PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 64, 2 August 1912, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

| THURSDAY, AUGUST 1. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, Last jNight. The House met at 2.30. Mr. Hunter gave notice of his intention to introduce the Gaming Act 11)10 Amendment Bill. Mr. Massey gave notice to move that Mr. Lang be appointed Chairman of Committees.

THE DEFENCE QUESTION.

Replying to Mr. Isitt, the Prune Minister said that ample opportunity would be given to the House for discussing the whole of the defence question. THE ELECTORAL LAW. Mr. Russell asked the Prime Minister if, in view of the coming election for the Egmont seat, be intended to take a poll under the law as it now existed, or whether it was intended to -bring down electoral legislation which would enable the election to be taken under the old system. Mr. Massey said that the lion, gentleman would recognise that this was a question of policy, and he could say now that the matter was receiving the very careful consideration of the Government. (Laughter.) Mr. Russell: Just what I expected. LICENSING LEGISLATION. Replying to questions by Sir J. Ward, the Prime Minister p;ud that the Government did not rut ;-ii.l to introduce licensing legislaHo:! this session. Till; POLICE FORCE. Mr. Herdman said that zealous junior police officers were given every opportunity to gain promotion in the force, Where there were 840 men in a force it was impossible to .satisfy everyone. Young men with ability, who had claims, must liave them considered.

Mr. Herdman, replying to Mr. Wilford, said that a new Police Bill was being considered by the Crown law officers, in which a clause had been in-serted-giving police officers the right to have their grievance* ventilated." The clause was in reality an appeal from the decision of officers who did not hold high rank in the service. I LAND AGENTS. Mr. Witty moved the second reading of the Land Agents Registration Bill. The measure, he said, was intended to safeguard the people. A land agent was in no way a.s responsible as 1 was an auctioneer. The Bill provided- that after the first day of January next no person shall carry on the business of a land agent unless he is the holder .of a license under the Act. Jt would ,be suffieicnt if any one member of a firm was the holder of a license. Licenses would be issued by the magistrate upon his becoming satisfied that an'applicant was a fit person to hold a license. Mr. Witty explained that the Bill was practically the same as introduced last year. Every land agent was liable to two years' imprisonment for the wrongful conversion of monies received, or for rendering a false account of monies received. A person carrying on business without a license would be liable to a fine of £SO.

The Bill was supported by Messrs, Payne, Harris, Buddo, Mander.'and Russell.

Mr. M'asscy suggested that the mover should refer the Bill to the Lands Committee, and this course was adopted, and the Bill read a second time. THE PRESS IN POLITICS.

Mr. Himlmarsh moved the second reading of the Legislature Amendment Bill, providing that returns shall be made by proprietors or publishers of newspapers setting out the amount of electoral matter in connection with elections inserted in their newspaper.*, in respect of which payment was or is to be made, the space occupied by the matter, the amount of money paid or owing to them in respect of such matter, and the names of those authorising the insertion thereof. The committal of a breach of this clause rendered the proprietor of a newspaper liable to a fine not exceeding £SOO and not less than £IOO, or to : imprisonment not exceeding twelve montlis. A further provision was made for the signing of every article, report, letter, or other matter commenting upon anv candidate or political party printed and published in a newspaper, .dodger, circular, or pamphlet by the author thereof, giving his true name and address. A line of £;■)() was provided for a breach of this provision. Mr. Hindmarsh. contended that a large number of people were influenced by what was written. They wanted to know who had written the matter. Undvr the -existing laws any "paid pimp of the wealthy," who were more (it for prayers than anything else, could write what they chose"about any one.

Mr. Malcolm contended that- the signing of articles and letters would not protect the poor from persecution or the power of wealth. He was as anxious as anyone to curtail that power, but the provisions of Mr. Hindmarsh's Bill would fail in their object. Rich men could hire persons who would perform the work for them. The Mouse adjourned at 5.30, and resinned at 7.30. Mr. Laurenson continued the debate on the Legislature Amendment Bill, He referred to the use of motor-ears at elections and pointed out that the Commonwealth had decided not to permit the lending of motor-cars during elections. As to the signing of articles in newspapers, he could imagine a coward of an editor not wishing to sign his article, but not a brave man of probity and honor. Mr. Fisher said that he was not opposed to the Bill, and hoped that the Government would put a similar bill to tliat of the Commonwealth upon the Statute Book. Mr. Veitch upheld the principle of the Bill. What they had to deal with was the "gutter press," which dndidged in misrepresentation.

Mr. Anderson traversed Mr. Laurenson's statements regarding editors. He know a good many, and defied anyone to say ft word against them. Editors and proprietors are, responsible, and he was against anything in the way of curtailing criticism. The New " Zealand press was such as anyone might be proud of. As to the proposed penalty of ;ESOO, half the proprietors of New Zealand had not ,500 shillings. If the Bill was carried the liberty of the press would be infringed, Mr. laitt held that the only men who had anything to da-cad wore'those who had something to secrete. -Mr. Hell supported the. first part of the Bill, but did not agree that articles should be, signed. Mr. Ileidman agreed that it would .be a good lining to stop motor-cans, hut was not in favor of signed, articles. There, was ample protection under the libel law to meet the position. Mr. Russell supported the. Bill. lie averred that Sir .'Joseph Ward bid been killed by lying and slandering. Sir Joseph Ward hoped that something in the direction of what Mr. llindmarsh was endeavoring to bring about would lie adopted, though lie. did not ayrcc with the Mi'iiiii-r (> f all letters. ..Mr. Wilford was not in favor of signing names- to articles, Vcanse it would give *ik-1i prominence to some men that all flic rest would he out of work. The debate was carried on by Messrs. Harris. Buckin.ui. T. H, Rhodes, F. Smith, and Aim-ore. The second' r-ea<Ji?ig was agreed to on the voices, and the lionise rose at 11.55.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. The Council met at 2.30. Replying to a question tabled by Mr. O'Eorke, Mr. Bell said that it was not

I the intention of the Government to ] roceed with a Bill to amend the sjstem of local government as proposed by the kst administration. He was unable to fay that there was any prospect or Lie G< vernment reverting to the system of provincial councils, which was abolished in 1875. Before the orders of the day were called Mr. Bell said that for a period beyond the memory of any but one '6f two members of the Council a position similar to the present one had not occurred. There had not been a Speech from the Throne advised by a Government which had tlie duty of introducing Government measures to Parliament, and it was impossible for himself or his colleagues in the other branches of the Legislature to propose Government measures before the Government statement had been made. He had, therefore, no business to offer on behalf of the Government until after the policy statement was made in the House on Tuesday next. He would move that the Council at its rising adjourn until Wednesday next at 2.30. This was agreed to.

Sir W. Steward moved the second reading of the Marriage Act Amendment Bill, explaining that the object was to' make it legal for a man to marry his deceased wife's neice, or for a woman to marry her deceased husband's nephew. It was provided, however, that no man could marry his own niece and no woman could marry her own nephew. Mr. Mills' supported the Bill. Mr. Bell opposed it, -saying that it was undesirable to haw frequent variations of the marriage laws of this country, which would bring them out of conformity with the marriage laws of other parts of the Empire. He also took exception to the proposal as relationship in such a case might conceivably be that of a parent and child, and it was intolerable that such a relationship should be allowed to grow into sexual relations. Mr. Carncross supported th;> Bill and Mr. Callan opposed it. The motion was lost by 10 to 12, and the Council rose.