PARLIAMENT

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 89, 5 October 1911, Page 8

PARLIAMENT

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 4, 1911. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington; Last Night. The Legislative Council met at 2:30. The Hon. Mills moved: "That the Council is dissatisfied with tlie answer given by the Attorney-General in reply to questions on the Order paper of September 28, on the subject of Coronation invitations, and regrets tlie refusal given to the request to lay on the table any papers, cables or correspondence relating to them."' The mover strongly tended that the first invitation to members of the Dominion Parliament, which included the Council and should have been submitted, was from the Joint Committee of the House of Lords and House of Commons, and was for eight members of the Council, The Council had not received the invitations, and had the right to have an explanation; The object of his motion was to get the matter cleared up. He felt more hurt at the reply given by the Attorney-Gen-era! than the reply coming from' anyone he did not know better.

The Hon. Callan, who seconded the motion, expressed himself as deeply disappointed at the manner in which members of tlie Council were treated.

The Hon. Wigram supported the motion, with regret on account of the fact that the Attorncy-Oneral had endeared himself to tlie Council by his courtesy in the conduct of its business. He thought a once straying away could be overlooked, but he felt it his duty to approve the motion. The Hon. Jones contended that in/ view of tlie great services rendered by tlie Premier and his colleagues to the Dominion they might well overlook the oversight on the part of Ministers in this matter. ITe would vote against the motion.

The lion. Samuel, while declaring his determination at all times to speak his mind freely, said he refused to believe that any discourtesy to the Council was intended by the Attorney-General. However, there was no doubt the second invitation was to eight members of the Council, and' tliey had the right to know why the invitation had been suppressed. The reference to Hansard was not a satisfactory reason why correspondence had not been laid on the table.

Mr. Loughnan moved an amendment, making the motion to read: "That the Council hopes tlie Government will explain tlie matter of the Coronation invitations to the Council."

The Hon. .Tenkinson indicated that he would be prepared to go further and insist upon the correspondence being laid upon the table, except that marked confidential. He preferred the Hon. Loughnan's amendment to the original motion, as under it they might get something definite. The Hon. Beehan did not think any discourtesy to the Council was intended by Sir J. G. Findlay's reply to the Hon. Mills' question. The whole thing was a storm in a teapot. The Hon. Louisson favored the Hon. Jenkinson's suggested amendment. Tlie Hon. Luke considered those responsible for forwarding the invitation to the Council failed in their duty in not doing so.

The Attorney-General said ho had in his reply adopted the practice of the British Parliament in giving a succinct reply. The Premier had taken the responsibility of explaining the position, and he (Sir J. G. Findlay) had nothing to add to that. There could be no discourtesy in following a recognised practice in replying to questions. The Hon. Loughnaivs amendment was carried.

Tin- Grey town Town Lands and Hospital Land Exchange Bill (Hon. Samuel). Oamam Municipal Exchange and Market Reserve Leasing Bill and Waikowhai Park Bill were read a second time. The Hon. OTlorke moved the second reading of the 'University Degrees Bill, to give the Senate power to confer degrees of divinity. The Attorney-General and other members opposed the Bill, which was rejected by IS to -1.

HOUSE OP REPRESENTATIVES. Wellington, Wednesday. After midnight, replying to Mr. Herdman, the Minister said lie would bring in a Bill to enable Captain Atwood, of the Elingamito. to secure a rehearing of his case in connection with the wreck of that vessel on the Three Kings. Dealing with the matter of the survey of the coast, the Minister stated that there --were any amount of vessels practically on the scrap-heap at Hongkong which would be admirably suited for the work, but the Admiralty would net give the Government one of tlfeni, as a survey ship would cost £32,000 and £IO,OOO a year to run. There could be no decent survey of the coast without sweeping, and this process was a very costly one. Tn reply to Mr. G. M. Thomson, the Minister stated that the Antarctic ex-j ploring ship Terra Nova bad for some time been engaged an tailing soundings between the Three Kings and Cape Maria Van Dicman. The work would 1« finished about the middle of the month. He had tried to get the ship for survey work around the coast, but owing to lack of engine power, she had | noit been able to undertake it, as it in- j volvcd coming close in to the coast. The ; [ position was that the Government had < given £ 1200 to the expedition, and, | wanting- to get something for its money, arranged for the soundings to be taken, j In the House the total vote for Customs, etc., was passed unaltered. j On the vote for the Labor Department ( C 22.310), a discussion took place on abolishing agents for the parties in conciliation boards. Mr. Millar defended the Act. I Mr. McLaren contended that the (basis | of judgment should be equity and good conscience, and not the principles of jurisprudence. [ The amendment to abolish the assessors was lost, and the House rose at a.,").") a.m. Wellington. Last Night. Tieplying in questions. Ministers stated ' il'-i! c!]',isidcval.!:in would be mix-en when | amendments to the Old Age Tension Act j xvcre dealt with to the suggestion that j pensions b(j granted to women of sixty \

years; that a pension of las per week be granted where one of a married couple is old enough to obtain a pension to ■ support such couple; that pensions be granted to permanently incapacitated' persons who are not of the required age, provided they comply with other conditions of the Act. It was not the intention: this session to amend the Defence Act in the direction of admitting conscientious objections. The scheme of medical inspection of school children had■■ been prepared by the Department, and was considered at the recent conference of hospital boards. It is intended that a dental examination shall be embodied as a prominent feature of any system of inspection which may be put into opera- . tion. It has been decided to grant a bonus of £12,000 for improvements in connection with dressing New Zealand hemp, provided a scheme or process satisfactory to flaxmillers and the Government can be found. EVENING SITTIIXG. The House resumed at 7.30. The Kaikmrra Hospital Site Bill was reported' from committee without amendment.. The Administration Amendment Bill was read a third time and passed. The House went into committee on tha Estimates. At the vote for the Department of Agriculture, Commerce and | Tourist (£215,202), the Hon. T. Mmckcirae, in reply to a question, said tha ' Government intended continuing the , breeding of Angora goats. The Department was experienmting with re-graeeing of Central Otago. Many grasses were being 1 tested there. Mr. Davey advocated the placing of qualified veterinary, surgeons on proper legal footing. At the present time any quack could practice and call himself a veterinary surgeon* / .