PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 82, 23 August 1912, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 23. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. % Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The Council met at 2.30. TUB COUNCIL ELECTIONS BILL. The Tatura Trust Revocation Bill (Mr. Samuel) wac passed. Mr. George resumed the debate on the Legislative Council Elections Bill. He supported the principle of the measure. At the same time, if certain alterations were not made in committee, which he thought should be made, he reserved the right to vote against the Bin on the third reading. The most difficult point to be considered was that of the franchise to be adopted. He was strongly of opinion that the alternative vote system should be the one adopted. He objected that there was no adequate provision for a solution of a deadlock between the chambers. He disagreed with the proposal to make one electorate of each Island. That would do away with all community of interest. He thought it would tie wise to break the North Island into four electorates. If the measure passed the second reading in the Council it should be referred to a select committee of ten for the purpose of putting the machinery clauses into workable form.

Mr. Samuel considered that the system of election proposed was not a proper one to apply. They would be justified in refusing to vote for the Bill on the second reading. They had no business to legislate piecemeal He did not agree with the mover's remark that it was scarcely right to include in the measure a provision applicable to the election of the House of Representatives. Let the House deal with the measure first, and make it applicable to the Legislature as a whole. Another question was whether tho Second Chamber should be abolished instead of "reformed" as proposed He took exception to the election of the Council by the people. If nomination was abolished, the Council should be elected by the House, or by both chambers sitting together. An elective Council would be required to give pledges, and would be worse than useless. He refused to believe that the present measure was backed by the people, who had never been consulted on the matter. He was still in favor of the pTesent system of appointing the Council. Anything that tended to reduce the honesty of those responsible for government was bad. It had been said that the Council as at present constituted was unpopular in the country, but was not the House of Representatives at least equally unpopular ? If the House gave as much attention to its business as did the Council, its affairs would be better. Dealing with proportional representation, he submitted a plan to show that undeT his scheme success would he achieved by trade organisations, or factions or wealthy men. He would be prepared to give the second reading of the Bill consideration, if it were only to affirm that some change was desired. The Council resumed at 8 p.m. Mr. Eigg contended that the Bill was one that should not be allowed to pass the second reading. One of the functions of the Council was to check hasty legislation, and this Bill came into that category. It was an experiment in electoral reform that should first be applied, to the Representative Chamber. If they wanted a proper element to constitute a Second Chamber it was only possible to get it by selection. If the Government was fit to govern the Dominion it was fit to elect members of the Upper House. Mr. Rigg said that the first agitation had been by the Labor Party, who wanted the abolition of the Council, as it considered it a superfluous body. He moved that the Bill be read this day six months. Mr. Jones contended that no change was needed. He made reference to the hp'inoiisnesx of a party first opposing some measure and then bringing if forward and claiming it as its own. Councillors would understand his reference. He quoted a number of fine measures which had emanated from the Council. The present Government was claiming as its own a number of measures which had originated in t»he Legislative Council. The Government knew no pocr man would have alliance of election, as he would not have money enough to travel round making known his platform. The Council adjourned at 9.15 pjai. on the motion of Mr. Paul.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House mot at 2.30. GENERAL BOOTH. Mr. Massey. referring to the death of General Booth, said that he had forwarded a cable to Mr. Bramwell Booth expressing regret ami condolence at the dentil of the General. By hfs death, said the Prime Minister, the world had lost one of its greatest men. He was a philanthropist, a great organiser, and a wonderful man in the widest sense of the term. By his piety, energy and force of character he had 'lifted thousands from a life of degradation. He hoped the great work initiated by him would be carried on.

Sir J. Ward endorsed what Mr. Mas' scy had stated. THE FINANCIAL DEBATE.

Mr. Escott continued the debate on the Budget. He contended that the Crown should have acquired the Mokau estate instead of allowing a syndicate to exploit the public. The-time had armed when outside banking concerns should be allowed to operate in New Zealand and bring in their available capital. Dealing with co-operative works, he thought that the men should be allowed to make as much as they liked, and also to choose their own mates. Under this system good men would be got together, and the best work would consequently result. He favored small contracts of piece work on co-operative works instead of day labor. He applauded the Government's proposal to bring down the Local Government Bill and hoped the Opposition would assist the measure when introduced. He was opposed to landlordism in any form, and thought that Crown tenants should be given the freehold at the original value. Mr. J. 0. Thomson (Wallace) said that the new Government had taken office under very happy auspices. There was a full exchequer, a prosperous country, and a contented people. The Government had been supplied with the brains of the thinking people of New Zealand inasmuch as the proposals outlined in the Budgets of two previous governments were practically included in the Massey Budget. The' new Government had shown that it was prepared to support the proposals advocated by the Liberal party and which the present Government, both in the House and on the platform, had condemned time and again. There was very little mention of reform m the Budget.' He advocated the abolition of the Upper House, and would support a revisory chamber such as existed m Canada.

Mr. Okey said that it was the duty of the Minister of Finance to reinstate as soon as possible the Loans to Local Bodies Act. Many districts would not ha.ve bad roads had it not heen for that Act. The scope of the old age pension scheme would have to foe ertended to include thrifty people who had saved, say, up to £IOOO, during their lifetime. Something would have to he done to establish a universal pension scheme. The House resumed at 7.30. Mr. Okey, continuing the Budget debate, dealt with tariff revision. Every

manufacturer was pulling to get an alteration, and it could hardly be expected that the new Minister of Customs should bring in a Bill during the first session. If the Minister were given time to study during the recess he wo*ld be prepared to bring down alterations next session. People might do much by supporting local industries. Dr. Newman advocated the nationalisation of the oil fields and water power energy. He further saw a possible addition to the country's funds by the establishment of a mint in New Zealand. Mr. Hine said that the Budget had been praised from one end of New Zealand to the other. He believed that no Ministry should take out of the pockets of the people more money than was actually needed for the requirements of the country. The money needed for building up works for future generations should be taken from sorrowed money. Referring to Customs taxation, he said that the Government was unable to do anything until it received the report of the Cost of Living Commission. Personally, he thought taxation was being levied on an altogether wrong basis. It was regrettable that food, stuffs and wearing apparel were taxed. Mr. T. W. Rhodes said that he hoped the day would come when the Advances Department would be able to do without borrowing. He hoped that the Second Ballot Act would be rescinded. He advocated the prosecution of deep level mining, holding that with the assistance of the Government much good could be effected in that direction. There was no reason to believe that the wealth of the country had been exhausted from a mining view point. The debate was adjourned and the House rose at 11.30.