PARLIAMENT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9629, 22 October 1909, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

By Telegraph—Press Association. WELLINGTON, October 21. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

The Council met at 2.30 p.m.

Hon. J. E. Jenkinson (Wellington) resumed the Address-in-Rsply debate. He suggested that the AtJ torney-General should establish a Court which would simplify and facilitate the settlement of industrial disputes. He urged that money borrowed outside by local bodies should be expended in the main within the Dominion. At present large sums were spent outside of our borders. The only remedy for the unemployed difficulty was the keeping of our work in the Dominion. He urged local bodies to consider this He thought some board should be set up to deal with public works and prevent extravagance. He insisted upon the necessity of building a harbour and dock on the West Coast, where the main coal supplies were. The debate was adjourned and the Council rose.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

The House met at 2,30.

Mr T. K. Sidey (Dunedin South) movedjthe second reading of the Local Tims Bill based on tne Daylight Saving Bill introduced in to the British House of Commons. The proposals contained in the Bill received the support of many public and private bodies in Britain as well as many employers of labour, and deserved serious consideration. The committee on the Home Bill had recommended that time be put forward one hour in the spring and back again in the autumn. The Bill now i .traduced was based on that recommendation. The proposal was to utilise the sunlight, which would benefit those engaged indoors and give further time for recreation and sport The only serious objection to the proposal was that cable neW9 would be delayed to a certain extent. The Bill would result in a great saving of expenditure on artificial light.

Mr G. M. Thomson (Dunadin) opposed the Bill, and said that the same benefits would be obtained by a little co-operation. The Premier supported the measure. The proposal was bound to be given effect to alj over the world S3o«er or later, and discussion on it would be beneficial.

MrT. M. Wiiford (Hutt) expected to find the morning papers against the proposal, as they would receive no Australian cables, which would be reserved for the evening papers. This was worth consideration

Messrs Hanon, Poole, Steward, Thompson (Wallace), Stall worthy and McLaren supported the second reading, which was agreed to. Sir W. J. Steward (Waitaki) moved the second reading of the Marriage Act Amendment Bill, which proposes to render lawful a marriage with deceased wife's niece or deceased's husband's nephew. The second reading was carried, Mr F, M. B. Fisher (Wellington Cenlr.il) moved the second reading of the Legislature Amendment Bill to repeal the Secnnd Ballot Act and substitute preferential voting. The debate was interrupted by the 5.30 p.m. adjournment. On the House resuming in the evening, Mr Fisher, speaking on the second reading of his Legislature Amendment Bill, said that the measure would remove all the bitterness, trouble and turmoil of the Second Ballot Bill, which had the effect of disfranchising many electors who were unable to go a second tmi to the poll. The Premier had sa,id he expected, only six ballots, but there had been 25 at the tost general election. Mr Fisher Urged that at least clause 6 repealing the Second Ballot Bill bhouH be passed. Mr G. Laurenson (Lyttelton) opposed the second reading. The Act had not been, he said, the failure alleged, as in 15 centres uUt of 25 the second ballot electors confirmed the first choice.

Mr W. F. Massey (Franklin) asked what was the use of the second ballot if electors in 15 cases out of 25 confirmed their first choice. He would support the Bill if only for the clause repealing the Second Ballot Act. The present system was the most wasteful possible, and opened the way to gross abuses. He advocated proportional representation, which was reported to work satisfactory in Tasmania. Sir Joseph Ward explained the effect of the second ballot at the last general election. The votes cast for the Government increased over the number in 1905 by 31,000, while those lor the Opposition decreased by 13,442. He attributed the large number of second ballota to the fact that the Government paid £SO towards the expenses of candidates of the second ballot. Proportional representation in Tasmania had resulted in unstable Government, the third administration being on the point of taking office. It was not desirable to reproduce this state of affairs in New Zealand.