PARLIAMENT.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume III, Issue 188, 25 July 1913, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

; imi: miss association, j Wellington, July 24 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. The Council met at 2.30 REFORAI GF THE COUNCIL.

Air. Sinclair resumed the debate on the second reading of the Legislative Council Bill. Subject to a limit it’cn of numbers he favoured the elective j i;neiple, because he believed the time ari-iven when the people shom-d ■ e given some voice in the selection of the Legislative Council. He did not approve oi the bill because i, had been so framed to provide a wholb" elective body. That would give too mu'h power to the democracy and destroy the judicial, function of the Chanmer. He would rather see the bill lost. He would accept it in that form. He proposed that the Council should lie halt elective and half nominative. In t’:>? wry nature ot things ah elective body could not truly perform the function of a second chamber, which was to revise and check hasty legislation. Thero could he no fatal rivalry between :t l.iMv such as he proposed and a popular, chamber. He thought public criticism would check the improper use <_f tile nominative patronage. He contended: tnat the Council could not safely ! e; elected from the same constituencies as! the house, and quoted precedents to I show that all modern constitutions ■ uere framed on a widely different' basis in the election of second chain--hers. He doubted the efficacy of ihe; proportional system of representation. > The ticket system must pay an im-j portant part in all such elections. A I check should be put upon the use of; motor cars in campaigns. Canvassing! should be prohibited. While favouring! tile elective principle they must pre-1 serve the_Council in such a. position as! to properly perform its true functions [ as a part of the constitution. |

Air. Jones said anyone voting for the bill signed the death warrant of the Council ami confessed that its constitution was unsatisfactory. The Council vas justified in rejecting the bill last' year. If proportional representation was applied 'to the Council and not to the House the Council must have the power of the purse, being elected by a superior franchise. Nothing had been done by the Government during the recess to educate the people in the provisions of the measure, about which they were not sincere. The Minister said he was anxious to meet ■ the Council, but he met it with the; veiled threat that if it diil not pass the ‘ bill it would be submitted to a vervj different Council next year. It would be disastrous to make the Council ;> j replica oi tile other Chamber or the ■ arena of party contention. I The debate was adjourned on the mo-! t-ioil of Mr. Carneross, and the --.mm-i!' rose at 4.3'1. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Tiio House met at 2.3 U. PREMIUM BONDS VALIDATION BILL. Tiie Premium Bonds Validation Bill (Mr. Harris) was read the .second ti;n<pro forma. A motion to refer it to a special com rnittee raised a criticism from the Opposition that the system of premium bonds was a pernicious stvincoe wt was a worse gamble than TattorsuM Mr. McCallum moved an amen-lmcM that the bill be referred to the Pa . Accounts Committee. Mr. Harris regretted that the matter had been treated by the Opposition with such bitter party feeling. He ■stated that premium bonds were held by many thousands of people in New Zealand. As a matter of fact there were ever 8000 holders of bonds. They 4»-ere not a gamble but an absolutely gilt-edged security. A Crow’n prosecutor in a case before the Supreme Court, stated that the Crown did not contend that a purchaser did not get value for his money. The House adjourned at 5.3(1, resuming at 7.30. A division on Air. McCallum’s amendment resulted in its rejection by 4(1 to 21, and a committee was set up. DAYLIGHT SAVING. Mr. Side}; moved the second reading oi the Definition of Time Bill. The bill this year was a modified measure, being made applicable only during November, December and January. The bill was supported by town members and opposed by country representatives. The House divided on the motion for the second Heading, which was carried by 36 to 23. GAMING AMENDMENT BILL. Mr. Wilford moved the second reading of the Gaming Act Amendment Bill, giving power to increase the number of totalisator permits. He made no explanation of the provisions on introducing the bill. The tone of the debate whs against the increi.w of permits, but favoured a redis: i i!mi..oii of them. At 11.3'1 the adjournment of the debate was i-,< red by Air. Young. Mr. tVill’oi.'i protested against the moti m as a Government attempt to gag the House in giving expression on the bill because the Premier promised to give the members for Waipawa an opportunity to introduce his amendment to the Gaming Act. The adjournment was carried on the voices and the House rose at 11.40 p.m.

ST()N EM’ALLLNG TACTICS. [SPECIAL TO “THE TRIBUNE.”] ‘ Wellington. .July 25. Wednesday's experience of wasted time in the House was largely repeated yesterday. Stonewalling tactics in regard to Mr. WiHord’s and Mr. Hunter’s Gaming Arnemlmeiit Bills were started early in the day. About an hour was spent in debating on the pretailing epidemic, and then there was another long drawn out discussion on Harris's Premium Bonds Validating Bill. Mr. Sidey's definition of the Time Bill was made the medium for more talk. Air. Wilford’s (.Liming Bin providing for an indefinite im-reasc of totalisator permits then camo on. fail lb’s was given the happy despatch hv carryiug a motion for adjournment ol debate. Of course, it is not likely that the Bill v. ill ever see the light again this session. Mr. Hunter’s Bill has not boon reached, but ho will have another chance, to bring it bo/ore the House next week.