PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 October 1921, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

YESTERDAY’S SITTING. THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. AMENDING THE LIBEL LAW. By Telegraph—Press Associatien. Wellington, Last Night. The Legislative Council met at 2.30 p.m. Sir James Carroll was sworn in. The Banking Amendment Bill was received ffom the House, read a second time pro forma, and referred to the Statutes Revision Committee. The Hon. J. McGregor moved the second reading of the Legitimation Bill, which proposes to legitimate children at the date of whose birth there existed a legal impediment to the marriage of its parents. The Bill was read a second time and referred to the Statutes Revision Committee.

The Lav Practitioners Amendment Bill (Sir Francis Bell), which provides that law agents enrolled in Scotland may be admitted as solicitors of the New Zealand Supreme Court, was read a second time pro forma, and referred to the Statutes Revision Committee. Sir Francis Bell, moving the second reading of the Law of Libel (further amendment) Bill, said it somewhat extended the privilege authorised by the Act of 1910, and in addition repealed what he considered a disgrace to the Statute Book—namely, the law making slander a criminal offence. The Bill was read a second time and referred to the Statutes Revision Committee. The Council adjourned at 3.8 pan. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES PROMISED GAMING BILL. TO BE INTRODUCED TO-DAY. The House of Representatives met at 2.30 p.m. ■ Mr. Massey gave notice of his intention, next sitting day, to introduce the Gaming Act Amendment Bill. The following Bills were introduced andread a first time: Local Bodies’ Finance Bill (Hon. W. D. Stewart), Whakatane Harbor Bill (Mr. F. F. Hockley), Auctioneers Amendment Bill (Hon. W. D. Stewart). Replying to Mr. L. M, Isitt (Christchurch North), the Hon. Dr. Pomare said the Native Fruit Growers’ Association at the Cook Islands had not gone out of action, but the trading elements were, no doubt, hostile ot it, and were trying to smash it in every way they could, because the effect of the association was to get rid of the middle man. It was the policy of the department. to encourage the association in every way, because it recognised that the more encouragement given the more production would result, and consequently more cheap fruit for the people of New Zealand.

WORKERS IN QUARRIES. PROTECTING STATE EMPLOYEES. Mr. H. (E. Holland (Labor Leader) moved the second reading of the StoneQuarries Amendment Bill. He pointed out that the Act of 1910 was designed to mitigate the risks of quarry work, but it did not apply to works carried on by the State. ‘ The object of the present Bill was to make the Government amenable to the same conditions as private employers on relation to work in stone quarries, tunnels or similar works. He appealed to the House to pass the measure, or, in the alternative, that the Government take it up and put it through at once, so as to give workers under Government departments the same protection as private employers had to give their employees. The Prime Minister raised tKe point that the Bill was one requiring to be introduced by Governor-General’s message. The o-peaker said he was not quite certain whether it was an appropriation Bill, but he would let it go to the second, reading and then obtain a decision on the point before proceeding further. This was agreed to and the Bill was read a second time on the voices. LOCAL ELECTIONS BILL. POSITION OF ABSENT VOTER. Mr. N. H. Reed (Bay of Islands) moved the second, reading of the Local Elections and Polls Amendment Bill providing for the issue of special voting papers for absent voters in local elections. Mr. T. W. Rhodes (Thames), while supporting the measure, urged the addition of a clause permitting a ratepayer whose name was inadvertently left off the roll, but who has paid up all rates, to exercise his vote. The Bill was read a second time on the voices and referred to the Statutes Revision Committee. LOCAL BODY LOANS. INVESTMENT OF MONEYS. The House then went into committee on the Local Bodies Loans Amendment Bill. The Minister (Hon. W. D. Stewart) said the Bill extended the time in which a local body was able to raise an authorised loan from two to three years. He was going to” get the Upper Houseto include a clause to provide for cases of certain bodies which were almost at the end of the time in which to raise loans. The Minister said he proposed to drop clause two (definition of a ■ratepayer), and the clause was struck out. , On clause six Mr. F. F. Hockley (Rotorua) objected that it might endanger local bodies’ finance if the Government was empo’Vyered to divert the investment of moneys held by the Public Trust Office. Mr. Wilford supported this objection and said that uulewc the Minister Would

give an assurance that the funds diverted would be limited he would divide the committee on the question. The Minister replied that the clause would give an opportunity to make a better investment possible, instead of being confined to a common fund. After considerable discussion the Premier gave an assurance that the effect of clause 6 would be carefully considered by the Attorney-General and if necessary it would be amended in the Legislative Council. On this understanding the clause was agreed to. The House rose at 10.21 p.m. till 2.30 p.m. to-morrow.