PARLIAMENT

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2550, 26 August 1915, Page 7

PARLIAMENT

ACCIDENT INSURANCE DISCUSSED A MINISTERIAL STATEMENT The Legislative Council met at 2.30 p.m. The 6eoond reading of the Definition of Time Bill was discharged from tho Order Paper, and made an order of the day. for' September 8,. The Imprest Supply Bill was -. put through all stages ana passed', without discussion. .• The Expeditionary Forces Bill was committed. ■ The. Hon. J. T. Paul said that the suggestion had been n»db that Clause 27 might be availed of by the Government to put into operation a clause of the Defence Act, and give power to commandeer, labour for industrial purposes. ,He did not fear i&is at all, and gave his whole support to the Bill. The clause was only put in to allow .the Army Act to he operated on. He gave the Government oredit that they were not going to try any side issue to gain such a point as, mobilising the industrial forces.; : . '. The Hon/ G. Jones, on Clause 34, which gives authority to pay on account of a deceased member of the Expeditionary Force sum's not exceeding £100 without requiring probate in letters of administration, Taised the point a3 to what would happen if the man turned up later. ' The Hon. Sir Francis Bell said that the Supreme Court-had agreed to accept the evidence of the Minister as proof of death., Accidents might happen, but if a payment was wrongly made tho person receiving the money would have to refund it. They had to make provision for the persons making the pa.vment, even if the wrong person was paid. • The Hon. 0. Samuel said that it was necessary that such provision should be inserted. It was only applicable in small estates, and was not a novel proceeding. rThe'Horn*G- Jones said that they were -dealing with! exceptional 'caises, and , time should bo given before the clause could be acted on. The Hon. Sir Francis Bell said that tlie_ clause was also for the protection of insurance companies, to them to make payments at once. ■ .•Tho Hon. SIR. FRANCIS BELL moved the following -new clause to Clause 23:—"On every trial by courtmartial, whether in or out of New Zealand, of any offence committed by a member of an Expeditionary Force the Court may, notwithstanding anything to' the contrary in .the Army Act, receive and act on such evidence as it thinks fit, whether, legally admissible in other proceedings or not." He said that-the clause lia& been-struck out in. the House of Representatives on the understanding that it would be referred to the Law Office. This had been done, and he was assured that'it would he impossible to get a conviction without it. /There, were similar clauscs in all the Acts which dealt with evidence by correspondence. The Attorney-General, the Law Officers,- and himself, had. endeavoured to limit the wide wording of the, clause, but found they could not. The amendment was agreed to, and technical amendments were made* in Clause 32. , The- Bill was reported with amendments, read a third time, and passed. The Council rose at 3.10 p.m. till 2.-30 p.m. to-day.