PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 237, 30 September 1908, Page 3

PARLIAMENT.

I ; TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29. • LEGISLATIVE council. Bar Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. Tlw Council met at 2.30 p.m. » The committee to which the Pawnbrokers' Charges Hill was referred, reported that they were of opinion after taking evidence that the liill should not be proceeded with. The Statutes Revision Committee reported that there was not time lo proceed with the Judiciary Hill this suasion. The Inspection of Machinery till was taken in committee. Ail aineuaineat was made to clause 11 to provide that wflrere two or more steam engines are Working side by side, aud are driving a mutual shaft by means of belting or gearing, the class of engine-driver required must be determined with reference to the combined circular inch area of the cylinders. The Bill was reported with amendments and read a third ■time and passed.

The Harbors' Amendment Bill was re-committed for consideration. Clause 5, providing for the granting of occupation leases of foreshores was struck out. Clase 6, which provides that reclamations by local authorities may ill certain cases be authorised by the Governor iu Council was also struck out. The Bill was reported with amendments, read a third time and passed. The Public Bodies Leases Bill was taken in committee. Progress was re- I ported and the Council adjourned at 6 pjn. The Council resumed at 8 p.m. Uhe Attorney-General, in nfoiring the 6e«ond reading of the Arbitration lAmeartment ißill, said that the definittdom of "strike" or "Jock-out" as set forth in the Bill, was unsatisfactory, had • it ■was for the Council to clearly define these pwitofe. Iti would also be necesehry ho fully consider the Concilifrttfan Council clauses. It was intended to have hhe Bill' referred to the I»i----bor BDle Committee after the pa'ssing Df the isecojud reading. The was adjourned, and the JDouiici] rose ob 11.15 pint

, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. j SECOND BALLOT BILL. The Premier moved that the House disagrees with the amendment made in .the Second Ballot Bui by tne Council, and appoint a committee of Sir W. J. Steward, Mr. Lethbridge, and the mover to draw up reasons tor so disagree-

ing. . Mr. Massey regretted that the Minfcfcr had not given his reasons ,ur moving the motion. He hoped the Bill .Would be dropped, but. apparently that would not be the case. Members now realised better than ever that the electors were entirely opposed to the mca."' sure. They should have an opportunity of expressing tbeir opinions on the question. He moved that the debate fie adjourned 'for twelve months. The BQI should be dropped; instead, it was to be placed in all its hiiloousness on the Statute Book. It reminded him oi the old saying: ''Whom tne gods wish to destroy they first make mad.' 1 The effect of the principle or want of principle of. the BUI would lead to all kinds of political engineering. Mr. Jlassey went oa to quote statistics to showthat the second ballot worked badly in Germany. He was glad the Press throughout the length and breadth of it!he country had protested against the "gag" clause. Liberty of speech and freedom oj the Press were constitutional prerogatives of the people. Neither Mr. Asquith, Sir Wilfrid Laurier, nor Mr. Eeakin would dream of gagging the Press. Eternal vigilance was the price of liberty, and the worst tyranny was possible under a democratic Government.

Sir Jqjeph Ward said he had adopted .the usual constitutional course. Air.

Massey had adopted an unusual one. If Mr. Massey's motion were agreed to, the House would be stultifying itself. His (the Premier's) object in bringing the Bill down, was to ensure majority rule. In spite of the clamor raised over the Bill, he had received assurances- from all over the Dominion -that the people approved the measure. As for the "gag" clause, the grossest misrepresentation had appeared in the Press. The clause was intended to kelp the poor man. He was not afraid oi .the Press, nor daunted by concerted action on its part. The Opposition was against the Bill, because they thought it would be against their party interests. Mr. Wilford was strongly opposed to the Bill, and utterly so to the "gag" clause. In the first place, it would not be effective, but if it were, it would strike at one of the most effective safeguards of the public and of members of Parliament themselves. He made a powerful appeal to maintain Ifihflt liberty which had been hardly fought for in days of long ago. Mr. W. Fraser strongly protested against the Bill, which he said did not meet with the approval of the country j districts. Mr Fisher said he was certain that the majority of members did not favor til* "Bill. Referring to the "gag'* clause, he said all the talk about gag ■was all Ihumbug. He proceeded to make a violent onslaught on the news-

paper press of the Dominion, which he

called a "gutter-snipe" press, declaring he -would have to spend half an hour to enumerate all the names by which it should be designated. It was a

piece of machinery to set up to protect vested interests and picked men.

