PARLIAMENT

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 99, 12 September 1912, Page 5

PARLIAMENT

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10.

By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, Wednesday. After midnight the debate in the House on the Public Service Bill was continued by Mr. Davey, who contended tint the Minster had confined his attention to only a few departments.

Mr. Veitch opposed the handing over of the public service to a commisisoiier. The Minister replied at 1 a.m He contended that if they wanted to abolish patronage, they must place the commissioner, -the man in control, on the same plane as the Auditor-General. The object of putting the service under the control of a commissioner was to give every man a chance. As to finance, he was informed by the Government Actuary that the new scheme meant an increased expenditure of £3500 a vear for five years, but at the end of that period they would have cadets coming along and the matter would be readjusted. The second reading was carried by .18 to 27, and the House rose. DIVISION LTST.

The Public Service Bill division list was:—

Ayes (30)—Allen. Anderson, Bell. R. F. Bollard, Bradnev. Buchanan, Campbell, Coates. Dickson. Escott, Fisher, Eraser. Guthrie, Harris, Herdman Harries, Himlmarsh, Hunter. Lang, Malcolm, Mander. Massey, E. Newman, Xgata. Nosworthy, Oker. Pearee, Pomare, R. 11. Rhodes. T. W. Rhodes, Scott. Station*. Sykes, G. M. Thomson, Wilson, Youn<r. Noes (2fi).—Atmore, Buddo, Carroll, Craigie, Davey, Dickie, Ell, Forbes, Glover. Laurenson. MeCallum, Macdonald. McKenzie, Myers, Pa rata, Payne, Poland. Rangihiroa, Robertson, R.isseli, Seddon, Sidev, Veitch, Ward, Wilfonl. Witty.

Pairs: F. E. IF. Smith (ave) and Buxton (no). Hine and R. W. Smith, Buick and Colvin, J. liollard and Haiian. Reed and Ngata, A. K. Newman and J. 0. Thomson.

Mr. Ngata explained that he vns recorded as an aye because, being unaware that he was paired, he had. remained in the chamber, though he had intended to vote against the Bill. lie had followed the eustom of voting as his opponent would have done.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12. Wellington, Last Night. The 'House mot at '2.30 p.m. LOCAL AUTHORITIES SUPERANNUATION.

The Local Authorities Superannuation Amendment Bill (Mr. Hcrdman) and Cook Tsland Government Amendment Bill (Dr. Pomnre) were read a first time. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL BILL.

Mr. Massey gave notice of his. intention to introduce the Legislative Coundi Bill.

CONDOLENCE. The Speaker read a letter from Mr.-'. Monk expressing appreciation of I lie sympathy of members during her late bereavement. ELECTIVE LEGISLATURE. Replying to Mr. Sid'ey, the Prime Minister said that it was not the intention of the Government to introduce any legislation dealing with the election of the Lower House this session. He further explained that the Government desired the House to affirm the principle of an elective Upper House.

Mr. li. McKenzie said that this had been done. He thought the membership of the Council should be allowed to fall below a quorum. They could not sit thru. This could be accomplished in about IS months. Mr. Massey gave notice of his intention to move tin- following resolutions:— (1) That it is essential 'that an alteration in the constitution of the Legislative Council shiill he. effected by an Act to be passed by the present Parliament; (2) that such alteration shall be from the existing method of appointment by the Governor to election by direct vote at the polls of the electors qualified to vote for members of this House; (3) that such election shall be upon the proportional system, and, therefore, by large electoral divisions; (4) that the number of elected members of the Council other than Maoris shall be forty, of whom twenty shall be elected at each general election for the House, of Representatives, every such member to sit for a period of two Parliaments; (5) that an electoral division for election to the Council shall be coterminous with the aggregate of a number of the existing electorates for this House; (0) that provision be made similar to the provisions of the Commonwealth of Australia for preserving to this House exclusive control in all matters of finance, and also for cases where the Council and this House ultimately fail to arrive at an agreement on any proposed legislation. QUESTION DAY.

Ministers replying to questions sjl'J that the intentions of the Government regarding the communication from the Westport Labor Union with reference to the co-operative system will be laid before Parliament in the Public Works Statement; the Government proposes to consider during the recess the question of amending the Workers' Compensation Act.

The remainder of the sitting was taken up in the discussion of answers to questions.

The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. MARRIAGF, V 'aLIDATION.

Mr. Malcolm moved the committil of the Marriage Validation Bill, designed to validate a marriage between a woman and her deceased husband's nephew, and a, man and his deceased wife's niece.

The Bill was committed on a division by the casting vote of the. Speaker.

After much discission a motion to report progress >vas lost by 30 to ,'l7. Mr. Davey moved an amendment io make the provision retrospective and prospective. The Bill was reported with amendments.

THE MEAN TIME BILL. The Mean Time. Bill was committed and progress reported, Mr. Sidey recognising that the measure had no chance of passing this session. LEGISLATURE AMENDMENT BILL. Mr. ilindmarsh's Legislature Amendment Bill was committed. Mr. llindmarsb explained that his Bill aimed at fair play, that every man who said anything about his neighbor should say it fairly and squarely. Mr. Anderson moved to report progress as a protest against the fines sought to be imposed upon individuals and societies under the Bill, which, he said, would interfere with the liberties of the Tress. ■ Th" motion was defeated on a division by 35 to 32. Mr. Davey withdrew bis amendment. 'Mr. Buss'ell, during the course of discussion, suggested that the time of the House could he saved if a Private Members" Bill had first of all to go before a grand committee of the House, which would decide as to whether the measure was worihy of engaging the time of Parliament, and thu- iirevent such a vaudeville show as had been going on for the past two hours. Subsequently Mr. Ng.ila put an amendment similar lo Mr. Davey's on different terms, and it was carried by it! to 23.

The Prime Minister advised the mover of the Bill to report progress. It wits evident that members desired to get home.

In answer to Mr. liindmarsh, ho said that he was not in favor of the Bill. Mr. Malcolm then moved to report progress, and the motion was carried by 31 THE PUBLIC SERVICE BILL. . | HousG vosc at 122f)