PARLIAMENT

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10718, 12 September 1912, Page 5

PARLIAMENT

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL REFORM PROPOSALS OUTLINED. (By lexjraph — £rts& Aur>ciQ*ion.l WELLINGTON, Last Night. Tlio Houso met afc '2.30 p.m. Tlic Local Authorities Superannuation Amendment liiil (Hon Jierdnian),, and tho Cook Islands GovernmenuAmeuumciit JJilt (.Ur Pomare) were, road a first time. Tho Hon W. F. Massey gave notic©; of his intention to introduce a Legislative Council Bill. The Speaker read u letter from Mrs Monk expressing her appreciation of the sympathy of members during her la to bereavement. Replying to Mr Sidey tho Premier said it was not tho intention of the? Government to introduce- any legislation cieamig witii tho election of tho Lower House this session. He further explained that the Governmentdesired the Houso to affirm to theprinciplo of an elective Upper House.

Mr xi. McKenzie said that had been done. He thought the membership of the Council should be allowed to fall below a quorum, as they could not sit then. This could be accomplished in al>out IS months.

The Hon W. F. Massey gave notice of his intention to move the following resolutions: (1) That it is essenI tial that an alteration in the constitution of the Legislative Council shalf be effected by an Act to bo passed by the present Parliament; (2) that such alteration shall be from the existing method of appointment by the, Governor tb election by tho direct. vote at polls of electors qualified to vote for members of this House; <3> that such election shall be upon the proportional system and therefore bylarge electoral divisions; (4) that tha number of elected members of the Council, other than Maoris, snail be forty, of whom twenty shall be elected at each general election for the House of Representatives, every sucii member to sit for a .period of two Parliaments; (5) that an electoral division for election to tho Council shall be coterminous with an aggregate ,>i a number of existing electorates for this House; and (6) that provision be made similar to the provisions of the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Autralia for preserving to this House an exclusive control in all matters of finance and also for' cases where the Council and this House ultimately fail to arrive a* art Agreement on any pro. K'«es "legislation. i ifc ,■ Ministers replying to ques&ms" said tho intentions of tho Goveriiirienfc regarding a ooftmenfcation from the Westport Latxnii 1 Union with reference to the co-opcttfltiv'e (system, will bo laid before Parliament Hi the Public Works Statement. Tho Government proposed to COiisid-. or during the recess the questions of amending the Workers Compensation Act. Tho State Guaranteed Advances Office does not compel a mortgagor to" insure with the State Fire Office, but" it does give every facility to the State Fire Office to secure the insurance. The remainder of the sitting was taken .up in the discussion of answers to questions. THE MARRIAGE LAW. In the House this evening, Mr Malcolm moved the committal of tho Marriages Validation Bill, which is designed to validate a marriage between a woman and her deceased hus- • band's nephew, and a man and his deceased wife's niece. , • The Bill was committed on division. by the'casting vpte of the Speaker. .''After much discussion, a motion to report progress, was lost by 39 to 37. Mr D..Avery moved an amendment to make-the provisions retrospective a.nd prospective. Mi* Davey eventually withdrew life "' amendment. .

Mr G. W. Russell, during the course of thei discussion suggested: that the time of the House could besaved.if a private member's Bill had first of nil to fa before a grand committee of the House, which would decide as to whether the measure was worthy of engaging the time of Parliament and thus prevent such a "vaudeville show" as had been going on for the past two hours.' Subsequently Mr Nsratn put an amendment similar to Mr Davey's baton different terms. This was carried by 34 votes to 23. The Bill, was reported with amendment. DAYLIGHT SAVING BILL. The Mean Time Bill was committed, and progress reported, Mr Sidey recognising that the measure" had nochance of passing this session. LEGISLATIVE BILL Mr Hindmarsh's Legislative Amendment Bill was committed. Mr Hindmarsh explained that his. Bill aimed at fair playv that everv man who said anything about his neighbour should say it fairly and .squarely. > Mr Anderson moved to report progress, as a protest against the fines sought to- bo imposed upon indi l "'- duals and societies under the Bill, which he said would interfere with the liberties of the. Press. The'motion was defeated on dmsion, by 35 votes to 32. The Premier advised the mover of. the Bill to renort progress. It wan evident that the members desired to get home. In answer to Mr Hindmarsh, liesaid he was not in favour of the Bill. Mr Malcolm then moved to report progress. Tbo motion was carried by 31 votes to 23, and the, House rose at 12.20.