Parliament

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 32, 27 June 1914, Page 5

Parliament

FRIDAY, JULY 28. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, Last Sight. Hon. H. D. Bell gave no tic- of intention to introduce the Land Agents Amendment, .legislative Council and Masters and Apprentices Bill. Hon. J. Barr gave notice to move the Address-ih-Rcply on Tuesday, and Hon. G. Hardy would second it. Hon. H. D. Bell proposetl that the Council adjourn till 11 a.m. on Saturday, The motion was agreed to. The Council rose at 2.40 p.m..

HOUSE OP REPRESENTATIVES. BILLS INTRODUCED. The House met at 2.30 p.m. Hon. Herdman gave notice of intention to introduce the Civil Service Officers Repeal Bill, Crimes Amendment Bill and Defamation Bill.

Hon. Fisher gave notice of intention to introduce the Immigration Restriction Bill, Local Exemptions, and the Proportional Representation (Bill Hon. James Allen introduced the Religious Instruction in Schools Referendum Bill. THE PUBLIC SERVICE. Sir Joseph Ward, in introducing the Public Service Amendment Bill, said he was in a position to say that there was grave dissatisiaction prevailing throughout the public service because the right of appeal did not prevail in all branches of the service. His Bill proposed to give the right of appeal in accordance with the recent decision of the Chief Justice. The Public Service Commissioners were fair-minded men, but were an autocracy, and had taken away the right of appeal where it had previously existed, with the result [that several Important departments were in a state ,pf suspensp. To-dav were hundreds of appeals which had not been dealt with. It was proposed in the Bill that every vacancy in the service should be advertised. It was understood that the Commissioners intended not to advertise vacant positions, as then there wduld be no applications, and therefore there could be no right of appeal. That was not fair. Further, he thought that every applicant before the Appeal Board should have the right to appear with his solicitor. The Commissioner had that right, and members of the service should be on an equality before the Board. The power of retrenchment should remain in the hands of the Government, and the Minister of Finance should be in a position to say how much should be spent on the public Bervice. A serious position had now arisen in this connection as a result of the alteration of the laws. Those dismissed from the service should also be furnished with tlte reasons for dismissal. They should also have a statutory right to peruse any references as to good character or ability contained in any departmental'report, otherwise the whole of their future would be left in the hands of three men not responsible ,to Parliament. He was in earnest in this matter, and proposed to say a great deal more oil the question on some future day. Hon. Herdman denied that there was widespread discontent in the public service. He claimed that the position of tlic Commissioners was not autocratic. They were responsible to Parliament, and "could 'be removed from office if Parliament willed. He understood the 1 attitude of the Opposition was hostile to the Public Service Act, and if they proposed to repeal it, let it be known they would also take from the public servants many benefits conferred upon them by the Aet. He denied that the public servants now had no right of appeal, and that that right had been given by the present Government and not by the leader of the Opposition. The constitution of the Board of Appeal was perfectly just, and no fairer body could be conceived. He quoted an ex-, tract from ''The Katipo" to show that the Post and Telegraph Department was well satisfied with the administration of the Commissioners, but he proposed to take higher ground than the view of the departments. Parliament was concerned with the public, and its first duty was to see that the people were supplied with a good public service, having due regard to the interests of those employed. He proceeded to enumerate the advantages to the country from the passing of the Public Service Act, also the 'benefits conferred upon tfye public servants under the Act. He contended that if there were any discontent in the public service it had been fomented by T;he Opposition, and was confined to the friends of that party. Sir Joseph Ward, in reply, said that if that were the case, then ninety-nine per cent, of the public service must be friends of the Opposition. The Bill was read a first time. OTHER BILLS.

The Hokonui County Bill (Mr. Anderson), Eire Inquests Bill (Mr. Sidey), and Railway Improved Lands Bill (Mr. McCallum) were introduced and read a first time.

IMPREST SUPPLY. Hon. James Allen introduced the Imprest Supplv Bill, No. 1, providing for ■£964;000 for the payment of the public services. Sir Joseph Ward asked when the Financial Statement would be brought down. / ~ ... Mr. Massey said it would probably come down in about three weeks. During the interval he would introduce the Licensing Bill. UPPER HOUSE REFORM. Sir Josenh Ward raised a question M to certain' advances to the Whangarei Borough Council, also the pledging of gilt-edged securities, and the Legislative Council appointments. Mr Masse v. in reply, contended tnat the elections' had given him a mandate for the reform of the Upper House. He hoped to be able to give the names of the appointments next week. He held that constitutional procedure was hems: followed in introducing the Reform Bill in the Council. . The debate was interrupted by the o.dQ p.m. adjournment. EVENING SESSION. The House resumed at 7.30. Sir Joseph Ward, continuing the debate, reiterated that the Government had no mandate to change the constitution of the Legislature. The nominative Chamber had no right to make a change in the constitution wbich affected the rights of the representatives of the people. Mr. Maasev asked, Was the leader of the Opposition in favor of reform of tlie Legislative Council? It was a matter of opinion as to whether the Government had a mandate from the people to reform the Council, but a majority ol the present Parliament was elected pledged to the reform of the Council Ho nuoted resolutions submitted to thi House last session, and also quoted fig

