PARLIAMENT.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 31 July 1926, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

(BY TELEGRAPH PRESS ASSOCIATION.) WELLINGTON, July 30. The Legislative Council met" at 2.30 p.m. to-day. Two days’ leave of absence on account of urgent private business was granted the Hon. E. W. Alison. The Police Offences Amendment Bill was received from the Hous.e and read a first time.

In moving the second reading of the Justices of the Peace Amendment Bill, Sir R. Heaton Rhodes referred to the fact that on previous occasions the Council had rejected the proposal that women should be. appointed as justices, and submitted that it should now give its consent as the demand was so keen. The Hon. E. Newman reversed his vote because the proposal was now made in a Government measure.

The Hon. W. H. Mclntyre contended that women did not want the privilege, but he said he would support the* Bill because the Council should not block Government legislation. The Hon. W. Earnshaw vigorously opposed the proposal, arguing that it was no part of a. woman’s work to act as a justice.

The Hon. M. Cohen as strongly supported the principle, and made a point of the fact that as the House had passed the Bill obviously the members of that chamber knew what the people’s desire was.

The Hon. L. M. Isitt said it would go against his conscience to support the clause, therefore he would not vote. The second reading was carried. The Nurses and Midwives’ Registration Amendment Bill was read a second time pro forma, and referred to the Statutes Revision Committee.

The Council adjourned at 4 p.m. until Wednesday.