PARLIAMENT.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXI, Issue 5422, 18 July 1901, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

United Press Association—By Bleotre ) Telegraph Wellington, July 17 The House met at 2 39 p m Replying to question!, the Premier said thab with regard to what steps had been taken to have a Board of experts appointed to draw up a uniform system of book keeping for the benefit of local bodies, that it was desirable, but they oonld not compel local bodies to adopt any system further than that the subject might be dealt with when the Local Goveroment Bill was under ; consideration. Replying to other question*, the Minister said tbab the eerviop.* of commissioned and non commissioned officers who bad nerved in Soubh Africa were being utilised as far as possible for training the Volunteer forces; that returned troopers would be granted certificates of character and service in due course, and that She question of issuing medals was under the consideration of the Defence Department; that the Rev Joseph Berry had nob been appointed emigration agent or lecturer in England for New Zealand ; that the Land Purchase Board of Hawke's Bay bad reported upon a block of 37,000 acres, reoommendiug its purchase for settlement,and would be considered by the Government; thab a daily through service from Wellington to New Plymouth would be instituted during the summer; that the arrears of interest due to the Post) Office Savings Bunk by the Hokitlka Harbor Board was £1100, a reduction of £900 as compared with last year, and that if the Board was given time the arrears would be paid; tbab the Health Department would consider the advisability of inspecting and analysing drugs and patent medicines, with a view to prevent adulteration, and requiring the ingredients to be dieolosed at or prior to the sale thereof; that the question of inspection of roads with a view to preventing aocidents wat> an important one, but one that did not come within the duty of the Government to perform ; that amendments were Beof^nary in the Noxious Weeds Act by inflicting a penalty for the sale of chaff or other produce adulterated with weeds and in other directions, and tbat if time permitted a Bill would' be introduced extending the time for making improvements under the Land Act; that it was not intended that the Noxious Weeds Act of last session should be a dead letter, and that so far settlers had merely been given time to prepare to carry out its provisioos; that steps were being taken to acquire suitable land in the Auckland districts for workmen's homes ; that protection to stoats and weasels should be removed in at least the four large centres ot the colony.

Mr Masßey moved the adjournment of the House to emphasise his dissatisfaction with the reply to the last question, contending that, the restriction should be removed in all parts of the colony where rabbits are not a nuisance

1 Mr Duncan advised caution ia removing the restriction against the natural enemy of the rabbit

The debate was interrupted by the 6,30 adjournment The House resumed at 7.30

Mujor Steward moved the second reading of the Elective Executive Ttill, to provide ' for the election of the Executive Council. The Bill, he said, oirried to a logical i conclusion the Liberal dootrice of Govern* I menb of the people by the people, and was intended to give members freedom In the oonsiJer&tion of measures which it was not possible under the present party ay stem. Since She Bill was first brought forward, some years Ago, it had been favorably discussed iby the Press, and he had also received ! numerous r&so'utions from public bodies asd letters from prominent public men, heartily approving of the Bill, and urging him to proceed with it, Major Soeward then , proceeded to briefly explain the provisions of the measure, pointing out that any Minister, who on being elected, did pot care to serve as a member of the beam chosen, Would have the opportunity of withdrawing, and thus there would be a fresh election. There would always ba party government, and thiß Bill made ro violent ahange in that regard, bnt.be contended the House would work better under ao exeoutive of its own choosing than under a Ministry selected by one man, and ha saw no reason why the House should not elect an Executive as good and as capable as could be chosen under the existing eyatem Mr Willis spoke strongly against the Bill, and moved a hostile amendment that ib be read a second time that day six months Mr Meek thought the principle of the Bill a good one. He hoped the amendment would ba withdrawn co that a straight out vole could be taken Mr WiSford did not t;dlak ib in the interests of the people to bring about a omiß such as would be produced by this Bill, Sir J G Wturl remarked upon the < conspiracy of silence on the part of some members on an important question like thit, and said he wished to puo on record hia protest! against the Bill. In his opinion, the Bill proposed to create a system of intrigue and underhand procedure, which would bring discredit on the House and country- He quoted from the provisions of the measure to show that in. practice the •ystem would lead to ohaoa and intrigue under which no man of independence and self respaeb could possibly remain in a Oabinet. What, he asked, would have happened in New Z aland during the last ten years under this Bill, At one time there was only a balance of four votes in favor ef the party in power, and he contended that had the Elective Exeoubive held sway at the time the Government could nob possibly have succeeded with its progressive legislation. The people of New Zealand possessed a good deal more power under the existing clroumstances than they would do under ac Elective Executive, and he believed if the matter were put fairly before the people they would determinedly and firmly refuse to surrender their privileges under the party system which had built up the strongest nation the world had ever seen. The House , should hesitate before it assented to any alteration in a system under which New Zealand had obtained a world wide repuba* tion for its advanced and progressive legislation. Mr Peidrn said that under Giause 4 the House would be brought into conflict with the representative of the Grown; in other words, they Would be tatting at defiance with the representative of the Grown, and a great constitutional change like this would mean cutting the painter witb the Old Country. (Son members—No.} Ib was, he contended, impossible for Major Steward to meet that objection. Anobhe; objection to the Bill was chat ib would take away the power of the people in that a present Ministry were liable to be challenged from day to day during the session, but under this Bill, after the start of the session, the Government could not be further impeaohed,

Mr Fowlds said that a most vigorous whip of the past two or three sessions had been employed against this Bill, and all the influence of roads and bridges used to prevent it becoming law. Sir J G Ward had stated that under this Bill there would be a system of intrigue, but he asserted that intrigue had been employed against this Bill.

Mr G W Russell claimed that the Elective Executive was one of the primary questions before the electors at the last election. Under elective executive there would be purer administration, an impartial administration of expenditure on public works, and a strengthening of the hands of tbe Mini try* He asserted that what the Premier wanted was only one party with himself as leader of it. He would vote for the second reading reserving to himself the right to suggest what he might consider necessary amend* tnents in Committee

Mr Napier would not support the Bill, but he thought some Ghange was necessary s for since the Ministry was ouly a Committee of the dominant party, the party ought to be oon«nlted in the election of Ministers

Mr Pirani supported the Bill* He said the agitation againßt the Elective Executive w»i prompted by those who know the inner workings of thi Government caucus. The Senior Government whip had canvassed Opposition members against this Bill, and the Opposition members had been trapped into giving pairs on this question Mr Hogg said the principle of this Bill was of a pernicious character and should not; have emanated from a member of the Govern men 6 side of the House, To pass thia Bill would bo goicg back be the darfe agei

Mr R MoKerzie expressed his belief that the JB II was brought forward annually to force a reconstruction of the Ministry, He was convinced a referendum on the question would show that tho people did not) want any'cbsnge in <ho present system

Mr Collins said than during tbe debate he h&d not heard a single valid argument apair.at tho principle underlying the Bill. ! here would always be party Government' This Bill could not destroy it Mr EG Allen opposed the Bill, and Mr Eil supported id

Mr Thos Mackenzie moved the adjournment of the debate

Mr Mafcsey thought it a pity that: a straight out division could not now be taken on the Bill, as It was almost] certain Mr Steward would nob have an opportunity of bringing it forward again thif session

The Premier said he would vote for the adjournment. The House had fixed early hours for days on which Government bus! ness was taken, ahd private members should be treated in the same way The motion for the adjournment/ waa carried by 33 votes to 18 Tbe House rose »b 1 20 a m