PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 30 August 1917, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. Upon the council resuming this afternoon the Juries Act Amendment Bill was considered in. committee, nud a substitut- j cd clause adopted to provide that if ten j of Die jurorsi empanelled to try a crim-'l inal cme, oilier than a capital case, shall, '■, after the jury has retired to consider their verdict for a period of at leastthree hours, intimate to the judge that there is no probability of being unanimous, the verdict of the ten jurors shall be accepted, if the judge may see fit. The last part of the clause providing that in capital cases the verdict of eleven juroris bo accepted, was struck out. Another 'substituted clause was inserted, providing that, in case of the death, illness, or default in attendance of any member of a jury during the trial, the judge shall have power to direct the trial to proceed with eleven jurors, was also accepted. Sir Francis Bell explained that the Bill, as amended, had his and the Government's support. The council adjourned at 4.10. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES The House met at 2.30. ' REPLIES TO QUESTIONS. Replying to Mr. Poland, Sir Joseph Ward .-.D.'iil the banks had agreed to lend depositors up to 90 per cent of their capital at fiV 3 per cent for the purposes of\ the war loan. Replying to Dr. Newman, Sir Josepit Ward said he did not think it possible to allow depositors in the common fund of the Public Trust office to withdraw from that fund to invest in the war loan, as the office, itself was to be a iargo investor in the loan, probably to the extent of £'200,000 or £250,000. Replying to Mr. Field (Otaki), Hon. G. W. Russell said there was no proposal to interfere with patriotic societies' administration of their own funds. ANOTHER COOK STRAITS CABLE. Sir Joseph Ward stated that an additional cable across Cook Strait, connecting the North and Soutli Island, had been successfully laid, and tests made that day were most satisfactory. The cable had been laid by the Eastern Extension Company, this arrangement effecting a 6uving of £14,000 to the Dominion. , NEW BILLS. ' j The following bills were introduced I and read a lirst time: —Whangarei Harbor Board Vesting Bill (Mr. Mander), Whakatane Harbor Amendment Bill (Hon VV. D. S. McDonald). MINISTERIAL. REPLIES. The remainder of the afternoon sitting wa's taken up in discussing answers given to questions iiy Ministers, the following being amongst the answers given:—That the Lands Department will be asked to reommend for physical feature and beauty spots names associated with British history, instead of enemy nationalities; that money lent by the Government Insurance Department will pay income tax in the same way as that of any other trading institution, money lent on mortgage by the 'Public Trustee Irom the common fund, however, will not be liable to taxation, the funds from which the advances are made being Government funds; that it is inadvisable to bring the post oilice savings' bank into line witli commercial banks in the matter of provision for depositors to operate on accounts by cheques; that when General Godley wa's promoted by the Imperial authorities to the command of an army corps he volunteered to continue the direct administration of the New Zealand expeditionary forces in general, and this offer was gladly accepted by the New Zealand Government, with the approval of the Army Council. General Godley co-ordinates the work of General Russell in commanding the New Zealand expeditionary force in France. General Chaytor is commanding the Now Zealand expeditionary force in Egypt, and General Richardson in the "United Kingdom. Such co-ordination f the New Zealand expeditionary forces is absolutely essential. That rum is issued at reinforcements camps in New Zealand on the recommendation of the principal medical officer at each camp; that the Government has power to purchase the Union Steamship Company's ships at definite pnees'which were fixed in charter parties, being the value at the time the charters were entered into. The Premier moved the customary resolutions of sympathy regarding the deaths of the' late Messrs Kidd and G-ore, and the House rose at 5.10 p.nv as a mark of respect to their memories. COMMITTEE OF SUPPLY. • ■ . ; The House, on resuming at 7.30, went into committee of supply to consider the Imprest Supply Bill No. 3, appropriating £1,043,300. Sir Joseph Ward explained that the Bill only differed front, previous Bills in the item of £74,000 for telegraph extension. On the seend re."ding of the Bill, Mr. Poland complained that certain men in. Waihi were being penalised by a mining company which controls labor in that district, because they took part in a' strike some years ago, and lie appealed, for justice to the 'Premier and Parliament. Several other members ventilated grievances. Mr. Jennings drew attention to the large number of defalcations taking place in connection with public funds, and also to land aggregation, which, he declared, was rampant. Sir James Allen defended the Government agninsi the charge that mem'bers had been ignored in connection with the war work. Members could not act on boards sitting and working all the year round. He quoted letters to show that members had been invited to co-operate in bringing the Military Service Act into operation." Theif services were desired In every way possible. The debate was, continued by Messrs Webb and Payne. Sir Joseph; "Ward briefly replied, and the Bill passed all stages. The House rose at 11.10 p.m.