PARLIAMENT.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXI, Issue 5421, 17 July 1901, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

HOOSiE OF REPRBSENTA-VBB

United Press Association—By Electro Telegraph ft WELLINGTON, July 16 The House resumed at 2.20 In Committed on the Police Offences Act Amendment Bill, Mr Herries moved to amend clause 2 to provide for punishment for the use of insulting language in a public place, under a wider definition of tbe term contained in section 18 of the original act This was agreed to Mr Carncross moved a new clause to enable Magistrates to inflict a fine not exceeding £20 for the use of obscene language in a public place. He explained that at present tbe punishment for usiog obecene language was imprisonment without the option <f a toe The new clause was agreed to Tbe Hon J McGowan said that he thought that the minimum amount might be fixed, and moved that it should be £2

Considerable discussion took place on the question, several members objecting to a large minimum amount being fixed, on the grounds that it would operate more harshly against the poor man than the man who had money in his packet, while others thought the maximum amount should be higher than £20

Several members complained that they oould not discuss Mr Carnoross's amendment i in its complete relation to the original Act, I because of the presence of the public in the galleries. Later on an exodus set in among the occupants of the ladies' gallery, and it was then pointed out that Mr Cairncross'a amendment would give magistrates and < justices the option of imposing a fine in a oase of much greater enormity than the,use of obscene language: Mr laurenson suggested, to gob over the difficulty, that the option of imposing a fine should be limited to cases of piofane and indecent language. The Hon J MoOowan at this stage withdrew his motion to fix the minimum fine. After a further lengthy discussion, Mr Carncross obtained the leave ot the House to withdraw his now clause, owing to its faulty construction, and in its place he proposed a similar amendment, having reference only to the nse of profane, indecent or obscene language in a public place. This was agreed to on the voices. In committee on the Public Health Act Amendment Bill, Sir Joseph Ward moved a new clause, giving the Governor power, by Order in Council, to make regulations to prevent the importation of material liable to, convey infectious diseases I This was agreed to on the voices I The Accidents Compensation Bill passed through committee without material amend' ment < The House rose ab 5.30 p m The House resumed at 7 30 p m The Chinese Immigrants Act Amendment Bill was committed The Premier explained that the Bill was designed to remedy a defect in the existing law, by which a master of a ship could bring one hundred Chinese te Wellington, oaten sibly as membere of his orew, and then permit them to land in Wellington free of poll tax , ' ' In Clause 3, ' Chinese members of crew to be accounted for,' Mr G W Russell moved an amendment, the effect of whioh would be to make the csptain of the vessel produce the missing Chinese, or pay the penalty This Was negatived , The Premier moved that a master of a Chinese crew shall take place in ths presence of bhe shipping master of the port, as well as an oficer of the Customs Agreed to A new proviso was added to Clause 4, i increasing the maximum penalty under the ; principal Act from £20 to £50 for letting a \ Chinese sailor get ashore.

I Clause § was amended to provide that a Chinese sailor may go ashore in performance of his duties in connection with his ship, but for no other purpose. The Referendum Bill was further considered in committee. Mr Pirani proposed an amendment in Clause 8, to provide that the Refeiendum shall be taken by post, bub it was negatived and Ihe clause passed-unaltered-Clause 14 provides that if a legislative proposal ia rejected by the Referendum it shall not be again submitted for three years, unless ab least ten * thousand electors request ita submission by petition to Parliament. On the motion of Captain Rußsell, the words 'ten thousund* were struck out end the number was fixed ab 10 per cent of all the e'ectors on the electoral roll, In Clause 15, local Bills were added to Bills to which the Referendum is nob to apply. The Bill was then reported with amend mcntisi The Premier moved the second reading of the Exportation of Arms Bill, to amend tb» law relating to the exportation of arms and other military and naval stores. He said it was to the detriment of the colony and the Empire that the exportaßion of arms should be allowed, and especially was this so in regard to the islands of the Pacific. The Imperial authorities k had ooneurred that a

measure cf this kind was necessary \The second reading was agreed te on the voiose, without debate The Hon J M'Gowan moved the second reading of the District Courts Act Amend* moot Bill, whioh extends tb» jurisdiction ef District Courts in certain cases Oaptaln Russell s»id that he agreed entirely win those members who had suggested an increase in the salaries of District Ooart Judges, and that they should hold portions independent of the Government «;f the day. Ha expressed : the opinion that if the best men were to be secured the salaries of District Court Judges should be at least £1000 a year. He moved a hostile amendment, to the effect that the Bill should be read a second time that day six mouthsThe Premier said that if the Bill was not proceeded with it would not affect the Government in the slightest. If it was thought by fetich a motion to force an Increase of salaries upon the Govern' ment that was another matter, fie went on to express the opinion that all Magistrates (should be moved periodically, as he believed such changes would be to the advantage of Judical administration. Mr Seddon bad n< t concluded his remarks when the debate was interrupted by the hour of adjournment The hoUBe rose at 1030*