PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 233, 6 November 1909, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

FRIDAY, NOVEMIiEU 5. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

liy Telegraph,—Press Asaociatiun. Wellington, Lust Night. The Council met at 2.JU. The Attomey-<ienerul moved the secoiid reading' ol tlu» Kdonnaioiy Institutions Jt jtj.tuJs ilie 1 drunkards provisions of the Police Offences Act, i IJOH, and makes mrther [novision in the same maUer, Private establishments may, us hitherto, be licensed as inebriate homes', and habitual inebriates (including persons addicted to ihe excessive n>e of drugs) may be ordered to he detained (1) on abdication of the inebriate, (2) uu the summary conviction of a magistrate. (3> by order or a magistrate on the coni|j.a.ii >m' a lel.itivc of the inebriate, (4) by a .I'idgc of the Supreme Court on the conviction of an inebriate in thai court for J'liy oll'encc of whuh drink was the contributing cause. Ihe period of detention extendi from -ix monilis to Mvo years. The Kill also provides for ihe establishment of reformatory bonus to which or may he committed for certain sjweiliod oU'eneea, instead oi

Ihmii£ imprisoned, or filter Hit* expiry of liie term of im/jri-oujiHvit.. J lie Ailor ney-detieral explained lliat i!ie hiw *\;is

defective and ernde in these nialters,an» 1 li# l preseni measure was oil the lines ol t,lu* law of England. The Hon. J. l'anl urged thiit the Bill made for permanence, and waa prac* tieal and necessary. The lions. T. Mills and Bcehan supported the Bill. The Hon. Callan, while sympathising mainly with the measure, said it would require careful scrutiny, as it affected the liberty of the subject, and he was glad it would be referred to the Statutes Revision Committee. The Hon. <i. J. Smith also held that: the Bill should he referred to the Statutes Revision Committee, though lie approved the principle embodied. The Hons. Collins, Luke, Sinclair and Carncross also vpoke in approbation of the Bill, which was read a second time and referred to the Statutes Revision Committee.

The Council ad journed, pending receipt from the House of the Imprest Siinnlv Bill.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES The Imprest Supply Hill was introduced in the House by Governor's message. On the motion for the committal of the Bill, Mr. Wright moved -as an amendment thai Government advertisements he distributed to the press' regardless of political opinions. He mentioned that the Dominion had been excluded from the receipt, of Government advertise ments, although it had a large circulation.

Considerable discussion ensue 1 . n lln j subject, the Premier remarking that the mover and the seconder (Mr. Fisherl had been made political catspaws of i-v the Opposition in the matter. More money was spent in advertising in Wellington than in any other city, and the advertisements were distributed throughout the country with perfect fairness. Mr. Massev said the boycotting of the Opposition press was no new tactics. Ten years ago a Wellington journal had heen punished for criticising the Government., by the withdrawing of the advertisements. I The amendment was lost, bv 37 to IS. EVENING SITTING. liu the House, at the evening sitting, on the motion to go into Committee ot Supply oil the Imprest Bill for .I7ii,()0l), «ir Joseph Ward, referring to ilr. Wright's statement of the afternoon relative to the distribution of Government advertisements, said the "Dominion" had manifested strong political bias, leading to unfair criticism, in marked contrast to other leading Opposition journals. No member of the Cabinet interfered with the New Zealand Times, which was managed in a highly creditable and impartial manner. Any interest held by members of the Government in that journal was entirelv in their private capacities. An attempt had been made hy landed proprietors to destroy the Government organ in Wellington, and he (the Premier), along with others, had frustrated that in the interests of tho country. He denied that the Government had attempted to alter the polities of the " Dominion" by means of boycotting, and resented the insinuations levelled at the Administration of using public funds to bribe supporters in the press. The House then went into Committee of Ways and Means, and the Bill was read a second time and passed through committee.

Oil the motion for Hie third reading Mr. Massey complained of the luck of itifoiinution relative to the 1 oilim recently raised in England. The I'remier oiHil to have put before (lie House details'ci the retrenchment scheme. Rumors were rife of gross favoritism j n connection with retrenchment.

Mr. Ilerries asked ||ic p r( 'inu'r fOl fuller dctnils in regard to t.lie financial and taxation proposal* of the fjover-v luent. '

Sir Joseph Ward said thai on Wednes. day next these «.,„|,l be placed before Ihe House, lie hoped before the end o,' the week to circulate tlie 'Land. Defence, and Native Bills, JTe denied the accusntion of favoritism in oarrviii" out r«tronohmont in Hie Civil Service Jf. would give such information as lie could in regard to loans already placed, but this must necessarily be limited, for on vious reasons'.