Parliament

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 110, 2 October 1914, Page 4

Parliament

- LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. AiTERXOON SESKXN. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The Council anet at 2.30 p.m. A similar resolution to tlhat passed I by the Home was moved regarding the I death of the late Hon. Thos. Fergus. j Hon. H. 1). flell spoke highly of the late Mr. Fergus' ability- and good quali- I ties, a»d was followed by the Hons. Diit'hic, Paul, Moore, Wills and McGifokott. The Oouneil then adjourned until S o'clock, as a mark of respect to thj mamorr of the late Hon. Fergus. FVEXLVG SESSIOX. Tha Council met at 8 p.m. On the motion to go into Committee upon the second reading of the Medical Practitioners Bill, Hon. Bcehan raised objection to the measure on behalf of the friendly societies and medical practitioners outfiido the British Medical Associaton. non. Jones objected to the Bill, on the ground that it placed too much power in the hands of doctors. Hon. Bell said there were no symptoms •I a close corporation.. The Board was onlv appointed that doctors might deal with things for which they were specially qualified. The motion to go into Committee was agreed to. Tn Committee on the Gaming Amendment Bill, tfon. George, moved a new elause nftTing for its purpose the use of | tha double machine. Hon. Hardy, in charge of the Bill, acl ie.pted the amendment with pleasure. I Hon. Mooro objected to the clause. t Hon. Paul opposed it, as it would inl"*re«se gambling.

Hon. Bell said it appeared logical ttet 'li as the admission of bookmakers to race* -S courses was not now legal, the double machine should bo restored. Be ««M not see that the double machine would ' ineiease gaming, Hon. Jones opposed the clause, wak* only meant driving the bookie to the country clubs. Hon. Louisson favored the clause, and Hon. Ifiarnshaw opposed it. Hon. McGibbon declared that if too elauso were carried he would Tote against the Bill. Hon. Beehan favored the clause. He could not see what harm the double machine could do. Hon. JfcGinnity said that if the clause was tacked on to the Bill he would vote against it. Hon. Ormond Said he thought the use of the double machine would have a. tendency to weaken the bookmaker. The Council divided on the clause, ■ which was defeated by 12 to 8. The Bill wag then reported with only verbal amendment. The Council went into Committee upon the Medical Practitioners Bill. The Medical Practitioners' Bill was re-' ported with minor amendments, read a third time, and passed. The Animals Protection, and Gamin* Amendment Bills were reported without amendment, read a third time and passed, Hon. Jones asked if the Government would take steps to prevent the supply or alcoholic liquor to the expeditionary forces wherever temporarily stationed. Hon. Bell said the matter had been given earnest consideration, but it was a difficult matter, as the men were under the control of the Defence Department. The Council rose at 10.fi5 pju., until Wednesday. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. AJFTERNOON SESSION. The Hou&e met at 2.30 p.m. ~ , FIRST READINGS. The draft of a Bill to amend the New ?*aload University Act, 100S, was }„. troduced by Governor's Message. The 7 WM r.J ead .- a ftret time and to the Education Committee. ,^ EU *<> "menu the, Coal Mines Ast XW», was introduced by Governor'a* Message, read a firat time, and referred to the Mines Cbraniiittee. A Bill to amend the Mining Act, 1008, wag dealt with in a similar maimer. A Bill to amend the State Advances Act, 1013, was introduced by Governor's Message, and read a first lime. .ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS. In answer to questions, Ministers said the cases of strike prisoners had been enquired into individually, and no grounds had teen discovered that would justify the Government releasing them. It was not proposed to amend the Pensions Act this session to enable pensions to be paid to orphan children. The House rose at 5.30- p.m. ; EVENING SESSION. The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. THE LICENSING BILL, She Premkir moved that the amendments made by the Legislative Council m the Licensing Amendment Bin be tfgreed to. Mr. Isitt objected to the deletion of Hihc words "and of a strength not exceeding 20 per cent .of proof spirit" in srtb-clause 11 of clause U, as tending to leavo an opening for dealers in New Zealand wino to fortify tie wine. The Premier read opinions from Departmental officers to show that if tha v.;ords were retained it would be impossible to make Now Zealand wine that would keep, but .lie finally agreed tot exclude this amendment from the motion, and a committee, consisting of Messrs Harris, Isitt and Massey, was appointed to confer with the Legislative Council on the point. Th 6 Jder iof 'the amendments were then agreed to. The Premier stated that he had promised to set up a commission to investigate the condition,, relating to the sole of liquor in the King Country. In reply to Mr McDonald, the Premier said he had invited the member for the Eastern .Maori D'etrict to confer with the law draughtsman, and if ii satisfactory clause could be drafted dealing with the oost of the iMaori licensing poll he would have it introduced into tho Bill by Governor's Message before his Excellency signed the Act. LOCAI, RAILWAYS BILL. Hon. W. h'rascr moved the second rending of the Local Railways Bill, explaining that it was introduced at the general \\ ;*h of the country districts of the Dominion. The Dill divided the Dominion into railway districts for the appointment of rai way boards with power to take land niul construct railways when authorised, as provided under the Bill. Aft->r a railway was built, power of purchase by the Crown was given if that ware deemed prudent. Sir Joseph Ward objected to the Bill as tending to open up the way to monopoly. It placed in the hands of the boards powers never previously given to anyone outside the Crown. He denounced the principle of private people" ■building railways and then clamoring to have them taken over by the State ate. big advance en the Co3t. Tho proper. course was for the State to find the money to err-tric!. th.- 0 district railways, and nol to pursae a policy 0 f "funk," as t'ah Hill did, Mr E. Newman supported the Bill. It would help ",. people i n the backblocks to get railways when ther could not get roads. Mr Veiteh denounced the Bill. If a railway was a failure, the owners would olamor to get !h« Government to take it over. If a success, it could be sold to a company, and then it would be run as a monopoly, and if the country had to j take !t over, the Statu would have to pay through t.V him.- f or it. I Mr Isitt. ni l: ' t!„, measure, saying j that at th» hie' • t!,,. mind 0 f the Reform Party iv,. -,. ,1,,,;,-,. t o promote [private ente-.-.,,-, ~, ~p,i nst state en- , lerpnse. v... , extraordinary contrast the M! '., ,):,. recent action of the Goy-v,- ~, ap;,„mting an expert at. i':?'-- ..._ ~„, suggesting a loan ot on. . ~,{,- nuViom. Now f-liey pro",- r ..j, m ., rfti ) W ayg out%t I'm,™"' ' expert employed. ' lne L ' l! ■•■ -\ most vicious ov " P 11 "'"' '• .e rountry. thnMh' I ''' •'' ! ""' ar e» m «>t Mc * r -' > v: m',.-„!X and Wilson wpr,--. ■ •■.:!). ;,],i!e Hon. IX '-' Kl(1 »- -■ ''■ - and '.Ton. R. MeK 7;, , ' , 'i -iii.-n to it. Aft " '••'''- '■ .le'->l» was con''"•""l- ■'■ ' and JCs- *(, - ' A,! " "■ ' ! ■»•• hv Messrs n ■"•■•■ ■ «':- .p,>»scd «,3