PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 185, 7 August 1903, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

PER PRESS ASSOCIATION, LEGISLATIVE OOUNOIL. Thursday, August 6. The Council met at 2.30. In Committee, on the Liw Piactitioitm B'l l , c-I<nse 2, "admission of English practitioners without examination " wa< i m icded to read : Entitled to b9 admi ttd if a barrister as ft barrister, and if a solicitor as a solicitor."

Clause 4," solicitors admitted as barristers," was struck cut as suggested by the S'atutas Revision Committee, and the Bill was reported as amended. The Counties Act Amendment Bill from the other House was re id a second time pro forma and referred to the Statue Revision Committee. | The Liw Amendment Bill wr.s passed through Oommi' tee, the only important amendment being an alteration of the limitation of time for impeachment of a will from six to twelve years. The Canterbury College Powers Act Amendment Bill from the Lower House was read a s-oond time. The Counoil rose at 3.15.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Thursday, August 6. The House met at 2.30 p.m. Mr Hogg gave notice to ask the Minister for Labour whether he will provide work for the unemployed by a vigorous public works polioy. The Shipping and Seamens Bill was read a first time. Mr Herdman'asked the Minister of Lmds whether, as a large number of sheep in Central Otago were dying owing to the recent severe weather, he would take similar steps to those adopted by the late Sir John McKeczie in 1895 to give relief to pastoral tenants. On that occasion legislation was pissed to afford relief, and he hoped similar action would be taken by the Government on this occasion. Hon, T. Y. Duncan replied that he bad already authorised the Otago and Canterbury Land Boards to visit the affected districts and ascertain the real state of affairs, and upon their report would depend the action of the Cabinet. It waß too etrly yet to give a direct answer to Mr Herdman's question. | The Borough of Gore Electric Power Empowering Bill (McNab), and the Christohuroh Tramways Distriot Act, 1902, Amendments Bill (Witty) passed their final stages, The Wellington Hospital Contributors Empowering Bill (Field), and Wellington Harbour Boards Reclamation and Empowering Bill (Wood) were read a second time. The Electoral Act Amendment Bill (Steward), and Marriages Restriction Removal Bill (Steward) were read a second time pro forma and referred to the Statutes Revision Committee.

Mr Field moved the second reading of the Dramatic Copyright Bill designed to prevent pirating of dramatic plays. Mr Seddon agreed that necessity existed for an amendment in the direction proposed by Mr Field, If the House affirmed the principle of protecting authors and those holding copyright in plays, the Colonial Secretary, from information that had been brought under his notice, would be willing to take up the Bill as a Government mu-ure,

The second reading was carried by 38 to 17. Mr Biume moved the second reading of the Law Practitioners Act Amendment Bill, which provides that every person who has bean admitted, or who shall be entitled to be admitted as solicitor of tbe Supreme Court, shall be entitled to ba admitted as a barrister of tbe same Court upon certain conditions. Tbe Bill was under discussion when the House took the dinner adjournment. Evknisq Sitting. The Housa resumed at 7.30 p.m. ELECTIVE EXECUTIVE. The debate on the motion tor the second reading of Mr Steward's Elective Executive Bill was resumed by Mr Ell, who said that one of the stock obj fictions to the proposals was tbat under it there could be no unity and cohesion of opinion in a Cabinet, but he quoted instances to show that under the existing system the Ministry was not always a united Cabinet. > Hod. C. H. Mills opposed the Bill. Mr J. C. Thomson said that under the pio; osal tbe ablest man would always ba selected to cccupy the premier position. ' Mr E. M. Smith opposed the Bill, and the reconstruction of the present Ministry with a view to better representation of the North Island. Mr Yile supported the Bill. ] Mr Seddon said it was for the supporters of the Bill to prove that the present system w<?s detrimental to the best interests of the people, and that a change of this charaoter was necessary. The supporters of this Bill were a "cut the punter" party, for if the proposals contained in the Bill were oirried into effect it would severance of our connection with the Mother Coun'ry. (Cries of No.) He contended thn Bill, wculd take from the Governor all power in tha selection of his responsihle advisers. It would also give to the Speaker of the House power by bis casting vote to decide who a Minister should be. Was that tha voice of the people? He was surprised that members should seek to put themselves in such a false position. The elective executive system was the method adopied by would-be Ministers to get on to the Treasury Benches. Under it the town vsrsus country cry would he lnt r THified, which would be disastrous to the colony. At present, the f-iti of the Ministcy daily in the hands of Parliament, bur, under the Bill tha Ministry selected wonld hold office for three years, which was not a d'girablfl altera'ioa. He regre ted j thar, the time of tha country was being wasted over a Bill of this kind. The debate w«s cont nued by Messrs Allen, Bedfo r), and Reid. (Left sitting).