PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 132, 22 October 1912, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

MONDAY, OCTOBER -21,-1912. ' HOUSE OF R^PRES^TATIVES . By, Telegrapher-Press Association. , Wellington, Last Night. The House met at 7.30 p.m. .-> NATIVE LANDS. Mr. Massey stated, in connection witk a letter referred to in a discussion on tiie Land Hill, which a/I'ectod natives offering land to the Government, that the communication referred to was in hU office at the time he spoke, but he wu not aware of the fact. Tie wished to make this statement in fairness to Mr. Ngata nnd others. THE PUBLIC ACCOUNTS INCIDENT. Sir Joseph Ward brought up the matter of the incident at the Public Accounts Committee meeting '(in connection with the investigation of loans to local bodies) on Friday last. He said that owing to a difference 'he had had with the chairman of the committee, a set of circumstances had arisen, imd he wished to know if the matter should not be brought, up at once. He desired to know whether he could go back to the committee without the matter being referred to in the House.

Mr. Hine, chairman of the committee, read the words taken down at the meet-

Sir Joseph Ward said that the report simply gave his reply to the chairman'* question, which was: "That is a downright piece of impertinence," and did not give all the words used. The report of the committee was one-sided. Mr. Myers said that the, whole of the trouble was caused simply because Sir Joseph Ward did not answer a question just as the chairman desired it should be answered. Sir Joseph Ward was there to refute some statements made on the floor of the House. Had be heen in Sir Joseph Ward's place he would have done exactly the same thing. Mr. Hine should end the incident by making the amende honorable. Mr. Malcolm suggested (hat Sir Josepk Ward should withdraw his words and end the incident.

Mr. Myers suggested that Mr. Hine should apologise. He repented that the manner in which the question was put was what was taken exwptiorr to. Mr. Witty held that the report as brought down whs very unfair. The House was getting very' low down when it adopted such of procedure. Debates should be carried on in a dignified manner. Sir Joseph Ward said Unit he had sat under three Speakers and eight different Chairmen of Committee, and had never been in conflict with any of them during twenty-five years. He declined to withdraw his remarks. The chairman had not been fair,- but biassed in his rulings. He had been a partisan and on the side of the 'Minister of Finance and the Government. The chairman had shown distinct bias throughout the proceedings, and had acted offensively. He would leave the matter to the judgment of the, House.

Mr. Herries said that if Sir Joseph Ward had used the words in a court of law he,would have been committed for contempt. He contended that the prestige of the committee had to be upheld, as it wa9 a reflex of the House. Mr. Allen regretted that the words had not been withdrawn. He denied the existence of <bias on the part of the chairman, who had conducted the mittee in a very unbiassed way. Mr. McKenzie contended that the chairman had exceeded his duty, and brought about the whole trouble. Further discussion ensued, and Mir. Herdman moved that the report be referred ba*k to the committee. This was agreed to, and the discussion closed. RAILWAYS AMENDMENT BILL. The Government Railways Amendment Bill was read a second time pro forma. PUBLIC REVENUES ACT. Mr. Allen moved the second reading of the Public Revenues Act Amendment Bill to repeal the provision of the Act of WOO permitting the transfer of one vote in one class to one vote in a similar class, at the will of the Government. The Bill also dealt - with the Fire Insurance Fund and other matters.

Sir Joseph Ward pointed out that the amanding Bill still permitted the transfer which was objected to. The only stipulation was that the particulars of such transfer must be laid before Parliament after the expenditure was beyond recall., Mr. Massey said that tl)e Government was proposing to deal with the whore of the section- in the old Act, which had been used improperly for increasing salaries of members. It had also been used for increasing the salaries of judges of the Supreme Court, and he could enumerate several cases in which railway and road votes had been transferred,, and they should be careful to see that there was good reason for such transfer. It was the intention of the amendment that full publicity should be given to such transfers by reporting them to Parliament for approval. He considered, also, that a certain sum should be set apart each year for the purpose of insuring public buildings. Mr. Russell declared that the Parliamentary amendment, about transfers of appropriations, was merely an excuse for retaining the present law. which tht Prime Minister condemned when in Opposition. As the law now stood these transfers had explanatory notes. In the Public Revenues Amendment Act they amounted to putting a notice on the stable door that the horse had gone. The Bill was read a second time. WASHING UP.

The Cemeteries Amendment Bill was read a second time, also the Savings Bank Amendment Bill. The second reading of the Divorce and Matrimonial Causes Bill, initiated in the Council', was moved by Mr, Herdman, who explained that the principal provision was to permit an application for divorce when a respondent had "been in an asylum for seven years in the aggregate during the ten years immediately preceding the filing of the petition. The second reading was carried. / Mr. Allen moved the second reading of the Local Bodies Amendment Bill, which was read a second time after Messrs. Ell and Craigic had expressed opposition to the proposed repeal of the section compelling local bodies to lodge sinking funds of certain foodie* with the Public Trustee. The Marriage Amendment Bill was read a second time. The Births and Deaths Bill was report ed from committee. The House rose at 1 a.m.