PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 220, 22 October 1909, Page 3

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL By Telegraph. —l'rts» AHBoeinrinii. Wellington, Last Night. The Council met at 2.30 p.m. Replying to the Hon. Mr. Stevens, who asked whether it was a fact that in the return of mortgages lately presented *,o Parliament, the interest shown as payable was in any case at the higher rates which are made by the mortgagees reducible when punctual payment of interest is made.

The Attorney-General said that in all cases where a mortgage disclosed a maximum and minimum rate of interest, the minimum rate was adopted. Replying to the Hon. Jenkinson, the Attorney-General stated that the specifications for the new Post Office at Wellington were so drawn that it would be practically impossible to have the steel I work manufactured outside the Dominion.

Tke Hon. Jenkinson resumed the Ad-dress-in-Reply debate. He suggested that the Attorney-General should establish a court which would simplify and facilitate the settlement of induetri.il

disputes. He urged that money borrowed outside by local bodies should be ex pended in the main within the Dominion. At present large sums were spent outside our borders. The only remedy for the unemployed difficulty'was keeping our work in the Dominion. He urged local bodies to consider this matter. He thought some board should be set up to deal with public works and prevent ._ extravagance. He insisted upon the necessity of building a harbor and dock. on the West Coast", where our main coal supplies were. j The debate was adjourned and the Council rose.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES The House met at 2.30 p.m. Mr, Sidey moved the second readins of the LOCAL TIME BILL, based on the Daylight Saving Bill introduced into the House of Commons. Thi proposals contined in the Bill, he said, received the support of many public and •private bodies in Britain, as well as many employers of labor, and deserved serious consideration. A committee on 'the Home Bill had recommended that time be put forward one hour in spring, and back again in autumn. The Bill no v introduced was based on that recommendation. The proposal was to utiliss the sunlight, which would benefit those engaged indoors, and give further time for recreation and sport. The only serious objection to the proposal was that cable news would be delayed a certain extent. The Bill would result in a great saving in expenditure on artificial

Mr. G. M. Thomson (Dunedin) opposed the Bill. He said tie same benefits could be obtained, by a little co-opera-tion.

The Premier supported the measure. The proposal, he said, was bound to be given effect to all over the world sooner Or later, and discussion on it would be beneficial.

Mr. Wilford said he expected to find the morning papers against the proposal, as they would receive no Australian cables, which would be reserved for tie evening papers. This was worth consideration.

Messrs Hanan, 'Poole, Steward, Thompson (Wallace), Stalhvorthy and McLaren supported the second reading, which was agreed to. Sir W. J. Steward moved the second reading

THE MARRIAGE ACT AMENDMENT BILL, which proposes to render lawful marriage with deceased wife's nieces or deceased husband's nephew.—Carried. Mr. SideyV

MUSICIANS* BILL, providing for the registration of musicians and the incorporation of a society, was read a second time and referred ti the Education Committee. Mr. Fisher moved the second reading Of THE LEGISLATURE AMENDMENT BILL,

to repeal the Second Ballot Act and substitute preferential voting. The debate was interrupted by the 5.30 adjournment. EVENING SITTING. Mr. F. M. B. Fisher, speaking on the second reading of his Legislative Amendment Bill, said the measure would remove all bitternesn, trouble and turmoil of the second ballot, which had the effect of disfranchising many eleWors who were unable to go a second time to the poll. The Premeir had said he expected only six ballots but there had been twenty-five at last general election. Mr. Fisher urged at least clause fi repealing the Second Ballot Bill should be passed. Mr. Laureuson opposed the second reading. The Act had not been the failure alleged, as in the fifteen centres out of twenty-five second ballots electors confirmed the first choice. Mr. Massey asked where was the use <ff the second ballot if electors in fifteen cases out of twenty-five confirmed the first choice? He would support the Bill if only for the clause repealing the Second Ballot Act. The present system was the most wasteful possible, and opened the way to gross abuses. He advocated proportional representation, which was reported to work satisfactorily in Tasmania.

Sir Joseph Ward explained the effect of the second ballot at the last general election. -The votes cast for the Government increased over 1905 by 31,000, while, those for the Opposition decreased by 13,442. He attributed the large number of second ballots to the fact that the Government paid £SO towards the expenses of candidates at the second ballot. Proportional representation in Tasmania resulted in unstable Government, the third Administration being on the point of tafeing office. It was not desirable to reproduce that state of affairs in New Zealand. Continuing, he said it had been stated that the Act was passed to injure the Labor Party, but the fact •was that the only Labor candidate who went to the second ballot was returned. •It was impossible for the second ballot to injure any party. He could not support a Bill which proposed a system .condemned by every country in Europe. jlr. Hanan contended" that although the Act was not perfect, it should have a fair trial, Mr. Herries said he believed the Government's opposition to the Bill arose from the fact that it emanated from an Opposition member. A change of Government now and then was desirable. The Bill wa6 undoubtedly better than the second 'ballot.

The Hon. Geo. Fowlds explained his support of Mr. MeXab's Absolute Majoritv 'Hil\ which was an improvement on the old system. The Fisher system rendered it possible for a candidate having the lowest number of votes to be elected. This was impossible under Mr. MeXab's system.

Messrs Buick, Xosworthy, Phillips and Outhrie supported the Bill, and Mess's McLaren, Smith, MaeDonald, Clark ani Graham opposed the second reading. (Left Sitting).