Parliament

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 53, 23 July 1914, Page 5

Parliament

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. WEDNESDAY, JYLY 22. AFTEIi.MIOX SkSSKiX. By Telegraph.---Press Association. Wellington. Last Night. The Legislative Council met at 2.3(1 •p.m. LEGISLATIVE COIWTIL REFORM. Hon. McGregor resumed the deliate on the Legislative Council Bill. He was of opinion that the Council should be made elective. Impartiality was not possible. In the case of nomination, the men appointed were necessarily party men. Election by the people ' was tiie only proper method of reform. Hon. Carneross recognised that the. Bill was to be passed, but lie proposed to make a few "dying remarks" upon the measure. He' admitted that the appointments made by the Liberals were distinctly party, but it was only a ease of history repeating itself. 'ln the past, measure after' measure had heen turned down until the Liberal Government made appointments to enable its legislation to be carried through. Speaking as one who had had a long experience of Doth Cliamhers of the Legislature, he urged in all sincerity, although lie had much to thank the people for, that there should be one House entirely free from the terrible pressure which was brought to bear on members in another place. 'He believed the Government was sincere in wishing to pass the measure, but it was idle to think an electoral system would prevent party feeling in the Council, and it was in the best interests of the country to have one Chamber in the Legislature free from party.

Hon. Samuel said that there had boon nothing to change his opinion with'regard to the "Bill, but it would 'be idle for him to utter the words-lie had uttered in the past. The majority which in the past had brought them success had gone. The new appointments made it useless to employ . idle resistance. lie could never vote for the Bill, but he recognised the concessions made to those in opposition. Hon. Maginnity said he came to the Council with no specific instruction from the Governor. He was sent to the Council as an extreme Liberal, and as a Liberal Hie supported the electoral system. The whole scheme of government in New Zealand was representation by popular vote. In the county councils, school committees and all other public institutions the popular vote prevailed. They had to consider the feeling of the people, and deal with the Bill from a democratic standpoint. The Bill carried out the Liberal creed, and gave the people the same opportunity to vote for the election of councillors as to vote for members of the House. EVENING SESSION.

Th'e Council resumed at S p.m. Hon. Mills continued the debate. lie. did not think it wis»> to alter the constitution without knowing what w;is to be given in it's place. By the adoption of the e'r.ction principle they would keep niair- able men from rendering servie- in iiic (,'mmci'. Hon. I!. Mr.nve said he felt it was not po-< Mile Lr him to give altogether a si'mt vote. He did not look upon the proposed cilmnte as reform, but as an extension of the powers of the Council. They wou'd lave a, miandate from the people in.-tei ! < i !° from one man. In the past the Council had done goal work, and be was not in favor of its abolition. While he felt that some other franchise might be adopted, hc ; did ntt see how the change could he' effected in the proposal made. Hon. Jones said- there was no mandate from the people to make the change proposed. It was only a planl; put into the •'Reform" platform. lion. Ban- said that after 'analysing the work of the Council there was no need for the change in the constitution, but he supported the elective principle. He was not satisfied that the proportional' svstem was all that it should be. and hoped something would lie don*; Jit committee to improve the Bill. The debate was adjourned.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. AFTERNOON SESSION. ' The House met at 2.30 p.m. ■Mr. McCombs gave notice of his intention to introduce the Legislature Amendment and Industrial Unions and Trade Unions Bill. The Dunedin City Council Empowering Bill was introduced by eMr. St'atham,' anel read a first time'. Mr. Allen introduced the New Zealand Loans Amendment Bill, which was read a first time. Mr. Payne gave notice that when the Licensing Amendment Bill was in committee be would move an amendment providing for r ' mlsory voting and reducing the ree|iiireel majority from 55 to 51 per cemt. The remainder of the afternoon sitting was taken up by members discussing replies given to questions by Ministers. Local grievances were freeJy aired.

'ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS. Ministers said that there is nothing to prevent any industrial unionists or trade unionists who.desire to use their funds for political or other similar objects from doing so. by ri'giste>ring the socii'ties for the purpose' under the Incorporated Societies Act. The fioverniuent would consider the advisability of introducing into the Licensing Bill amendments (a) enabling apoll to be taken in any Maori district in 'which"the question of no supply to Maoris has been decide-d in the affirmative, anel (b) throwing the cost of any such poll on the Consolidated Fund and not on the' Maori Council of the distiict. ~,.1 . In the event of national prohibition I,,'ing carried it will be the duty of the (lovcrnment to submit proposals with the' object of making up the deficiency in ri'veiiui' resulting therefrom. The Minister of Defence bad no reason to think that there is any- grave amvst as regards Territorial service m ;env part of the Dominion; on the contra n\ he had every reason to heJieve that it is proceeding most satisfactorily. •Sir Tan Hamilton's recommendation* are bi'in" carried out, and full particulars m ,'oniH'ction thi'.vewith are' contained in (he annual report lv. the flcneral Officer Commanding, to be presented to Parliament shortly. Railway carriages are regularly cleaned and scrubbed with elisinfectants. Tin' Oovcrnmcnt is considering the iielvisabilitv of erecting house's for memb.'vs of the police force' on departmental sites now lying idle.

RVF.XTXU SKRRTON". Tin' House I'l'suincil at 7.30 p.m. Mr. McCiilluiii moved tin' second roadiiin hi' lli'-TiuilwuvK Improved l-anib Hill. TTe pointed out tlint although thev- liltd hem h»sos to the I'onntry in the ' nst, owiiiijto no provisions for betterment I contributions, there was no reason v> v>something should not lie done now. It •niHit be said that it was a ease of

shutting the stable <loov after the horse ( had gone. Ho hoped to show that there were still a few horses in the stable. The Government still had a railway policy. He quoted figures to show* that lines authorised and proposed involved an expenditure of £21,000.000. He urged that it would be wise to set up a Commission to decide which cf these railways would pay best, and thai the added value given to land through winch the line or lines passed should go into the coffers of the State. Mr. Pearee. intimated that he won d divide the House against the Bill. It was the refrigerator and separator that had given value to the land, not t!ie railways. Mr. Isitt declared that it was time our absurd system of railway construction ceased. It was high time, ll 'it justice was done to the masse* o" ihe people, and that the benefit of >" re public expenditure should not vo Lito the pockets of the wealthy landowners, especially in view of the fact that the (lovernment was committed to a policy cf encouraging private railways. Mr. Vcitcli supported the Bill, though he thought it did not go far enough. Mr. P. M. Smith argued that the landtax increasing with the increased xaluc was a sufficient betterment tax. Mr. Russell quoted figures to show the rapid growth of the capital value of the Dominion, and asked what we were doing to secure for the State a fair share of this huge increase. The. fact was that while the capital value had increased by £7!>,000.000. the landtax had only risen by £200,000. This was the clearest proof that our system was utterly wrong. After the supper adjournment, the debate was continued 1 by Messrs McDonald, Wilson, Hunan, Wilkinson, Coatcs, Pa vne and 131. Till' debate was adjourned on the mo--1 ion \)f Mr. Allen, and the House rose