Mr. Hogg did not fhink the majority of the Press was "gutter-snipe." He

'supported tie principle of the Bill. Mr. Poole expressed the opinion that there was undoubtedly a "gutter-saipe ; ' pKss in the Dominion, though many jopers had done good.work. Mr. Massey's amendment was lost by 38 to 18.

On the original motion being put, Mr, Baume supported the principle of the Bill, but thought the clause allowing publication of statements of fact during the interval between ballots Would be so manipulated as to undo tile whole principle of the Bill. . On the resumption of the House, the debate was continued. Mr. Allen said it was common report in the lobbies tliat the vote taken in the afternoon was the result of an intimation given to supporters that the division was to J>e treated as a want of confidence vote. Sir Joseph Ward gave this an emphatic denial. Mr. Allen retorted that the Minister might give it a denial but nevertheless it was true.

Mr. Barclay said tile second ballot lhad been a failure elsewhere, chiellj because of the tremendous influence

brought to bear between the first and second ballots.

Mr. Tanner, while opposed to the Bill root and branch, saw nothing to be gained at this stage by further opposition. Mr.. McGowan said the Opposition ! was against the Bill because it was dangerous—(hear, hear) —dangerous, !,,■ meant, to the Opposition. Newspapers would be prosecuted for contempt of Court if they commenU-,1 upon cases subjudice. and he failed to see why clause 19 should be called a "ga<:" ! ftecause it was -proposed to establish the B&me principle in elections. Mr. Herries said the Government was afr,aid that (its own Vote wmild be split. Mr, .Seddon would never have dreamed of bringing such «. Jiill down. The whole (measure pvas one of the most extraordinary ever brought before 'Parliament. After further discussion the motion was agreed -to on 'the voices. LOCAL BODIES' (LOANS.

Tbe House werifc itofto committee on tlid Local "Bodies' 'Loans Amendment Bill. At clause 19, (providing tlrat the. fPtfblic Trustee h to S>c the sole commissioner of .sinking fiiTids, some discission took place us to the meaning of the clause and extent ©it itfcj operation.

Mr. (Irani said that under the clause It was fonipulsory upon ,loco I bodie.s Io make the Public Trustee a sinking fin <1 commissioner, who titer (lie Covemmeut guarantee was behind the toan or -in!. Sir Joseph Ward Raid that would li? the "ease in regard to a,ll future loans. 1 Mr. 'Jfiussey said that wan very uuIhut. ' fft meant Hint local pulili.- b<> Hies must invest sinkintr funds in> (Inirermnen't idebentiiTes whether the loans "we're, guaranteed or not. ITc ,*inv no Objection to s wh -,i -I.i|mlnl!■ >n where the Govenranetitf. juarantecd the loin, hut in other cafes fho local bodies ,would strongly object to sik-Ii coinpulB!wi. After noun- furth'T <li' S:r Joseph Ward said the proposal was a ■reasonable one. The extm interest loraM)'oiliivi miabt nl-'a'n <au(-Mo the <~!o----fetiMnent for pinking fnnd« -unuld be Scarcely /worth ('OnVtideriir?. lint, if !t "Wens considerably fnrwre it-would nieon Ih'at the pcruriiv would «l»o hfi'!, furfhor. H vnpjf] inn mioiu'v 'dear. Under this proposal tlio Ovrfniaranfoorl tTw* ■whole nv i i Bient of the sinking fund. , f?omp Mlipj* rmr'nV said tho -HlVr-i of Hhe clsu?? avohli' !•<», t-o prevent local foodies oMaj.mpr ? |Vrst-'ela?.<* wuritv <\l Jlfoh interest <le the! Dominion. >rr. nm»ndnvent was defenf- » was njyived to. There wn« some division over «ec-

>tion 20, which was amended 'to include the Native Maori Land Laws Amendment Act, 11)02. ■(Left Sitting).