PARLIAMENT

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 65, 7 September 1911, Page 5

PARLIAMENT

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER (>, 1011. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. By Association. Wellington, Last Night. The Legislative Council met at 2.30. Sir John Findlay, Attorney-General, officially announced the retirement of r the Hon. G. Fowkfe and the acceptance of that Minister's resignation by the Governor. Il.e expressed regret at the severance of official relations- with the lion, gentleman, with whom he had been associated for some years. The Wanganui School Sites Amendment Bill was read a second time. Sir John Fimllay moved the Becond reading of the Mental Defectives Bill at considerable length. the lion. J. Rigg 'took exception to the provision of the Bill referring to the licensing of institutions. He contended that mental defectives should he directly under the case of the State. Tt was undesirable to send mentally deficient persons to a private institution conducted for profit. The benefits derivable from public hospitals were superior to those of private institutions. Under the Bill large private institutions would spring up all over the State, and he asked wither it was intended to fix the burden on the community rather than on the State. If so, he was sorry for it. Many of the mental defectives'were well able to do work of various kinds, and this work would add to the profits of private institutions.

The debate was adjourned, and the Council rose. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House of Representatives met at 2.30 a.m. " THOSE THREE 'MILLION PEOPLE. Sir J. G. Ward stated iic had cabled the High Commissioner in connection with an article published yesterday relative to three million people being required in the Dominion:, and asking him to loofe up the Westminster Gazette of July 22, which was said to contain a statement issued bv him. He had to-day received the following reply: "Re Westminster Gazette, July 22. Had not seen this until receipt of your telegram of September 5. The statement was not made by me, and was an extract .from the Otago Witness of May 10, issued .by our advertising agent, who selects paragraphs from the New Zealand papers for circulation, after first submitting them foir approval. This was not done in

the present case.—,Hall-Jones." The Prime Minister drew attention to the fact that the exact words published in Wellington were to be found in the Ota go Witness of Muv 10, page 15, which he proceeded to read to the House. The Otago Witness, he added, was a well-known Opposition journal. It only showed, he said, what amount of damage was done, or attempted, by such criticism and wild misrepresentations and misleading statements appearing in a section of the Opposition . press. Mr. Jfassey pointed out that the Westminster Gazette published the article as an extract from a hnng article issued bv the High Commissioner. Sir Joseph Ward said it wa- impossible to suppose the High Commissioner could have done anything so silly. The advertising agents of the Dominion in London were outside the High Commissioner's office, and it w«isi perfectly cleair that the High Commissioner had nothing to do with the publication of the article in question. In answer to Mr. Herdmiui. Sir Joseph Ward =aid be presumed the advertising nirents were |>lid a. percentage on advertisements that tliev got published. iMr. Allen said tlutt if the advertising , agents were to be paid to cut out naragraphs and publish them t.b»v should get them approved before 'Publication. P i

Sir Joseph Ward said- the paragraphs wore in the form of lo.ttcrpre?s, nnd were not paid for. ANSWERS TO Q.I'ESTTOXS.

Implying to questions, Ministers said thon-e was no regulation making it comnutoorv for territorials to wear tlioir liai.r any .pirticuiar length. Allegations I'hat those in the Territorial ranks have little or no opportunity of ever obtaining commissioned rank was nnite unfounded. Under tile universal scheme, in which everybody has to serve, appointments will of necessity all be made from the ranks. There was 110 authority to enforce the vaccination of Territorials training undoa- the defence scheme. The only exemptions from training are to be those for physical unfitness. The grievances of the Tontine policy • holders in the Colonial Mutual Insurance Society were under consideration'. A Bill is being prepared .for introduction this session to make it clear that teachers have a right of appeal in cases where they are transferred against their will. The Public Works Amendment Bill will be introduced this s»«sion. Provision will be submitted to the llou'e therein, Tendering it illegal for local bodies to erect toll gates in future, except with the approval of the Governor-in-Oouncil. The remainder of the sitting was devoted to discussion of answers to questions, and the Tfouse adjourned at 5.30. EVENT XG STTTTiNfi. The TTouse resumed at 7.30 p.m. .Sir W. Steward moved the second reading of the Marriage Act Amendment Bill, validating a marriage with a deceased's wife niece or deceased husband's nephew. The mover held that if only 011-0 person in the Dominion was suffering a disability, the whole power of Parliament should bo moved 011 behalf of that .person. The second reading was defeated by 32 to 30. Sir W. Steward moved the seeond reading of the Elective Executive Bill. Tie deprecated the tendency growing tin in favor of a one-man flbveriiiinent, and failed to see wliv the House, instead of leaving the appointment of the Executive to one man. should not elect it by ballot. The Executive should be composed of liolh sides of Hie House. Sir Joseph Ward said if after continued advocacy of twenty years the system has not won support, it was plain that, members did not see eye to eye with the mover. He was convinced it would not be a good thing for this country to eliminate pari v. Mr. Fibber said th" Premier's ideas were based 011 a wromr assumption. Mr. Fowlds had left the Ministrv boca-uso the party system bad torn his heart-strings. The Bill would be an improvement on exist>n<_r afiVrs. Mr. T. Y. Duncan said that under the proposed conditions the position of the Government would be intolerable. Mr. lianan considered that Parliament should dictate (tie policy of the country, and not the men on the Covcnimoait benches. Tlno people, were thoroughly dissatisfied with the present system. Mr. Stallworthy opposed the principles of the Bill. Mr. Wright «nppovte<l and Mr. Allen opposed the Bill. (Left, sitting).