PARLIAMENT

Greymouth Evening Star, 25 July 1923, Page 5

PARLIAMENT

MR. MASSEY’S DEPARTURE. AT END OF AUGUST. (Special to “Star.”) WELLINGTON, July 24. Mr Massey, to-day, indicated that the business of the session must be ex-

pedited to allow him to get away to the Imperial Conference. He said that a boat was sailing about August 28, and that if he sailed by this, he would just about get to the Conference in time. There was another vessel in September, but this would mean that he would be six: or seven days late. He was quite prepared to stay in New Zealand, but on this occasion thought it necessary that New Zealand should be represented at the Conference.g He did not say that

all business snouiu oe cieaieu. uy fore he left, but important matters should be disposed of before he sailed. If there were obstruction on the part of members, it would be their responsibility if he did not get away. LICENSING LEGISLATION. Mr Massey’s proposal to set up another select committee to report on licensing legislation was discussed by the House, the Liberals wanting to know why legislation could not be brought in on the lines of last year’s committee recommendations. Mr Massey said that several petitions were presented to the House, dealing with licensing, and his idea was that after these had been dealt with, the Government could frame legislation. He had his own ideas, however, as to whether a Licensing Bill would come down this session, which could not be long, as far as he was able to judge. The motion for setting up a committee was agreed to without division, and Mr Massey promised to look into the question of adjusting the alleged lack of balance on the committee as between the supporters of Prohibition and Continuance. ELECTORAL REFORM. It is understood the electoral reform measure which is to come before Parliament this session will propose a reversion to the method of grouping city electorates, and that to these proportional representation will be applied. In Auckland there would be eight seats to group, in Wellington five, in Christchurch seven, and in Dunedin five. It is also said that the other 51 seats will remain single member constituencies and have preferential voting. JOY-RIDING PENALTIES, t When the Police Offences Amendment Bill originally came dowii in the Legislative Council this session, it essayed to stop the taking of motor-cars for joy-riding by providing a penalty of £2O, or three months’ imprisonment. The Statutes Revision Committee increased the fine to £5O, and to-day the Hon. W. Geddis expressed the opinion the punishment was adequate. The Hon. D. Buddo (Kaiapoi) and Mr G. Witty (Riccartoh) complained

that the nublicity per meaium oi me Government Gazette, which was proposed, would be inadequate. Mr Witty said the local newspapers should be used. The Hon. O. Samuel made it dear that the term had not been increased in order that cases would not be sent to juries. He said that the law already provided for the punishment of those who intended to steal. The provisions of the Bill under discussion were supplementary to that, and were aimed at joy-riding. The object in view would be defeated if the punishment were made more than three months. The case would then go to a jury who might not agree to put into the hands of a judge the power to send ; to prison for a year, a man who had j taken a ride in a motor-car. The Bill passed as amended by the ! Statutes Revision Committee. ' GOVERNMENT’S PROGRAMME. Five more Government Bills of a ' minor character were introduced in the House to-day, but in the course of a statement regarding business, for what ! he termed the remaining twenty-five 1 days left, Mr Massey indicated that ' the Gaming Amendment Bill must be ’ brought forward, as well as important I financial measures. Once more a curious House endeavoured to draw Mr Massey regarding his Electoral Bill, but he was exceedingly discreet. No fewer than seven Government measures were advanced a stage dur- ’ ing the day, these including the Local ) Legislation Bill, designed to stop the , scandal of the end of the session rush f of legislation regarding local bodies, j The Companies Special Empowering s Bill, after a discussion which showed 1 that some members regarded the mate ter with great suspicion, was referred 8 to the Statutes Revision Committee, 1 and to the same Committee was also o referred the Immigration Restriction Bill the Death Duties Amendment, Z and the Justices of the Peace Amendr ment (No. 2) Bill, all after having been read a second time. The House rose at 10.45 p.m.