PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 July 1920, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

YESTERDAY'S PROCEEDINGS, THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Jbj Telegraph.—Press Associating Wellington, Last Night. The Legislative Council met at 2.30 p.m. The Registration of Aliens Amendment Bill was received from the House of Representatives and read a first time. The Hon. J. MacGregor's Crimes Act Amendment Bill, providing for doing away with a Grand Jury'in most cases, was read a first time.

The Hon. J. MacGregor moved the second reading of tile Juries Act Amendment Bill, providing for the taking of 11 ten-twelfths majority verdict in all but capital charges. He explained that the Hon. E. P. Lee, as a private member, last session promised to take charge of the Bill when it reached the House, and that he understood tile Government would take it up or introduce a corresponding measure.

The Hon. 0. .Samuel opposed the Bill on the ground that its passage would tend to weaken the people's confidence in the due administration of justice. The main effort should ever be not to convict, but to administer justice. The Hon. H. L. Michel suggested that the majority should be altered to eleventwelfths.

The 'Hon. J. Barr supported the Bill. The Hon. Sir J. R. Sinclair opposed the Bill, saying the mere fact that Mr. MacGregor made an exception of capital charges showed lie .lacked confidence in the proposal.

The Leader of the Council said he was unable to pledge the Government, hut Mr. MacGregor had every reason to believe that the Government would adopt the Bill or propose a similar one. The second reading carried on the voices.

The Council adjourned at 4.55 p.m.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. BERTHING OF IMMIGRANT SHIP. The House of Representatives met at 2.30 p.m. Replying to Mr. Eraser, the Hon. C. J. Parr (Minister of Public Health) said the usual course was followed in connection with the berthing of the Mahann, on which there had been cases of scarlet fever. The medical officers of the department state they regard the berthing as quite justifiable, and were prepared to take full responsibility for their action. PROFITEERING ALLEGED. Replying to Wilford, Mr. Massey said he would be glad to . pass on to the Board of Trade an inquiry as to whether profiteering is going on in connection with the sale of petrol in (lie Dominion. Our trouble was that we had not been able to get adequate supplies to-build up a reserye. He was not unfavorable to the Government bringing from America a cargo of petrol if it was possible to do so, but up to the present the Government had confined its efforts to encouraging private importations. TARIFF MATTERS.

The Excise Tariff Bill was introduced by Mr. McCallum, and was read a first time.

During the discussion, the Opposition blamed the Government for not having revised _ the Customs tariff, with not having increased death duties, and with not having imposed a heavier land tax.

-Mr. Massey contended that the Customs tariff could not be revised without long preparation on the part of experts, for which there was not time this session. The country could not do with less revenue than was at present' being raised, and if taken off in one direction if. must be put on in another. He recognised the necessity of a revision of the whole system of taxation, and he would set up a committee in the House to investigate the position. The Hon. C. J. Parr contended thst the death and succession duties in New Zealand were far higher than was generally supposed. Under this dual taxation in some eases nearly half an estate could be taken. Mr. Wilford argued that the occasions on which the dual tax came into operation wore negligible. MINERS' RIGHTS.. Mr. Parry moved the second reading 'ox the Mining Act Amendment Bill. lie explained that the Bill sought to amend section 2CB of the principal Act in the direction of giving the right to sue for injury received, notwithstanding that a miner may have received progress payments under the Workers' Compensation Act, 190 S. He pointed out that acceptance of (such payments nullified a miner's claim under the common law, which was not the case with other workers in other industries. He only nskbd that miners be placed on the same plane as all other workers. Ho suggested t.lie .Bill should go to the Mipes Committee, as he wanted the matter gone into by experts. The Bill was read a second time.