PARLIAMENT.

Clutha Leader, Volume XXXVI, Issue 38, 26 October 1909, Page 3

PARLIAMENT.

I THURSDAY, OCrOBEII 21. . I* JJEGISLA-TrVJE COUNCIL. PThe Legislative Council mbt at 2.30 Ifteplyißg to the Hon. K. C. J. Ifeveiis (canterbury), who asked whegjer it was a fact tliat in a return of |pt.gagcs lately presented to Parliatne interest soown as payable was case' at the higher rates which 1$ paid by mortgagees reducible when jyjnctual payment of interest is made, Attorney-Uenerat said that in all Eges where a mortgage disclosed a ISjxinium and minimum rate of inIjrsst the minimum rate was adopted. I Replying to the Hon. J, K. Jenkinson Canterbury) the Attorney-General |t»t«d that specifications lor the new office at Wellington wo<e so drawn Kjjat it would be practically impossible bhave the steel work manufactured Ltside the Dominion, f I'he Hon. J. E. Jenkinson resumed Ifte debate. He sug|«sted that the Attorney-General Sould establish a court which would amplify and facilitate the settlement of industrial disputes. He urged that fjjoney borrowed outside by local bodies iihouid be expended in the main within L e Dominion. At present large sums Fiere spent outside of its borders. The bjly remedy for the unemployed difficulty was in keeping our work in the Dominion. He urged local bodies to itonsider this matter. He thought some f board should be set up to deal with public works and prevent extravagance, je insisted upon the necessity of baiiding a harbor and dock on the West Coast,* 1 where our main coal supdebate was adjourned and the [Council rose.

, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 22. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, i The Legislative Council met at 2.30 P fhe Attorney-General (Hon. Dr findlay) continuing the debate on the Iddress-in-Reply, spoke chiefly, on the question of prison reform. Mew Zealand, he said, was the most backward 'of countries in this respect, and the time had come to make a forward movement. Hitherto retaliation had teen the dominant feature of our penal : astern, but the aim of modern reform «s the protection of society rather than the punishment of ths criminal. Under the system he contemplated there would be less punishment and note encouragement, but where a triminal proved hopeless he would reBirn under restraint for the rest of lis life. Dr Findlay alluded to the enormous wastage of life under the aisting system in the Dominion. Last josr 5500 persons were sent to gaol; <f these upwards of 3000 had been preriously convicted. The dead loss on wery prisoner was £3O per annum, iid with the costs of courts and police would probably total up to £7O or £BO »year. There were two main prinliples to be adopted. One was the indeterminate sentence. There should be I minimum penalty, but release should not be made at the end of the term until a judge of the Supreme Court iras satisfied that it was safe for society to release the prisoner. Then there should be classification in the gaols Bid encouragement held out for reform. Under the system proposed they would be able to send out men qualified for farming and various occupations. Dr. Findlav condemned the practice of bounding down ex-prisoners instead of holding out the hand of encouragement to them. By introducing certain industries into the prisons the cost of maintenance could be reduced, and if a prisoner chose to work a little larder than w#s required he .would receive some remuneration. The object I fas, as he had said, to protect society; irut was there not a still higher object in the salvation of men ?

The Hon. T. K. Macdonald (Wellington) having spoken, the mover replied ind the Address-in-Reply was adopted. Hi© Council adjourned until Wednesday. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House of Representatives met at 2.30 p.m. DAYLIGHT SAYING. Mr T. K. Sidey (Dunedin South) moved the second reading of the Local Time Bill, based on the Daylight Saving Bill introduced into the House of Commons. The proposals contained in tie Bill, he said, received the support of many public and private bodies in Great Britain as well as of many employers of labor, and they deserved Krious consideration. The committee on the Home Bill had recommended that time be put forward one hour in the spring and back again in the autumn. The Bill now introduced was based on that recommendation. The proposal was to utilise sunlight, which *ould benefit those engaged indoors »nd give further time for recreation >nd sport. The only serious objectoin to the proposal was that cable news *ould be delayed to a certain extent. The Bill would result in a great saving of expenditure on artificial light. Mr G. M. Thomson (Dunedin North) opposed the Bill. He said the same wnefits would be obtained by a little co-operation. The Prime Minister supported the Measure and said the proposal was found to be given effect to all over the *orld sooner or later; and discussion on 'twould be beneficial.

Mr T. M. Wilford (Hutt) expected to fed the morning papers against the proposal as they would receive no Australian -cables, which would be reserved for the evening papers. This was worth wnsideration.

Sir W. J. Steward and Messrs Hanati, Poole, J. C. Thomson (Wallace), Stallworthy and McLaren supPorted the Bill. SECOND READINGS. Hie second reading of the Marriage Act Amendment Bill, which proposes to 'wider lawful a marriage with a debased wife's niece or a deceased hus- ■ wad's nephew, was carried. ,Mr T. K. Sidey's Musicians Bill, prodding for the registration of musicians Wd the incorporation of the society. *4B read the second time and referred to the Education Committee. THE SECOND BALLOT.

