Parliament

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 54, 24 July 1914, Page 5

Parliament

THURSDAY, JULY ••;!. t U-ICIIt-UTiVK COUNCIL. . AFfi-motiN iSE-SSiOX. '• % Telegrapii—L'ress Association. \ ~,, , VVe].ingto;i, Le.st Xi^bi. ( J. he ( oii»;-il met at ! ;s() p.m. KKKOUMIXI, TliK ( ,-»Kli HIIUSK. THKiIiL,, CmHJKD. " tl, }) '°r PilU , l, £* n , Un,,iu ff t\K debate upon the Council R efoim Jjii]j BaW ~p [ cffinWTS to , the ■'omination'princ pie. What they hoped for .by properlional representation was an tssumnce oi the n*r representation of ail parties. The true teat ot a democratic, institution was that it should reflect the wishes of s the people. ' Jl°f S' e , I)o j nted out t, " lt from MA to 181)1 few Governments tod held office for more than three or four years Xoimnat'on?, therefore, were fairly representative of the people. The c'ondit'ons were probably different now 11.. supported the Bill, but pointed out that tin- Government, in nominating Counei'lors had fallen into the same error ns Air. beddon and Sir Joseph Ward. He advocated an Electoral College. Hon. Beehan said proportional representation could not be as good for the country as the leader of the House believed. He was satisfied that the neiv members would change their views if they had had seven years' experienc.. ot work upon the Council. Hon. Barnslaw supported the Bill, The people could be relied upon to 11 turn the very best me». Hon. Bell replied at 4.30, and the second reading was carried by 24 to 8. The Council rose at 5 pan. Ttae division was as follows:—Ayes (24): Aitkin, Baiilie, Ban-, Bell, Carson, \ Collins, Earnshaw, Fisher, George Ual'Jones, Hardy, Mac Gibbon, MaeGregor, I McLean, McGinnitv, Mills, Moore, Mbr--1 gan, Xikoro, O'Borke, . Parata, Paul, •Simpson, Wigram. Noes (8):Baldey, Beehan, Carncross, Harris, Johnson, I Jones, Ormond, Thompson.

; HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES'. AFTERNOON SESSION. I The House met at 2.30. hi reply to Mr. Wilford, the Minister , of Mutation said hj« was agreeable that sbv evidence might be given before the Mucation Committee on the Education Bill, so long as file passage of the dims urc was not unduly delayed. In reply to Mr. "Russell, Mr. Massey ■and he would be able to state in about a week's time whether the Motoi Bill would be referred to a Select Committee.

An Imprest Supply Bill was introduced by Governor's message. . ■Sir Joseph Ward entered an emphatic protest against the fact that he had j l'ot been ndvi'sed by the Government that the Bill was coming down. It had always been his practice to inform tCio leader of the Opposition whm an Imprest Supply Bill would 'be brought down. It was impossible for him'to get the requisite information to- criticise tie Bill at a moment's notice.Mr. Massey pointed out that Sir -Jospe-h Ward had not intimated that he wa* going to bring down hi* no-eonfi-deuce motion a few weeks ago, and ho had deliberately refrained from informing Sir Joseph Ward that the Imprest Supply Bill was coming down to bring him to a proper sense, of what was due to him (Mr. Massey) »s leader of the House from the loader of the OpposiI tion.

Mr. Payne protested against the introduction of the Hill at tilii's time, as it was calculated to block his Right to Work Bill. It was a palpable 'trick on the part of a Tory Government to do injustice to the workers.

Mr. Kl declared that the Premier had deliberately interfered with the rights of private members, lie drew attention to the state of the labor market in piristdhurrch, 'where thjerc was (more unemployment t'hian had prevailed for years past.

Mr. Sidey said it was unworthy of the Premier to cherish feelings of' resentment against the leader of the Opposition 1 . Jle understood that the "Reform" spirit held to higher ideals than that. The conduct of tire Government was at least unfair to private members who 'bad set their hills down for discussion that day.

Hon Fraser decared that he was doing all 'he could to find work for the unemployed. The trouble was that the men WHuid not leave town. Mr. Russell said the real reason be hind the present action of the Government was a. desire' to block privat members Bills. Messrs Callum, I'sitt, Myers, Poland, Colvin, and Forbes entered their protest against the tactics of the Government in bringing down the Imprest Supply Bill without -.notice. Mr. Allen replied to Mr. R. Mackenzie's criticism of Public Works expenditure, stating that appropriatio:!--were not taken to carry on works ur.'.V,

the 31st. of March, but to_y>tobc ".ml September. A fair average expenditure Jrnd been maintained on every l;ine where possible. He contrasted, (by means of figures, Pubije Works expenditure under the Ward Government and under the ''Reform" Government, claiming that tihero had been no tapering 'cfT bv the latter, who had spent £2,4-21,000 Inst year. A great deal of the unemployed difficulty in the Dominion was the aftermath of the strike, and should be n lesson to all who believe in strikes that suffering must follow. The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. •Mr. Glover continued the debate upon the Imprest Supply Bill. ■Mr. MvCombs 'deprecated party action, which could not recognise labor. Mr. R. MacKenzic pointed out that there had not been a reduction in the number of men employed upon road and railway construction. There were many n.eii who should be in profitable employment, and tlie Government to»k no notice of them'.

Mr. Veitch. championed the right 0/ cavil servants to full citizenship. Sir Joseph Ward pointed out ttait fourteen old members of the Council had voted for the Reform Bill. This gave the. Government ;i majority of six, apart from, the new appointments. Tne I'rimc Minister had said it was necessary tn make the new appointments to carry through their new legislation. The'figure* of ih'a division showed that no sucli appointments were necessary, hut in t!hc new appointments Labor had not been given fair representation. He then went en to deal with financial matters, and sail! Mr. Allen had not ■heen generous: enough to give him credit for any good work done for the country. Mr. Massey said he should have the I assistance of t'lrt; House in putting through business instead of being obstructed. His object was to put through the business, and even if lie had to sit i right np to the. date when Parliament expired by cluuxion of time the Go* ,vn)rmneut (programme was going through, lie he'd Wait th ■ Government had a perfect right to l<ee|> the membership of the Council up to its proper strength. The recent appemtI incuts had been well, received on all j sides. Mr. Russell said thtt the events oi' that day had proved- conclusively that