PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 127, 16 October 1912, Page 8

PARLIAMENT.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 15, 1912. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL By Telegraph—Press Association Wellington, Last Night. The Council met at 2.30 p.m. LOCAL BILLS. The Local Bills passed on the previous evening by the House were received and referred to various committees. PUBLIC SERVICE BILL. The Public Service Bill was further considered in committee, and several clauses passed with minor amendments, and the Council adjourned. The Council resumed at 8 p.m. In Committee on the Public Service Bill, clause 4, sub-section 2, allowing the Commissioner 'to fine up to fifty pounds, anyone committing a minor offence, was, on the motion of Mr. Jenkinson, reduced to ten pounds. Clause 38 was amended to allow of all candidates, whether in town or country districts, being afforded reasonable facilities for competing for employment or passing examination.

Clause 41, section 4, providing for the permanent _ appointment of Legislative clerks having three years' service iwas amended to also include messengers under similar conditions. Clause 50 was altered to extend to twelve months after t'he commencement of this Act the period for a Commissioner to take notice of the claims of candidates who have passed certain examinations when he is grading and promoting officers, and the list, of examinations was extended to include technical, mechanical and scientific examinations. e^lr- USe '^ ea^n ™ with the question ot officers and public servants en»a»in°>in other employment, was extended °to"include trades as well as professions Progress was reported and the Council adjourned at 11.35.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES The House met at 2.30 p.m. TAUPIRI MINERS' UNION. Mr. Russell asked the Prime Minister if the Government intended to take any action in connection with the dismissal of the executive of the Taupiri Coal Miners Union reported this morning. This was one of the most important steps ever taken in this country, he said, and the action cf the mine-owners was calculated to bring to an imminent stage a matter which it was hoped could have been settled quietly. Mr. Massey, in'reply, said that the Government had not been communicated with, nor eonsulted, by tljose interested. He did not intend expressing an opinion at that stage, but had no objection to referring the matter to the law officers of the Crown.

THE MOKAU CASE... , The time limit for bringing up the report of the Joshua Jones Committee was extended for ten days. WIDOWS' PENSIONS. Amendments to the Widows' Pensions Amendment Bill were introduced by Governor's Message, the main feature of which was the repealing of that section excluding a child born out of New Zealand from the benefits, of the Act. ■ THE MOUNT LYELL DISASTER. The Prime Minister informed the House that he had forwarded a cable to Hobart expressing sympathy in connection with the mine disaster at Mount Lyell.

TI-IE CONSOLIDATED FUND. Mr. Allen laid on the table a statement of the receipts and expenditure oi the consolidated fund (ordinary revenue account) for the six months ended September 30, 1912. Compared with the corresponding period for 1911 the receipts were: 1010, £4,082,380; 1911, £4,812,954; an increase of £170,020. Expenditure (permanent appropriations): 1912. £1,879,832; 1911, £1,774,206; an increase of £106,830. Annual appropriations £2,921,346 and £2,704,992, ah increase of £216,345. After transferring £50,000 to the Public Works Fund, expenditure was: 1912, £4,851,178; 1911, £4,479,198. The balance on September 30, 1912, was £039.078, and in 1911 £920,239.

WIDOWS' PENSION'S. The Widows' Pensions Bill was recommitted to consider further amendments. These provided for the benefits of the Act being extended to all children born in New Zealand, where one of the parents bad died. Provision was also made for temporary absence from .the country, as in the case of the Old Age Pensions Act, and for the exempting of the furniture and effects of a widow from the definition of property, and permitting the expenditure of a certain amount as capital in any one year without prejudicing the pension claimed. These were agreed to, and the Bill was read a third time on the voices.

DEFENCE BILL. The Defence Amendment Bill was committed, and the House adjourned. The House resumed at /.30 p.m. The Defence Bill was further considered in committee.

Mr. Witty, at clause 3, moved an amendment excluding military barrack prisons as places for the detention of 1 military defaulters. Lost by 34 to 21, and the clause passed. At clause 4, dealing with the discharge of prisoners detained, Mr. Eussell moved an amendment substituting the Minister for Defence for the Commandant, as the person authorising such discharge. The Minister accepted the amendment, which was carried on. the voices. At clause 8, dealing with the military training of those detained, Mr. Russell moved to Test the power of prescribing such training in the Minister instead of in the Commandant. 1 Tho 'Minister agreed to insert the words, "providing that the training prescribed shall be with the approval of the Minister," and the amendment was withdrawn, and the clause, as amended, passed. In clause 0, the Minister moved an amendment vesting tho power of the discharge of an offender in the Minister instead of in the Commandant, and this was carried. Sir Joseph Ward objected to clause 10, | which gives power to recover lines imposed on offenders under ordinary civil prouess, and that a man's wages could

be attached for the payment uf a fine. The Minister replied that tins elimina; tion of (lie ch-use would mear. the 1 wrecking of the whole Act, and the clause passed. Sir 3. CI. Ward, at clause 11, said that he would vote against the clause, which provided that fines may be recovered by way of attachment of wages. I-Ie would not agree to attaching a man's wages after they had already passed clauses providing for fines and imprisonment. Mr. leitt contended that the clause would irritate both the man and tllie employer. The Minister said that the clause was not mandatory. It simply said ''may." He would look into the whole clause, and if an amendment was necessary he would have it inserted in the Upper House. The clause was carried by 38 to 25. At clause 24, Mr. Witty moved an amendment to make the age limit 21 instead, of 25. Mr. Allen declined to accept the amendment. He reminded the House tihat Lord Kitchener had advised raising the age t limit to 25. He was not in favour of I asking boys to defend their country. [ Mr. Witty's amendment was rejected by 47 votes to 12. Mr. Davey declared, at section 3(5. that a Justice of the Peace should not have power to impose thf maximum of ten years' deprivation of civil rights, j The Minister promised to look into the point, but pointed out that in some districts it was difficult to obtain the services of Magistrates. ! The clause then passed. | Mr. T&itt made a final appeal on behalf iof conscientious objectors.

Mr. Isitt moved to exclude a conscientious objector, provided #hat the equivalent of non-military service should be the alternative. The Minister said that the conscientious objectors could not be defined. The motion was lost by 44 to 10. The remaining clauses.' including the schedule, were passed. Some new clauses were added by the Minister. One provided for the repeal of the present courts martial, and for maxjgnim of imprisonment as three months.

Tlhe Bill was reported with amendments and the House rose at 1.15 a.m.