PARLIAMENT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9642, 6 November 1909, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

By Telegraph-Press Association. WELLINGTON, November fc LEGISLATIVE COUNUL. The Legislatho fl U i.d Ilie t at 2.30 o'clock. The Attorney-General moved the< second reading of t«e reformatory Institutions Bill. Septals the Habitual Drunkards provisions of th«y Police O/fences Act, 1908, and makes further provision in the same matter. Private establishments may as hitherto be licensed as inebriate homes and habitual (faending persons addicted to'the excessive use of drugs) may be ordered to be detained (1) on the application of an inebriate, (2) on the summary conviction uf the Magistrate, («) bv order of Magistrate on the eomplafat of a relative of inebriate, (4 by a J«*fl of a Supreme Court. The period of detention extends from six montfl* :o two years. The Bill also provides for the establisment of reformatory homes, to whicn women or girls may be committed for certain apecifie * offences matead of being imprisoned or after the expiry 0 f a term of imprisonment. H, l / 1 !. explained that the law was defects and crude '".these; matters, and the present measure was on the lines of the kvr of England. i^Hon B.c. 8 .c. H. Mills (Wellington) the Bm ßeehan (AuCk ' aDd > The Hon. J. *. Callan (Otago* while sympathising mainly with the measure, said that it would require careful scrutiny as it effected the liberty of the subject, and he was glad it would be referred to the Statutes Revision Committee. The Council adourned pending reciept from the House of the Imprest Supply Bill.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

In the House in the afternoon, the Imprest Supply Bill was introduced; by Governor's message. On the motion for the committal of'the Bill Mr R. A. Wright (Wellington South) moved as an amendment that Government advertisements be distributed to the press regardless of political opinions. He .mentioned that "The Dominion" had been excluded from receipt of Government advertisements, although it had a large circulation.

Considerable discussion ensued on the subject, the Piemier remarking that the mover and seconder (Mr F. M. B. Fisher! had been made a poliiical catspaw of by the Opposition m the matter. More money had been spent in advertising m Wellington than in any other city. Advertisements were distributed throughout the country with perfcet fairness. Mr Massey said that the boycotting of the Opposition press was no new tactics. Some ten years ago a Wellington journal bad been punished for criticising the Government by the withdrawal of aivertisements. The amendment was lost by 37 fa 18.

In the House in the evening, oa the motion to go into Committee of Supply on Imprest Bill (£722,0Q0> Sir J. G. Ward, referring to Mr Wright's statements in the afternoon, relative to the distribution of Government advertisements, said that the "Dominion" had manifested a strong political bias leading to unfair criticism in marked contrast to other leading Opposition journals. No member of the Cabinet had interfered with the "New Zealand Times," which was managed in a highly creditable and impartial manner. Any interest held by members of the Government in that journal was entirely in their private capao ities. An attempt had been made by landed proprietors to destroy the Government organ in Wellington. He (tho Premier) along with others, had frustrated that attempt in the interests of the country. He denied that the Government had attempted to alter the politic? of the "Dominion** by means of hoyeotting and resented insinuations levelled at th-J Administration of using public funds to bribe supporters in the press.

The House then went into committee of Ways and Means, and the Bill was. read a second time and passed through committee. On the motion for the third reading. Mr Massey complained of cr,e lack of information relative to the loans recently raised in England. The Premier, he said, ought to hav? placed before the House details of the retrenchment scheme. Humours were rife of gross favouritism in connection with the retrenchment. Mr W. H. Herries (Taurahga) asked the Premier for fuller detail* in regard to the financial and taxation proposals of the Govern* tn e nt. Sir J. G. Ward said that on Wednesday next these would be placed before the House, and he hoped before the end of the week to circulate the Land, Defence, and Native Bills. He denied the accusation of favouritism in carrying out retenchment in the Civil Service. He would give such, information as he could in regard t> loans already placed, but this must necessarily be limited for obvious reasons.