PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 225, 16 September 1908, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

TUESD.U, lu. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. By Telegraph.—-Presa Association. Wellington, Lasu Nigiwt. The Council inoi at The Hon. .Mr. iieeves took the chair in tiie unavoidable absence of the Speaker. Tne report of tile joinL committee mi tlio proposed situ lor the Parliamentary buildings was laid on the 'table. .SECOND BALLOT 151LL. On Uie motion to go into committee on tjlie .Second Ballot Bill, the lions. -Sinclair and Kelly defended the Bill, and expressed their intention 01 supporting ili'c measure. Tliu Hon. O. 'Samuel adversely criticised ilto measure and contended' it was not advisable lo change the mode of electing members to the House. lie particularly objected to the provision of elan*!* 2 and the "gag'' clause. The Hon. \V. Carncross expressed li's intention of opposing tilie '"gag"

Tho Hon. AlcArdl'e would support the Bill generally, but opposed the provision of clause 2. The lion. Calkm described the "gag'' clause as a deliberate blow at tho liberty of the Press. He hoped tire clause would be rejected. The Hon. Bailey said he would support the Bill, but opposed the 500 majority proviso. Thy Ilon. Paul objected to tho "gag" clause, and the 000 majority proviso. The Hon. Jones said lie would e:i----i deavor to exclude the u gag" clause I from the Bill.

The Attorney-General said, in deference to the criticism of the Coim'cil, that ho was prepared in committee to remove uhe 000 majority proviso of clause ± He justified the inclusion of clause I!) (tiie "gag" clause), which hnd the support of the majority ol members of tile House, and this was an indication that llie clause was a reasmable one. He justified ihe clause which would give each candidate a fair opportunity of obtaining the suffrages of his fellows in the interval between I the first and second ballot. He would be prepared to submit an amendment to provide for the publication of a statement if true in substance, a:ul if publication thereof is for the public henelit. The motion was carried, and clause 1 passed unamended. The Council adjourned at 5 p.m. until S p.m. The proviso to clause 2 was struck out. Clauses 3 to 17 passed unamendvd. Consideration of clause 18 was postponed until after clause 10 was dealt with.

lion. Uigg .moved an amendment to strike out i\w first line of the clause. The amendment was rej'ectod by 17 to to 10. Hon. Dr. Eindlay moved an amend-, ment to sub-clause 1, clause 10, to provide for it being an ollVnce for any person to address or take part in any public meeting with intent to promote or oppose the election of any candidate at the second ballot.

(Left Sitting). HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House met at 2.30. VARIOUS BILLS.

A Bill for tire Closer Settlement of Land by the establishment of Land Settlement Associations brought down by Message from the Governor wr- & read a first time.

Thi: Manawatu ltaihvay Purehavi Dill was committed and reported after u desultory discussion on various mieor points.

In committee 071 the Public Pidi.\s Leases Bill, at sub-section 4, cla.m 8, the lion. U. McNab said it w.) lt ] \ I L > unwise not to give the leasing authority the discretion provided t.h >:•. n, otherwise ii might have to ac."! it. an untinaneial or otherwise mule ural-le tenant.

The Hon. T. Duncan said in everc case the local body should ha'e to show cause why the higlrest tender was not accepted. Several other members spoke to the same effect, and also objected lf > sibseetion 5 as i'nd'cfmito. On the motion of 1-Ton. McXab. th. se two suctions were struck out. The House adjourned at 5.30 P n\, and resumed at 7."0. The Public Bodies' Leases Bill "was read a third time and passed. /

The Wellington and Manawatu Railway Bill was read a third time aivdj passed.

The Inspection of Machinery Amendment Bill, Declaratory Judgments Bill, ami Impounding Amendments Bill, were read ft third time and passed.