PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 87, 29 August 1912, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 28. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. By Telegraph.—Press AmcmaMm. Wellington, Last Night. The Council met at 2.30. IMPREST SUPPLY. The Imprest Supply Hill was put through all its stages without discussion. THE ELECTIONS BILL. The debate on the Legislative Council Elections Bill was resumed 'by Mr. 0$ mond, who urged that the .second ing should be passed. One "provision for election would, however, require to be altered or the Council would be the dominant House, fas being more representative of the people. He would be glad to see the provisions of the Bill referred to the people, and the Government's attention concentrated upon other things, Mr. Stevens said' that the Council in tne past had done good work, but it was no longer a real political force. The Government for twenty years had practically extinguished originating in public matters on the part of the Council. For that reason no measures of real sound importance had come from that body. Ho advocated the adoption of a system of an electoral college, instead of the proposed system. Mr. Beehan said that his view was nomination or the total abolition of the Council. He did not believe in the duplication of the electoral system for both houses. The Government of the day should be prepared to take the responsibility of appointments to the Council. Mr. Tucker said that the fact that the Chamber had existed for fifty years without serious change might be taken as an indication that no great change was required. He held that members of the Council were already elected by the people under the present" system, for the representatives of the people ultimately chose the members of the Council. He feared that the farmers would not receive adequate representation under this Bill. Tke Council then adjourned. I The Council resumed at 7.30. Mr. Tucker expressed his intention of voting against the measure, Mr. Wigram detailed the proposals embodied in previous similar measures. He would vote for the second reading because he favored the elective principle, i Mr. Baldey said that he would support the second reading, but would oppose clause 5, which provided for electorates, this, he considered, being aginst ] the interests of small farmers. I Mr. T. Thompson admitted that there I Was a public desire for a change of system of appointments, but thought the Bill went too far. He would vote for the second reading, but hoped that the Government would act on Mr. Ormond's suggestion. Major Harris thought that the Bill was a crude one, and that there was no real public demand for the reformation of the Council. He would, however, vote for the second reading and reserve his opposition for the later stages. The Council adjoiirned at 9.15. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House met at 2.30. ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS. Ministers in answer to questions said that the Bill providing for the accommodation of flaxmill emplovees would be introduced shortly. An amending Act is being prepared in which further safeguards will be provided to prevent speculations in lands dealt with under the Land for Settlement Finance Act. The High Commissioner had issued a notice in July suspending the export of cattle, sheep and pigs to the Dominion from the United Kingdom until further notice. The owners of the Kauwaka Estate, through which the East Coast trunk railway will run, are being communicated with, with a view to purchase. It is not considered advisable to extend the functions of the State Guaranteed Advances Office by empowering it to prepare transfers as well as gagesThe powers of court martials will be definitely set forth in the Defence Amendment Bill, now being prepared. The suggestion of'sending a New Zealand regimental band to Britain in order to advertise the Dominion is worthy of consideration, but action .might advantageously be postponed for some great Imperial event. The Government may have to take into consideration the' advisability of allowing private capital to construct branch railways where the Government, through shortness of funds, is unable to do so. It is not proposed to alter the system of payment of old age pensions. The remainder of the sitting was occupied with the discussion of answers to questions. LICENSING LEGISLATION. In the House this evening Mr. Bell moved the second reading of the Licensing Amendment Bill No. 2, designed to remove anomalies such as would occur by the alteration of electoral boundaries and the placing of an area which had voted for liquor or prohibition, as the case might be, in either a district which voted for liquor or prohibition. The Bill aimed at equality for everyone under the law. Mr. Malcolm said that the Bill would lead to other anomalies. The effect of the measure would be that in a nolicense district licenses would exist and electoral districts would be torn into shreds. Mr. Isitt said he did not see why the House should do anything to rectify anomalies for a trade which could well afford to look after itself. If the Bill was necessary it should be brought down as a Government measure, not by a private member. Mr. Payne said that he was in favor of the bare majority, but he objected to licensed houses being wiped out through the rearrangement of electoral boundaries. Mr. F. Smith supported the second reading, as injustice had been done to certain places. Mr. Hanan objected that retrospective legislation was unwise and would lead to absurd results. Mr. Harris took a similar ground, and moved that the Bill be read that day six months. Dr. Newman seconded the amendment. The Bill contained many bad points. Licensing districts should be fairly large and not coterminous with electoral districts. He considered retrospective legislation dangerous. Messrs. Escott and Ell opposed the Bill. Mr. Ngata moved the adjournment of the debate at 11.40. He was convinced that the Bill had no chance of passing. There were other private Bills to be considered, and by postponing this Bill the Government would have a chance to consider other branches of licensing legislation. Dr. Te Rangihiroa seconded the amendment, and thought that six months hence would be the proper time for the second reading of the Bill. The amendment was carried by 32 to 30. and the debate was adjourned till this day week. ' The House rose at 11.55.