PARLIAMENT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9184, 5 September 1908, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL,

(By Telegraph—Abridgeci from Press Association Report.) WELLINGTON, September 4. The Legislative Council met at 2.30 o'clock. The Attorney-General moved the committal of the Law Practitioners' Amendment Bill. The Hon. J. Rigg said that he thought the Bill did not conserve the rights of those at present studying law. If seven years' practice as a solicitor was sufficient to qualify for a position on the Supreme Court Bench it was sufficient to allow of such a person practising as a barrister. The question to consider was whether the standard of education set up for solicitors was adequate, and he believed an answer could be given on the affirmative. He thought the examination could be simplified without detriment to t' e profession. For instance he did not think it necessary that a solicitor should have a knowledge of latin. He mo.ed as an amendment that the Bill be referred to Statutes Committae. The Hon. Mr Kelly, wl*o seconded the amendment, said that he entirely disagreed with the Bill. In his reply the Attorney-General said that what was required of a barrister was to pass an examination on known law, and any man who could not pass that had no right to take six and eightpence out of any person's pocket. A man was also required to pass an examination in international lav;, conflict of laws and jurisprudence, and ajiy ordinary intelligent young fellow should be able to pass the examination. The Bill was not raising the question of caste or making the profession exclusive. Nine-tonths of the legal students in the Dominion wanted the Bill. The amendment was negatived, and the Bill was committed. A new clause wh.s inserted to make the Act inoperative in the case of every person who has been admitted as a solicitor before the passing of the Act or is admitted as solicitor before December 30th, 1911. The Bill was reported. The Council adjourned at 4.45 o'clock. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House met at 2.30 o'clock. On the motion of the Premier it was decided to place on record the high sense of the services rendered to the country and Parliament by the late Mr A. D. Willis, formerly member for Wanganui, whose death occurred a few days ago. The third reading of the Town Boards Amendment Bill was moved, and during the discussion Mr H. G. Ell (Chrisfcchurch South) suggested i that if one Minister was in charge of , all local Government matters he ] would then be an expert. ! ( Sir J. G. Ward said that if one ] Minister had to deal with all local , government questions it would in- ■ volve his going into ot' er Minister's ' departments for information. The . whole question involved the creation , of another Ministerial department, and th# appointments of extra Min- : isters, and he did not know if tt;e , country was disposed to have that. ; Mr W. F, Masß?y; "There vrz . toO iMiiy iidvv' '' Sir J. G. Ward: "Weii, the hon. ] member may say so, but I do not < tliink others will agree with him" The Premier added that he was : sure the country did not want Min- . isters to work themselves to death, 1 and when the country realised what ■ was on the shoulders of Ministers it 1 would understand what was necessary. Mr Massey did not agree that an increase of the number of Ministers was necessary. Mr J. T. M. Hornsby (Wairarapa) : "They want under secretaries." Mr Massey: "They don't. If Ministers devoted themselves to work instead of gadding about the country attending race meetings and opening ' every halfpenny school they would not be overworked." If anyone ' had a l-ight to complain it was the ' Leader of the Opposition who had 1 more work on his shoulders than any- 1 one else." Sir J. G. Ward: "You give me your correspondence for one day and I'll give you mine:" Mr Massey: "You give me your j secretary." Mr T. McKenzie said ' that he held that more Ministers were necessary to cope with the work. After further discussion of a gen- 1 eral character the third reading was ' carried, and the Bill passed. ) On the Second Ballot Bill Mr Mas- 1 sey said that the Short Title of the Second Bajlot Bill was misleading, as there might be three, or even four ballots, '.the Bill would lead to political cori'uption and was a dis- 1 tinctly retrograde measure. A huge < mistake was being made in forcing the Bill on the elector:?, who had not asked for it and did not want it. Sir J. G. Ward said that no more than two ballots were possible. It was a mistake to suppose that the Bill was a party measure, or that minorities would be disfranchised by it. The House rose at 5.30. 1 The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. 1 Tha debate on the Short Title was I continued and carried, a btonevvall i being obviously intended. The Pre- i mier said that everybody recognised the Opposition's little game. Mr J. Allen denied that, the Bill was being blocked. The Opposition were anxious to put forward all arguments against the Bill to show exactly what its nnture really was, so that the Government supporters might vote in accordance with their real opinions. At 8.25 the Short Title clause was passed by 39 to 14. > On Clause 2 Dr. Chappie moved a series of amendments to sub-clause 2, which the Chairuman ruled out of 1 order as being a negative of a second 1 ballot. Progress was reported to consult the Speaker. The Chairman's ruling was upheld by the Speaker. Sir J. G. Ward moved an amendment to sub-clause 2, clause 2, pro- " viding that whereat the first ballot the first candidate has polled 500 votes more, than the second he shall be deemed to have obtained an absolute majority, even though he should not have done so mathemtically. Mr Massey supported the principle

of, even though it practically mean the destruction of the absolute majority. Sir J. G. Ward acknowledged the suggestion came to him from the Opposition side of the House.