PUBLIC SERVICE REFORM BILL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8548, 4 October 1907, Page 5

PUBLIC SERVICE REFORM BILL.

(By Telegraph—Parliamentary Correspondent). WELLINGTON, October 3. In ibe House, this afternoon, Mr A. W. Hogg (Masterton) resumed the debate on the introduction of the Public Service Reform Bill, which was interrupted by the dinner adjournment yesterday. He expressed himself as being in favour of allowing political freedom to all employees uf the State, but thought that servants of tl.e State should avoid indulging too freely in party politics. If public servants took too prominent a part in politics it would give rise to evils from which they themselves were likely to suffer. Mr J. Bennett (Tuapeka) moved the previous question, with a view to determining the debate. This was seconded by Mr A. Kidd (Auckland Central), the Government Whip. The Leader of the Opposition (Mr W. F. Massey) protested against any attempt to prevent discussion of what was a most important question. It was an attempt to gag Parliament, and he characterised the tactics as contemptible. The Premier said that the procedure of speaking at length on the first reading of a Bill was unusual. If the question was to be tiscussed, it should be on the second reading. The Government wanted to go 011 with the Land Bill and not debate a measure which would not settle the matter one way or the other. There was no "gagging" about it. The "previous question" was lost by 37 to 39, and the debate proceeded. The first reading of the Bill was eventually agreed to by 48 to 19.

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