Mr F. M. B. Fisher (Wellington Cental) moved the second reading of the legislature Amendment Bill to repeal "we Second Ballot Act and substitute Preferential voting. K The debate was interrupted by the "■3O p.m. adjournment. At the evening sitting Mr Fishei, /leaking on the second Teading of his legislature Amendment> said the

__>asure would remove all the bitterness, trouble and turmoil of the Second Ballot Bill, which had the effect >f. disfranchising many electors who were unable to go a second'time "to poll. The Prime Minister said he had expected only six ballots, but there had been 25 at the last general election. Mr Fisher urged that at least clause 6 repealing the Second Ballot Bill be passed. . Mr 6. Laurenson (Lyttelton) opposed the see.-;:.: reading. The Act had not been the failure alleged, as in fifteen centres of the 25 second ballots, the electors had confirmed their first choice.

" Mr W. F. jVtassey (Leader of the Opposition) asked where was the use oi the second ballot if the electors had in 15 cases out of 25 confirmed their first choice. He would support the Bill if only for the clause repealing the Second Ballot Act. The present, system was the most wasteful possible and opened the way to gross abuses. He advocated proportional representation, which wa3 reported to work satisfactorily in Tasmania. Sir J. G. Ward explained the effect i>* the second ballot at the last general election. The votes cast for the Government had increased over those «f 1905 by 31,000, while those for the Opposition had decreased by 13,442. H<< attributed the large number of second ballots to the fact that,the Government paid £SO towards the expenses of candidates at the second ballot. Proportional representation in Tasmania nad resulted in unstable government, the third Administration within the ye.>r bung on the point of taking office. It war not desirable to reproduce this stale o f affairs in New Zealand. It had ..een stated that the Act had been passed to injjr.' the Labor party, but tho fact was that the only Labor candidate wi, went to the second ballot was returned. It was impossible for the second ballot to injure anv party. He could not support the Bill, which proposed a system condemned by every country in E 5Ir P J. Hanan (Invercargill) contended that although the Act -was not perfect it should have a fair trial. Mr W. H. Herries (Tauranga) said he believed the Government s opposition to the Bill arose from the" fact that it emanated from an Opposition member. A change of Government now and then was desirable. The Bill was undoubtedly better than the second bal-

I(> The Hon. G. Fowlds explained his support of Mr McNab's Majority Bill, which was an improvement on the old system. Mr Fisher's system rendered it possible for a candidate having the lowest number of votes Jo be electee.. This was impossible under Mr McNab s system. , Messrs Buick, Nosworthy, Phillips and Guthrie supported the Bill. Messrs McLaren, Smith, Macdonald, Clark and Graham opposed the second read-

ing. The debate in the House of Representatives on the Legislature Amendment Act, the object of which is to repeal the Second Ballot Act, was continued after midnight by Mr Graham (Nelson). Mr Fisher (Wellington Central) then replied, and Mr Poole (Auckland East) moved the adjournment. Mr Massey (leader of the Opposition) considered this an attempt to kill the Bill, and said the proper course was to take a division. The discussion had shown clearly that the Government "had decided to stand by the antiquated Second Ballot Act with all its defects, notwithstanding the feeling of the country against it. Sir J. G. Ward, in replying to Mr Massey, said the Leader of the Opposition often resorted to the tactics to which he now objected. There had been 18 speeches on the Bill. The Opposition frequently complained of late sittings in the House. It was absurd to suggest that a division would settle the object aimed at by the Bill. Mr Wright (Wellington South) protested against the adjournment as an infringement of members rights and the tyranny of the majority. Mr Laurenson (Lyttelton) replied to Mr Wright, and Mr Graham moved for a division on the question of adjournment, which was carried by 30 votes to 27. The House rose at 1.10 a.m. The House of Representatives met in the afternoon. WANGANUI CATHOLIC LANDS. The Wanganui Catholic Lands Bill was read the second time without debate. A MILLION LOAN. A Loan Bill for =£1,000,000 was introduced by Governor's Message. Mr W. F. Massey (Leader of the Opposition) asked whether the Financial Statement would be made before proceeding with the Bill. Sir J. G. Ward said he would give the fullest information from time to time. The Bill was now introduced to meet public works requirements. It was not desirable to put the Financial Statement before the House previous to going on with the Bill. He would postpone the second reading till Tuesday, and later on would explain the whole of the financial position. WORK OF THE SESSION. Sir J. G. Ward outlined the Bills to be proceeded with this session, comprising Advances to Settlers, Loans for Public Works, Land Finance Settlement, and National Annuities; also legislation embodying the Government's proposals regarding defence and making provision for the payment of the Dreadnought. A Bill amending the land laws would be introduced and he hoped passed this session. Important proposals connected with native lands would be brought down. The House would be asked to deal with the licensing difficulty in the King Country. Bills would also be introduced dealing with the miners' trouble and hospital and charitable aid. These were the most' important measures and would receive precedence" over all others.

The remainder of the afternoon sitting: was devoted to discussion of the renlies to questions. The House rose The House resumed at 7.30. HOSPITALS AMENDMENT.

The Hon. G. Fowlds moved the second' reading of the Hospitals and Charitable Institutions Bill, which repeals the Act of 1908 and makes substitute provisions abolishing the distinction between Hospital and Charitable Aid Boards and combining their functions. He said he believed the Bill, though not perfect, would result in the reform of the present system. Mr W. F. Massey generally approved of the Bill, which would be much improved in committee. Messrs McLaren, Herdman. Davcy, Hall. Reed, Whitty, Buck. St all worth v, »T)d McDonald (generally supported the Bill. Mr Fowlds replied, wnd the second rending was carried on the voices. The House row ah 1.80 *,«,