PARLIAMENT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 23 October 1913, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

(By Tekgraph—Preu Attociation.) WELLINGTON, Last Night. • The Legislative Council met at 2.80 p.m. The Land Bill was introduced and read a first time. The second reading has been set down for to-morrow. The Public Trust Office Amendment Bill was read a third time, after the Hon. Mr Jones defended the officers against charges of mismanagement. Thirteen local Bills passed by the House of Representatives were read a first time.

VICTORIA COLLEGE BILL.

The Hon. H. D. Bell moved the second reading of the Victoria College Amendment Bill for amending the constitution of the College. One of the principal changes is the granting two seats on the Council to the' Professorial Board and one to the City Council of Wellington, and the total , strength of the Council to be reduced from, 16 to 15 members. The Hon. Mr Smith pointed out that the constitution of the College went; far beyond the City of Wellington. If Ideal bodies were given representation on the Council, then the local bodies in Taranaki, Nelson and Marlborough should have a voice as well as the city of Wellington. ,' The Hon. 0. Samuel opposed giving professors a seat on the Council, to say what work they should do and how it should be done. He questioned the wisdom of great expenditure on higher education when primary education needed it more. The Hon. M. Anstey complained that the general public was not represented on the Council, that body 'being composed entirely of educationalists. In election of the Council; the Bill bristled with plural voting. It was possible that a person, who was a graduate of the college, could have, as many as eight votes. The Hon. Mr Sinclair commended the Bill as being an harmonious step in the ladder of our new scheme of education. The Hon. H. D. Bell, in reply, defended the inclusion of City Council members on the. Board of Management, because th : © college was in Wellington, and it was advisable to get that bodyto take the|keenest interest in the welfare of the institution. The principle worked well in Duhedin, and he lookediorward to equal benefits, in ■ '••..- : -. ; ■ ■■, "■'- , ' : '.'/' '„.■■:' '■'■ The; Bill was read a second time. ; The Hon. H;D, Bell intimated that a similar Bill affecting ; Canterbury College would not in all probability be gone on with. .."',"" ". SECOND READINGS.

Hon. H. D. Bell moved the second reading of the. Stallions. Bill, which provides that all horses (except those registered in the Newt. Zealand stud book or used for stud purposes at the commencement of the Act) must be examined and licensed. The Hon. M. Anstey admitted the necessity for the Bill, but said there were exceptions which rendered it quite nugatory. The Bill was read a second tune and referred to tho Stock Committee for a, report. Hob. H. D. Bell moved the second reading of the Public Works' Amendment Bill, providing for a more elastic arrangement in the appointment of President of the Compensation Court. The Bill wasread a second time. The Council adjourned at .5.43 p.m.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

WELLINGTON, Last- Night. The House of Representatives met at 2.30 p.m. HUNTLY STRIKE.

Replying to Sir Joseph Ward, the Prime Minister stated ithat he. had no official information from Huntly. He was, however, moving in the matter.

THE DEFAMATION BILL.

Sir Joseph Ward asked that the minutes of tho committee which had dealt with the Defamation Bill be placed before the Hduse. He felt that the Government was endeavouring to rush the Bill through this session, but ho could assure-the Government that the Opposition did not intend to let the Bill-go through this session in the form it was in now.

Thy Hon..A. L..Herdman.said the Bill aimed at bringing the libel law up-to-date, so that it could be understood by the people and, newspaper men. The Bill was the outcome of a deputation of responsible people who waited on the Prime Minister during the recess. There was no intention en' the part of the Government of endeavouring to hurry the Bill through. Messrs Russell and Wilford urged the Government not to go on with the Bill this session, holding that the measure was of a highly contentious character, and would unduly prolong the buiness of the session.

Mr Massey said the Bill was the outcome of an important and influential deputation waiting on him during the recess. The deputation represented the whole of the press of the country, and they had represented that the law was obsolete, and not in accord with the law of other countries. He did iiot think that Sir Joseph Ward was justified in saying that "-the Bill would not go through this session. He wished it understood that J so long as he.occupied a seat on the Treasury benches, he was going to control the business of the Boose.

JUDICATUBE BILL. " Ob the motion to adopt the committee's report of the Judicature Bill, Sir Joseph Ward sought to. discover upon whoso recommendation th# proposal to appoint two additional Supremo Court Judges was made. He was not prepared to support the expenditure of £6OOO or £BOOO per annum of the country's money without having the fullest details concerning the proposed appointments. Hon. A. L. Herdman replied that

lie ootuld not give to the House any confidential information until the proper time, viz., the second' reading. He would te'l the House what he oould. It had been recognised generally that the Judges were overworked, and that there was room for additions to the Bench. ' ■

BILLS PASSED. The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. Amendments made in committee in the River Board Amendment, Water Supply Amendment, and Rangitikei Land Drainage Amendment Bills were agreed on the voices. The Bills were read a third time and passed. POLICE FORCE BILL. On the third reading of the Police Force Bill, Sir Joseph Ward protested against the Minister's refusal to set up a Court of Appeal in connection with the force, . or permit the formation of a non-political association, when experience had proved that similar privileges had promoted peace and contentment in other branches of the publio service. Mr Veitoh, in supporting Sir Joseph Ward's view, advised the Minister to cease sitting on % safety valve, otherwise there would be an explosion in this branch o^'the'puhliceerVibei Mr Payne chided the Hon. A. Lv Herdman with suffering from swelled head,: and abusing/ the power ''thrust upon him. • '.•-'>■.,.' /: ;••-■•■* •■ !\'