PARLIAMENT

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 78, 22 September 1911, Page 5

PARLIAMENT

J THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 21. •> LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL i ___ I By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night The Council met at 2.30. The Imprest Supply BUI was put through all its stages. 'flie A'ttorney-OneraJ informed the Hon. Mr. Ban- that a return of the number of members of the union of employers and the union of workers would be prepared and laid on the table.

On the motion to commit the Mental Defectives Bill, the Hon. Mt. Paul suggested its reference to a sdect committee, as there were matters which could ■more effectually be threshed out there than on the tloor of the Council. The Bill was on the right lines, but did not. touch the bedrock of the difficulty. He contended we ought to stop the breeding of mental defectives. The effect of the propagation of these was such as demanded the fullest discussion, and the people of the country looked to Parliament for the betterment ajid purity of the race.

The Hon, Mr. Jenkinson also advocated sending the Bill to a select committee. The Hon. Mr. Anstey thought that before drastic steps were taken to deal with the mental defects, we ought to arm ourselves with a good deal more ol' scientific knowledge than we possessed. • The Hon. Mr. J ones moved the adjournment of the debate.

At ,the suggestion of the AttorneyGeneral, the debate was adjourned until 8 p.m. He would, he said, have the opportunity of considering the suggestion to refer the measure to a select committee.

The Attorney-General moved a resolution of appreciation of the public ser vices of the late Mr. Flatman and sympathy witn his relatives.

The Council then rose until 8 p.m. out of respect to the memory of deceased. The Council resumed at 8 p.m. The Attorncy-tlencral stated he had considered the question raised by the Kons. Paul and Jenkinson as to referring the Bill to a select committee, and had come to the conclusion that, seeing the lateness of the session, it would be better to proceed in the ordinary course. The questions raised by the Hon. Paul were outside the range of the Bill, and presented difficulties. To cover these matters would require not a month but three months for the committee's consideration. It would, he thought, be better to deal with the Bill as it stood that evening, and further action could be considered next session. The Bill, if not as good as he hoped for, was at least an immense advance in the existing law.

The Council then went into committee on the Bill. Progress was reported at clause 24, without any amendment having been made. The Council rose at 10 pm. « HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. COVERING DEFALCATIONS. The House met at 2.30. Mr. Pearcc asked the Minister of Agriculture if it was correct that the officers of his Department had to pay a levy of twopence per cent, to cover the defalcations of an officer of the Department.

The Hon. T. Mackenzie explained that a system obtained in the Civil Service by which under the Act officers were bound to make gdod by levy for the amount of defalcations. This had been in operation for Xi years and an alteration wa-s not contemplated. THE DEATH OF MR. FLATMAN. Kir Joseph Ward read a telegram announcing the death of Mr. Flatman, ex-meralH-r of the House. He paid a tribute to the deceased gentleman's worth in public, life, and moved the usual resolution, recording .the House's appreciation of the late Mr. Flatman's services to the country and sympathy with his family. Mr. Massey, Sir W. J. Steward, Messrs. | Nosworthy and Buxton also paid a tribute to the sterling qualities of Mr. Flatman.

On tho motion of Mr. Massey, the House adjourned until 7.30 out of respect to the memory of deceased. VARIOUS BILLS. The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. The following Bills were read a third time, and passed: Sir Donald McLean Memorial Park Bill, Greytown Town Lands and Hospital Lands Exchange Bill, Oamaru Municipal Exchange and Market Reserve Leasing Bill (Mr. T. Y. Duncan), Wanganui Harbor Board Vesting Bill.

The Wnikowhai Park Bill was reported without amendments. The Mount Hutt County Bill (Mr. Hardy), Heathcote County Boundary Bill (Mr. Lau« raison), City of Christchureh Empowering Bill (Mr. Davey), Mosgiel Borough Empowering Bill, Awatue County Bill (Mr. J. Duncan), Counties Bill (Mr. Massey), and the Waimakariri-Ashley Water Supply Board Bill (Mr. Buddo), were read a second time.