ANIMALS PROTECTION BILL.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 21, 19 October 1907, Page 8

ANIMALS PROTECTION BILL.

• ■ '. , . '- i .' < ,-"' '' A QUESTION OF PRIYHEGfi. ;; ] ■■ . s LIVELY DEBATE n( THE HOUSE. j : t SPECIAL COMMITTEE SNUBBED. t The Council spent noarly the whole of yes- j fcerday afternoon on tho Animals Protection' .''Bill. A spirited opposition to the measure * rwas led .by the Hon. J. E. Jonkinson. The ' Council in Committee had riot adopted Clause c ■ S when the adjournment was carried. ' ' Some unwonted excitement was. provided ] in the House in the afternoon, consequent ] 'on Mr. Symes, vice-chairman of the A to ,| L Petitions Committee, having reported that | {a witness had refused to givo evidence before J " 'the The .witness referrodjto was 'the manager of the State Coal depot at , Christcnurch, and the complaint was'that he ( I had refused : to disclose the cost at which coal ( . jwas landed at'Lyttelton. This officer (Mr. )Crothers) action, said.Mr.'Symcs, had * committed a breach of Rule 261 of the Stand- ,; ting Orders, and the Committee desired tho Eouse : to take the matter up. He moved Ithat the" report do lie upon the table. "I .'. ;want to say a word about this," said the springing to his feet, and speaking /with more than'ordinary warmth. He com 7 that ho had not been informed that this matter was to be brought | He 'blamed the Committee for going to an official teforo' applying to tho head of the Department for ;the information.' He pointed out ;the importance of all private information 'such as that sought to' be, obtained being tept absolutely a secret. Business firms'with ' \which the Government competed would he (■only too glad to obtain possession of. such ... .His remarks, applied.. to the j -Btato Fire Insurance and other Departments; <Pelted with interjections and expressions of disapproval.and applause, tho:-. Premier; at '. -■ 'length got to the end of-his speech, and moved an amendment, which was practically 'an expression of displeasure' at the'action of !tho Committee'in not having first applied <to the responsible Minister for the informaItion. -, Mr. Massey replied spiritedly in defence of the Committee, and in advocacy of itho strict upholding of" the Standing Order. ■ :■, The Minister for Mines (Hon. J. \M'Gowan) : Tput his side of the case forward, -and then the vdebate became general,''Mossrs. Symes and '•Gray explaining all that'had occurred in the Committee. The discussion 'fell away, as, the 'dinner adjournmentidrew-near;!members resorted ;to a good deal of banter, and smiles replaced'former ..frowns. • ; When .the House •■"met after.dinner, the Premier's amendment was carried,'to the; evident, of '"tho members of the Committee; ,::' j After,: this; attention was turned to the Land Bill, the new'clauses of which 1 formed the subject of discussion for the rest of. the Oight. •;•'!'•' -. ■■''<~■/■); .: .-'. ■~:. '-. ;'.. . :„.