PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 81849, 20 September 1906, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER iy. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. The Council met at 2.30. The Attorney General moved t];e second leading of the Arbitration Act Amendment Hill. JJu explained that the measure had nothing to do with the Conciliation and Arbitration Act.. Under the existing law of iScjoj the term "submission" was defined as "matters in difference." It had been found in practice in strict law that there were many cases which instanced questions such as valuation by arbitration mutually agreed upon, the value of improvements and other matters of like character. It was intended to enlarge the expression "submission," and to make this amendment of the iaw retrospective.

The second reading was agreed to without discussion.

The Attorney-General moved the second reading of the Motor Regulation, designed to make further provision for regulation, registration, and identification of motor cars, and to further so safeguard the public. Several members urged that it would be preferable to have one comprehensive measure dealing with the whole question, tp a Bill '\ike the present, making numerous amend ments in the existing law. Hon. Mr Bolt moved the adjournment of the debate for a week. Hon. A. Pitt said the motion was made at his suggestion. If it were agreed to, he would, in the meantime have a consolidating Bill drafted. The motion was agreed to.

The Firearms Bill was recommitted on the motion of the AttorneyGeneral, and further amended. The imprisonment penalty for youths was eliminatd and a new clause was ;n----serted, providing for forfeiture of the firearm in event of the conviction of a youth under fifteen for breach f the law. The Bill was reported. The Council adjourned at 3.40.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House mot at 2.30. RECIPROCITY TREATY. Mr llanan moved for a week's extension to the Industries and Com merce Committee for its report on the treaty.

Mr Massey objected, intimating' that he thought two minutes quite enough to deal with the treaty according to its deserts. The Premier pointed out that some fresh evidence had come in late, as to the effect of ti c treaty on fruits. The chief answers to questions in matters of general interest are that it is not proposed to gazette a general close season for native or imported game next year (1907), but shooting will be prohibited in ceitain specified areas, and there will be a c ose season throughout the co ony for native pigeon, pukeko, and kaka, as provid ed by section 4 of The Animals Protection Act, IQOO. In re school books, etc., that changes in school books are necessary to lieep pace with modern developments, and they are fair')' considered by the Education Boards, that uniformity is as much out of the question as it was a year ago; that the antiquated system of pass as a means of testing progress wil! Nat be reverted to; progress, examinations by the .teacher are, however, necessary as commonplace matters of school routine in regular recurrence, such progress examinations, on the 'results of which in due course the promotion of the individual pupil is based, take place at various times throughout the year, and there seems no dominating rcasoji why, if found expedient, it should not be arranged that the annual series of sych exam'na tions should be completed and the chief body of made at the close of the ca'endar year. An obvious practical difficulty at present suggests itself in the requirement of certificates of competency and of proficiency, in which are required the decision and personal judgment of the inspector. A day will be given for the discussion at the Imperial Conference should time permit. A married woman's property measure, giving the wife a ha ! f share in the homestead site, is under the consideration of the Cabinet. The potato duty will be considered when the whole tariff is reviewed. The new education syllabus is not at all exacting, but some practices in some of f he schoo's (examinations, etc.) often are very much so.

The House adjourned at 5-'3o p.m. for dinner.

EVENING SITTING. The House' resumed at 7.30. ELECTIVE EXECUTIVE. Sir W. Steward moved the second reading, prefacing his remarks with a brief review of the history of a measure which had been eleven times before the House. He recognised that a Bill of such importance ought to be a Government measure, but that could not be expected till some Go. vernment felt itstvf backed by public opinion. Still, as there was a large section who thought with him, he was justified in bringing down- the Bill. It had neyer been read a second time, but he was sure the time was not _far off when the principle would have pub ic opinion behind it. The plain issue was whether the Cabinet could be better selected by the House or by one man. The new system would strengthen the position of individual Ministers, enlarge the liberty-of individual members, ensure the decision of great questions on their merits, give opportunities for revising the composition of Cabinets, without the many inconveniences of ano confidence motion. He admitted the good results of the past, but denied they were due to the present system. Ile denied the allegation of novelty, citing Switzerland, Maine, and other countries, adding that in this country novelty ought to be no objection. The arguments, pro and con, had been used so often that 110 would not enlarge-itpon them, but [ would content himself with stating them and wailing for anything on the debate that might require rep'y. The Hon. C. Mi;ls could not let the occasion pass without renewing his opposition to it. He characterised it.s principle, as absurd, as likely to hinder Ministers in the discharge of their duties, as an insult to every leader with a policy which lie had induced the country to accept, as de sir. ving the organi.satii.ll of business and as productive'of chaos. Mr Gray supported the 'Hill "cordially.'' He ■exp'ained its provisions, cited the example of l«ca| bodies am| pub.ic companies, and contended 1 that novo ty was no detriment to any measure in this country of many successful novelties. Mr McLachlan said he always sup ported the Bill, and would do so again. Had it been in force here, the Premier would a few weeks ago have been saved ir\uch trouble,. Mr ]\ll congratulated' flip lu|Oiie ; r on his ability 'and courage, and iu L voted' the example of' Switzerland, fchich had established the elective ex ecutive and man;, oilier institutions " which had achieved permanence'.' lie denied that the Bill wcu d abolish

parlies. Mr Thopisqn also complimented tlie mover, and argued in detail tliat tho Bill would conduce lo good governniont, Wj; llanan pointed out that the present system had done good woik in the past, and no attempt had been (nado to prove that it had resisted the popular will, or retarded its effect. The new system WHt'fl ojjojj tho door to introduce log t'o'ling. ' It" hA'd not been before th<- country in any way.

Sir W. Steward thanked the House in his reply for its courtesy. He saw no hope of immediate success, Init much for eventual success. Replying to the argument that the Bil. had not been before the country, he said that would be easily remedied, ; as in a very short time, they would be all before the country again. The House divitlocjAves 22, noes 3-, and the Dill was lost. NOXIOUS WEEDS BILL. Consideration- in Committee was resumed. Fn c'aiise 3, the Commit lee on the previous occasion had retained the wsrd "shall," making tho clause mandatory 011 local bodies for the clearing of roads and lands under their control. Mr Witty moved the addition after "sha:l" of the words "on receipt of

a petition signed by a majority of the ratepayers of the district affected." f After a long discussion the Committee divided : Ayes 20, noes 30, The amendment was lost.

Mr Tanner moved to strike out the words "out of general rate," with a view to inserting a special rate A motion to report progress was defeated by 12 to 35, and the division on Mr Tanner's amendment was— Ayes 27, noes 21. The amendment was lost.

Progress was reported to the House. x

I he House adjourned at 11.25 P.m.