Parliament

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 58, 29 July 1914, Page 8

Parliament

TUESDAY. JULY 2S. LEGISLATIVE COUKCIL. AFTERNOON SITTING. By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The Legislative Council met at 2.30 p.m. , . Hon. Wiirrum moved the second readin" of the' Dominion Trust Company oi New Zealand. The Hill was read a second time and referred to the committee. COUNCIL REFORM. On the motion to p> into committee upon the Legislative Council Bill, the lions. Wigram, Jones, George, Baillic and Lonisson spoke, suggesting amendments. In committee, a new clause was added, providing for restrictions on tiie Council dealing with money clauses, to except revenue, taxation and loans d'.'alt with bv local bodies. At clause 12, making provision for four electorates, lion. Barr moved that the number of electorates ho eight instead of four.

Hon. Bell said it was the policy of the Government to have the Senate elected upon proportional representation, and that the elections should not be upon small personal issues. After debate, the Council divided upon the motion for amendment, which was defeated by U to 10. The Council rose at 4.50 p.m.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. AFTERNOON SESSION. The (louse of Representatives met at 2.30 p.m. Fl XANCIA L STATEMENT. In reply to Sir Joseph Ward, Mr. Masse}' said the Financial Statement would be" delivered next, week. FIRST READINGS.

Tin- following Mils were read a fn»t time:—Fire Imprests (Mr. Sidey), Prcibvterian .Social Service Association Vesting Bill (Mr. Clari:). Rukapuka County P,ill (Mr. Nosworthj). Before going on with the orders of tlie day, the Prcrirer read a cable from tin; Home authorities to the effect that so far his Majesty's Government lw.l not vet received any notice of formal declaration of war between .Austria and Servia. War might yet he averted. Amendments made in committee in the, i Fruit 'Preserving-Amendment Bill were agreed to, and the Bill was read a third time and passed. On the third reading of the 'Local Elections and 'Polls Amendment Bill. Sir Joseph Ward drew attention to the fact that numbering ballot papers In seili'.cnce endangered seeicc;- of the ballot. Mr. Ell put in a plea for the cxten-

sion of polling hofrs til! 7 p.m. Mr. Fisher, in reply, admitted the of Sir -Joseph Ward's' criticism. and >-aid he would go into the matter with the electoral ollicer and see-what oiihl be done. The Bill was read a third time *nd passed. The Harbor Amendment Bill was read a third time and passed. On the motion of .Mr. Fisher, the amendments made in the Victoria College Amendment Bill wrvc agreed to, and {he Bill was read a third time and passed, without debate. FINANCE.

Mr. Allen moved tlic accond reading ol' tlu' Ni'\v Zealand Loans Amendment Pill, lie explained that at the present time the Dominion was very much at the n:i'ivy of the Bank of England in the matter of inscription of stock. The Hill proposed to give the country power to iu.criiv o'li- stock elsewhere, if so desired. He did not propose to make any immediate change. All he v.anvcd was the power to make the change if it were considered expedient to do 30. Sir Joseph Ward said he did not agree with the propo:ai made in the Rill. The Hani; of England '•''•'•'■ •' very powerful institution, and it rr:j:dred grave consideration before v.c departed from the system which had im-n in operation since we started raisin'; Joans.

'l\lr. Mvers suggested thai, in view of the gravity of the .-ba::ge. the 'Bill should be re'fcri'cil to the' Public Accounts <'o]nmittce. The Minister promised to do so. ■Dr. Newman supported the Bill. lie could not understand why the Liberils had gone on paying large sums of money for inscription of our stock. lie suggested that the work be give.iv to the Bank of New Zealand. .Mr. Massoy said the whole purpose of the Bill was economy. He agreed with the last speaker that we could very well inscribe our stock at the Bank (if New .Zealand. All they were asking for was the power to go elsewhere, if the Ihihi; of England would not give us terms which we considered fair." .\:.r. Allen, in reply, contended that ail he desired was that he might be free to inscribe the Dominion's stock where lie thought 111. At present we were tied to the Bank of England. He readily admitted that the Bank of England could be of assistance to tile Dominion, but they were paid for all they did, and his impression wa.s that we were paying 100 much. Tiie Pull wii., ~,..-d J, second ti,.,e and referred to the -'Public Accounts Committee. HA.VKING AMENDMENT. Mr. Allen moved the second reading of the Hanking Amendment. Hi]], making the notes of hanks 1,-c.l tender by Order-in-Council. Sir Joseph Ward warniiv supported tile.liiil. Mr. Pa-, ne charactered the Bill as "another Tory robbery." Mr. 'Wilford supported Vv.r Ri'l. nro<"<U->\ it v.'- not proeos,.,! to glsv a continuous vuarant'-e for an nnli.vd !i;"ii'''-r of notes. _Mr..sis lliiidiiiar.-li. Veiitl-. Craigie and U.-iib 0,,;,05,.,! die 1.1:1. ■Mr. Ell supported it. Alter the Minister had replied, rim Bill was read a second time on cue voices. UCENTSING PC I. '■n the Ibm-e resuming at 7.30 p., n ..

