PARLIAMENT

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 79, 23 September 1911, Page 5

PARLIAMENT

Friday, september 22, 1911. legislative" council. I By. Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, taut Night. The Legislative Council met at 2.30. The Mental Defectives Bill was reported with amendments, the chief of .which were that two medical certiflcateH should be given ta the Inspector-Gen-eral on the application of a parent or guardian to commit a minor to an institution, and that periodical visits of inspection or official visitor should apply not only to institutions but to every house in whieli a patient is kept. The Friendly Societies Amendment Bill was reported from committee with minor amendments.

The Stone Quarries Amendment Bill was read a third time and passed. The Council adjourned till Thursdav next.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House met at 2.30 p.m. Sir Joseph Ward informed the House that the report of the Electoral Boundaries Commission would not be available before Monday, and that the report of the Imperial Conference would be ready on Thursday evening next. ' REFORMING THE UPPER HOUSE. The House went into committee on the Estimates. Mr. Massey's amendment to reduce Unvote of £I3BO for Legislative Council salaries by £5, as an indication that the Council should be made elective, was further considered. Speaking to the amendment Mr. Massey said that he was strongly of opinio* that the elections should be'on the proportional representation system. Mr. Fowlds was certain that the time was coming when the present system would have to be altered. When the matter came to be settled it wotld be found that the Upper House could not be elected on the same franchise as a general assembly. He thought a portion of the Council should be nominative, to allow men who had done good service for the country to have a place there. Mr. Jennings believed the nominative system had done good work. Mr. Fisher said that if men were appointed to the Upper House for public, services or for knowledge of public affairs there 'should not be so much against the system, hut immigrants and people who had never uttered a single sentiment in their lives had been appointed. Mr. Hemes sjiid members in thf! Council now represented the Premier, because he appointed them. The same position would apply to any Premier, Mr. McLaren held that Mr. Massey's amendment was designed to catch the unwary.

After further discussion the amendment was negatived on a division bv 37 to 22. J

iMr. Fisher then moved to reduce the amount by £4, as an indication that the Upper House should be abolished. The amendment was negatived bv 44 to 13. J Mr. J. C. Thomson moved to reduce the item by €3, as an indication that the Legislative Council should be elected by the House of Representatives. EVENING SITTING. On 'resumption of the House in the evening, Sir Joseph Ward, speaking to Mr. Thompson's amendment, said the proposed system would not suit the country, and it was idle to move for an alteration of the constitution on an item in the estimates. He was prepared at the proper time to submit a. well matured and workable scheme. He would oppose the 'amendment Mr. Massey said if they could not amend the Upper House, in which the majority of the people had lost confidence as at present constituted, he would vote for the abolition. His idea was that the Council should be more independent than the House. On that ground he would make the term six years, half the members retiring every three years, ■

Sir Joseph Ward, in further reply, pointed out that different sections of the public should have a voice in the Upper House, and that they had now. He was opposed to the election of the Council on similar franchise as the House, and he was deadly opposed to restricted franchise. He was not prepared to commit himself to "a regular botch," The matter should go to 'the countrv.

Mr. Eraser said he would be stultifying himself if he voted for the amendment.

Mr. Thompson's amendment was negatived by 30 to 8. After further discussion, the item Legislative Council salaries was passed, and also the whole class for the Legislative Department £27,587. NATIONAL PROVIDENT SYSTEM. On the vote for a National Provident Fund Department, Sir Joseph Ward, replying to criticisms and suggestions, said that the fund oould not be run by the insurance department. Canvassing had not been contemplated nor would it be satisfactory. The Department was advertising the scheme thoroughly, and the system would permeate the country and be availed by wage-earners in course of time. ■KEEPING MEMBERS STRAIGHT.

Mr. Massey asked the Premier if he would bring in the promised legislation, following on the Hinc Commission, making it impossible for members of Parliament to accept commission for transactions the Government was concerned in. or in selling land to the Government. Sir Joseph Ward said that it was not the nicest possible thing to legislate so as to keep members straight. The desired object could he attained by an alteration of the Standing Orders.