PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 83, 24 August 1912, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 23, 1912. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The Legislative Council met at 2.30 p.m. COUNCIL ELECTIONS BILL. The Hon. Mr. Paul continued the debate on the Legislative Council Elections Bill. He spoke from the outset against the nominative system which he said had necessarily been adopted in the early development of the country, but had been unpopular from its inception. He quoted a remark of Sir George Grey, in which he said* "A nominated Upper House did away with the glorious iabric he had framed." The nominee system made the whole Chamber distasteful to the people, 'however well qualified in other respects they might be. He believed that the Government was sincere in „ its attempt to reform the Council. The idea of having two single electorates was the most radical that had ever been before the Chamber. The Bill would result in the Council being composed in exact proportions of the considerable schools 'of thought of the country. The Hon. Mr. Samuel's speech proved that he was not even the beginnings of a democrat. He pointed out that the modified Have system of proportional representation introduced into Tasmania satisfied Labor and all other parties. Legislators existed to discharge the duties of the public, and his main argument was ihat no Tnember of Parliament ought to exist unless authorised by the voice of the people. If the present proposals were carried, they at least would be in a better position to secure an ideal legislative system. His opinion was that one Chamber should suffice? It was hard enough to get reforms through one chamber, let alone two. If this measure was adopted and the Council made truly representative of the people, the system would be forced upon the other Chamber. He advocated higher payment of members of the Council, it elected. The Hon. Sir W. Steward said that our representative institutions failed to correctly represent the opinions of the people, and proportional method representation was desirable, but it was with the other Chamber that reform should begin. If the Bill was passed in its present form, then the Council should be the dominant body, because its representation would be more perfect. The relations of the two bodies would then have to be considered, especially in relation to finance.

The Hon. Mr. Louisson said that the Bill was certainly worthy of better treatment than proposed by the amendment. They should acknowledge that there was strong public feeling that the nominative system should give way to an elective system, and they should yield to it. He, however, disagreed with the proposed machinery to give effect to this change. The electorates were unworkable, and only "ticket" or wealthy men would have a chance. He preferred forty single electorates. The Bill was crude and inapplicable, but a better method could be introduced.

The Council adjourned till 8 p.m. The Council resumed at 8 p.m. The Hon. R." A. Loughnan said that only recently the Asquith Government had provided for a nominative Upper Chamber in the Home Rule Bill. Most of the clamor against the Council as at present constituted was due to the desire of the public to abuse anybody they could. The Bill proposed a payment of £2OO per annum, which was quite insufficient to pay candidates' canvassing expenses, much less to provide a living pay. He intended to oppose this measure.

The Hon. Mr. Jenkinson said that he had never heard a policy measure introduced in a more apologetic tone than this Bill had been. Mr. Bell had not given sufficient justification for the Bill. Mr. Paul had advanced better reasons for supportingi the measure than Mr. Beli had. Sir William Russell had, in 18!)1, expressed the opinion that a nominative chamber was preferable to an elective The Hon. W. Jenkinson urged that the Council should consider the question of the age limit both of men coming into and retiring from the Council. ■• ' '"' The delta to-■was-'j.adjowned and the Council rose at 11 p.m.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. THE POLICE FORCE. In the House this afternoon, the Hon. Mr. Herdman made a statement to the House apropos of Mr. Myers' reference of the <lay before to the state of the police force in Auckland. The statement made it clear that Auckland had all cases from a line, between New Plymouth and Gisborne North tried or sentenced there. That fact, together with Auckland's peculiar geographical position, was resposible for an increased number of criminals appearing before the Courts at .Auckland. The Commissioner of Police, who prepared the report, stated that he had asked for four extra sergeants and twenty constables for Auckland. WARRANT ISSUED FOR EC MONT SEAT. Mr. Speaker informed the House that he had received the resignation of the Hon. T. Mackenzie. The Hon. Mr. Massey moved that the Clerk of Writs be authorised to issue the -warrant for the by-election for the Egntont seat. SYMPATHY ACKNOWLEDGED. The Hon. Mr. Massey read a cablegram from Mr Bramwell Booth, expressing profound sympathy for the generous expressions in connection with his father, General Booth. BUDGET DEBATE. Mr. Sykes continued the debate on the Budget. He believed that the majority of land-owners supported the Government because they believed they would get equity and justice. Facilities should be afforded young settlers to obtain leaseholds, with a view to eventually acquiring the freehold. The waste lands of the North could only be made productive by close settlement. The proposal to cheek land speculation would be welcomed. He pleaded for consideration for backblocks children, especially in educational matters. He thought the graduated land tax should be made sufficiently large to produce land for those who wanted it. He supported a secret ballot in connection with labor troubles, before a strike was declared. He was a firm believer in conciliation. At the evening sitting. Mr. Coates, continuing, said that it was desirable to reduce Customs duties oti necessities of life. He thought the change of Government would make for progress. Mr. Ilindiiwrsh criticised defence matters at length, and pointed to the increasing expenditure. He understood that £BOO.OOO had been recommended by General Codley. He would like to see an enquiry held, and all papers produced. The officers in no other Department were paid as those in the Defence Department. "Why, he asked, should a military officer who had only been in (he country a year or two, receive double the salary of, say. a railway officer with twenty years' service and responsibility, equally great, if not greater than a military officer? Nepotism was going on in the Department. He asked what chance a son of a working man had ol becoming an officer. A Council of Defence should be immediately set up I>>" the House. Who could justify, in a country like this, giving the Cc.imandant absolute power?

Mr. Lee condemned the action of the Mackenzie Government in committing the country to the last loan, and also entering into Parliament Buildings operations. The money wasted on the latter could have been spent in the backblocks where so much attention was needed. Mr. Lang also dealt with the defence system. He held that those who were not prepared to serve should not be put m gaol, but should be assisted from the country. With reference to the graduated tax, he thought that it should apply to all wealth, and not to land alone. Mr. Buchanan contended that it was impossible to <lo without borrowing altogether. He pointed out that while last year our income increased by £73/1,000, the expenditure increased by £970,000. Our expenditure had not been kept within the same proportion as the income. Mr. J. Bollard said that while believing in closer settlement' he thought it disgraceful that the owners of largo estates should be hardly spoken of, seeing that they had been the pioneers 0? civilisation. These estates should be taxed on their value, although he did not object to some small graduation.