the Licensing Dill v:;u taken in committee. Mr. Piiviie intimated hia intention to move' iin'amendment to the Hill providing for compulsory voting. Mr'. Wilfuni declared that no-license did not prohibit, find it engendered a state of tiiin}.'.; whVh tin- no-license people themselves did not ivunt. lie proposed to move that there 'be no local licensing poll taken ttt next election, but the vote on national no-license be decided upon n 55 per cent, majority. Mr. G. W. Russell said the Bill was to all intents and purposes a Government measure. Tim Premier was assuming the responsibility of placing the countrv under national prohibition. Mr. Atmorc contended that they must have a stable majority; 53 per cent, was not sufficient.

Mr. Coats said the question of revenue had to be considered. More taxation could not be placed upon the farmer. Mr. Webl) said the question of State ownership should be placed before the people. Mr. R. McKonzie scouted the idea that the Government would make up any loss of revenue by land taxation. The money would be made up out of Customs. Mr. McComb said the House was not called upon to decide the licensing question, but to say whether or not the people should decide the question. Mr. Tsitt attacked, the argument that 'bad economic conditions brought about drinking. Mr. Russell held that there must be pome very strong reason to justify the .Premier in reversing his vote of lDTir, and lowering the majority ta 55 per cent.

Mr. ■Jfassey said there was So use in him repeating his arguments, and no use in talking, as every member had made up his mind as to how lis intended to vote. It 55 per cent, of the people were prepared to vote for Dominion nolioense lie was prepared to give it to them. lie would not agree that the question should lie decided ,by a bare majority. No one could say the Government was doing wrong in uivinr members an opportunity to express their opinion.

Mr. Payne moved that in clause 2 and in sub-section 2 of that clause, ".k> ;-.<■;• cent." be strucl; out, and the words "a majority of the electors" be inserted in lieu thereof. The amendment was lost by G3 to 4, the "noes" being Messrs Payne, Miller, Te Rangihiroa and Glover. On the question that the clause stand as part of the Bill, the voting was: Ayes '3l, noes 33. The clause was strucl: out. Ayes. .11 .--Anderson, Bii.vton, (Vviu Cranio. Diycy, Ell, Escott, Fisher. Outline. Harris, Hmdmarsh. Hine.Tsitt. Lee. McCombs, Marnier. Massev. Dr. Newman. Xgata, Nosworthv. ' Okey, Peareo, Poland, Svkes. 0. M. Thomson, Veitch, Ward', Webb, Wilkijis-'n i Wilson, Young. Noc=, 33---Allen, Atmore, R. F. P„->!-lard, P.radney. Brown, Buc.hnnan, Buiek Campbell, C;irr.;'l. Coates. Dickie, Dielc sen, Fi-.i-,-. Coyer, llei'dman. Hunter. Mac-Donald. MeKenzie. Millar, Myers Parata Payne. Pomare. Rangihiroa Reed. Russell. S-ott, Sidev. F. H.'Smilh Statham, ,1. C. Thomson. Wilford.W.itt v. Pairs—R. IT. Rhodes and McOalliUni: llanan and J. Bollard; Be;; mid Herrie* ; Buddo and Forbes; Clark -.'.•■•[ R W Smith.

OliMisfl 3, relating *«> Ttarmaids, was struck out, on the motion of the Premier, .-ind the remaining clauses passed unamended. Mr. M.iisev moved a 'engtliv amendment, nrnthling that shall not lv: mi;ni»f:ietiin'-d for sa ; e, except under the authority 'if a win" ruak'.-rs' licence, granted under conditions hereinafter provided. Mo«rs Wilford, Tslf.t. and ITiudip.arsh pie.:,!,.,! h>r f.vtey The Premier «sited (he House to agree to the clause. Tf, later on. it was found tc be imnerfcet. he would move to recommit tie? Bili to have it amended. This coarse was agreed to, and the clause pas-cd,. and progress Avar, reported. The Home rose at 11.47 p.m.