urea to show that the resolution* Wefra carried by a two-to-one majority. Tjh£§B leader of the Opposition complained thtfa the Government had no mandate to Alm9 the constitution, but what about talS Second Ballot? - % SM Sir Joseph Ward: That is electoruS reform, not constitutional reform. . 11M Mr. Massey contended that it waicarial stitutional. He said that Sir Joseph Ward's reference to the land tax Wttffl paltry. In the last tiro years <&cM» had been two and a-half millions. ThSgH suggestions that appointments to ttlH [Council wore being made to block thin Land Tax were absurd. The appoinPJS menta were being made to enable fn«l9 Government to pass its Pill. The nro-JH per thing to do was to pass the Bill tbi|sH session, and allow it to some into ! ation at the following general election. ,*8 ! Mr. G. W. Russell criticised the w-M counts of the Railway, Defence, Lands Departments, and said he wM r -J afraid that the wonderful skill shown Jl fin the management of the March quar-fl ter accounts liad a great deal to do -J with the' production of the surplus of 39 £420,000. He thought the Government i$ had done what it had often accused 1 its opponents, of doing, "faking" the 1 Burpluu. He characterised the propose °| als for a change of the constitution u \ : 1 an act of political perfidy. The'G»»,;il vernment were nominating members t» J the Council, while with their tongue* Ji in their cheeks they proposed to reform*?!! tne body. He contended that the Go.'.fl vernment had a sufficient majority ii '/.% the Council to pass the Bill, and the- "I Council should first be tested before the I proposed appointments were made,'.J These appointments were fceing made- 7 for seven years. Language failed him. ™ to express his opinion of the proposal '? to bring the reform into operation in --'* Wl7.

Hon. James Allen asked what mandate the Mackenzie Ministry had tor the appointment of three members to • the Council That ought to answer the Opposition objections-to the Government's action. In reply to Mr. BusBell, he dealt with the quarter's accounts, and repudiated the suggestion < that payments had been held over to swell the surplus. Dealing with the '■ Legislative Council appointments, he said the appointments would be for J three years, if Jhey could get the measure passed. He denied that there ' was a,sufficient Government majority in ''. the Council to pass the reform without ' new appointments. He said that when ' Sir Joseph Ward went out of office, all the reserved funds were pledged and ' £.l.ooo.ooo.advances obtained. Sir Joseph Ward had left his successor with- , out securities to pledge in case of cmer- • gency or crisis. The securities wero ; now redeemed, and had been free e?er - since.

Resuming after supper, the debate developed into a medium for ventilotirig local grievances, and at 11.45 the BUT passed the committee stage without ■ amendment.

On the third reading, Sir Joseph Ward" ] proceeded to discuss Rear-Admiral Hen- ,' derson's report on the establishment of "J •a local navy to show th i 6 his state- 0 ■ment that the cost of a fleet would bo ; 3 £25,205,000 was correct. '..,'! (Left sitting). \

POLITICAL POINTS.

WATERFRONT LABOR. Tlie Prime Minister stated the other evening that it was quite possible that a Bill might be brought down this session . to enable harbor boards at the principal ports to establish permanent staffs of wharf laborers. The Government, Mr. Massey remarked, wanted to see the question satisfactorily settled, and personally he would like to go the length of seeing superannuation provided if they could possibly do it. The Government has not yet finally determined, however, exactly what form the projected legislation snail take. Mr. Massey added that he was very glad to note that the shipowners had already taken steps in the direction of amending the present cpnditHns of waterfront labor. ■

ROADING THE, BACKBLOCKS. ' An interesting passage in the Governor's Speech is tna& ; which indicates that a progressive scheme of road-con-struction will be submitted to Parliament, which makes provision for the creation of satisfactory means of communication in isolated and badly roaded districts. It is stated on excellent authority that the. Government will propose to raise a loan of a million sterling for these purposes, the expenditure of that sum to be spread over a term 6f three years.

"PROBABLES " FOR THE UPPER HOUSE.

It is considered that the following lißt will contain some of "Reform's" chosen nominees for the Upper House:— Mr. C. B. Morison (Wellington). Mr. Graves Aicken (Auckland. Mr. Gilbert Carson (Wanganui). Mr. W. H. Triggs (Christchurch).. Mr. J. G. Wilson (Wellington). Mr. G. W. Leadley (Ashburton).. Mr. J. R. Sinclair "(Otago). Mr. G. Fenwick (Dunedin). . Mr. J. C. N. Grigg (Ashburton)v

BIBLE-IN-SCHOOLS. It is understood that Bible-in-Schools. Bill provides for a compound issue being submitted to the electors, at a referendum poll, covering the introduction of Bible lessons from an approved text book in the State schools, the right of entry for clergymen and the right of parents to determine whether their children should receive religious instruction or not.

While some members ore maintaining a cautious silence as to their attitude upon the Bible-in-Sohools question, there are a number, and these of divergent views, who make no secret of tbeir •belief that the Referendum Bill has extremely good prospects of being passed by the House.

A PLEASANT NOTE. A pleasant, rfote wa 'run led in tins House of Reprcscntuthes on Thursday, when Sir Joseph Win '. i n behalf of the Opposition Party i mi" atuhted tho Prime Minister in a fi'eiv'lv id™ hj, upon his elevation to the Privy Council. lit is easy to dN'n-e', <ich courtesies na being merely formal und unimportant, but to those who are < little wearied of the eternal 'oiekerinu of our ferocious politics, these little Miff-'M- 1 *"- "re distinctly refreshing, nn ' •r> "- >r too infrequently. As a c iii "' t'i'r" i i;reat ' deal move heat is ■.'cie'nti-1 in our politics than necessil, n ■ "' "oliticians must of neres-itv strenuously op- , pose one another, '«■■ '■•' " "i wvneo / of the political Rv«ri m. h-t t v " •inno '£ real necessity thil t l -'' - should develop into p venletti extend*!*' ing into all the rdi't'•" .i fv f. Hajff - pily the bitterness *ln'( ' n- "wh'd MP litical contests in \"w Zea'nnd in JSccnt years has not ■et ti»p re> 'ajfflJß _, k tto prevent the lead,!' n* tV 0. ' M congratulating an opnnncnt •deserved honor, and-doing vious sincerity and S°°3'' f lington Dominion. ~^^^Kamm