by endorsement. The mover quoted cases showing the large sum charged for mortgage. Under the present law the amount of mortgage m iy be increased or reduced by memorandum endorsed thereon or connected thereto.

Messrs. Wilford and Guinness supported the Bill. Mr. McN..b supported the Bill, but doubted whether mortgagee*) would be fa-iVfisd with the security offered. Mr. Barclay doubted if the Bill would result in the cost of mortgages being reduced. Mr. Field supported the Bill. Mr. R. McKenzie thought the fact that so many members of the legal profession were supporting the Bill was a matter for suspicion, and he would look very carefully into it when the measure reached Committee, The second reading was carried on the voici'B. AIJSOLUTE MAJORITY BILL. Mr. McN.-.b moved the SHCond reading of the Absolute Minority Bill, tlie object being that, by a upejified system of recount <f votes at an election, the succissful. candidate must poll an absolute majority it the votes polled. Mr. R. McKei;zie opposed tho Bill, and considered that the Qovernment -hould have given the House a lead on the sulpet. The House took lha 5.30 adjournment. EVENING SITTING. The House resumed at 7.30 p ra. Mr. Smith said that the Bill would simply tend to complicate elections, and on that ground he would oppose the measure. If instead of such a Bill the mover had brought in one to ensure purity of elections he would find no greater champ : on than he (the speaker). Mr. Hanan supported the Bill, and said that under the present law a large number of electors were often unrepre sented. Under the Bill, contingent votes rendered unnecessary a second poll.

Mr. Fisher said that ia theory the e system proposed in the Bill was perfect, - but in practice it was utterly impracY ticable. Even in our simple method of counting elections, many people had to a be instructed in the way to vote. What a would be the result if the complicated system proposed in the Bill were e adopted? Mr. Ward said that he would oppose f the Bill. The objections raised to the present system were objections that s might be urged against the election of any body. No good reason had been shown for doing away with the present - simple method of conducting elections. Mr. Lewis would support the Bill, but thought that for the measure to work fairly it would be necessary to have single electorates. J Mr. Fowlds said the Bill was intended to secure the representation of 'an absolute majority, and as hi apI proved that principle he would support \ j the Bill. ' I Mr. Millar thought the Bill a great ' | danger to the labour party, and would therefore oppose it. The second reading was carried by 36 to 23.

WOMEN'S DISABILITIES. Mr. Russell moved the second reading of the removal of Women's Disabilities Bill, which provides for women being eligible for election to any public - office or position. Messrs. Smith and Gilfedder supported the Bill. Mr. Fisher hoped the House would not sanction this travesty on legislation, savoring of the perambulator and feed-ing-bottle. Mr. Hornsby advocated equal rights for the sexes, and equal pay for women and men for similar work. Messrs. Willis and Flatman supported the Bill. The second reading was carried by 30 to 21. The House rose at 9.40.