PARLIAMENT.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXIII, Issue XVIII, 3 August 1912, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

FRIDAU, AUGUST % 1912

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION. WELLINGTON, Aug. 2. The House met at 2.30. Mr Fisher gave notice to introduce the Shipping and Seamen's Amendment Bill and the State Fire Insurance Amendment Bill. The following Bills were read a first time: Gaming Act Amendment Bill (Mr Hunter), Waitemata County Council Empowering Bill (Mr Herries), "Unregistered Nurses' Registration Bill (Mr Payne), Sumner Foreshore Empowering Bill (Mr Laurenson). Mr Hanan laid before the House the report of the Privileges Committee. The report found that Mr Sinclair's letter in connection with the Wairau election was published and was not privileged. The committee further reported that Mr Sinclair desired to be heard in defence before the bar of the House. Mr Russell asked the Prime Minister whether he proposed to take any action, in view of the committee's report. Mr Massey replied that the matter had been sprung upon him. He had not had the slightest idea that it was coming before the House that aft«rnoon. He desired to see the report and evidence before making any statement on the matter. After the House had discussed Ministerial replies to questions. Mr Massev moved that Mr F. Lang be appointed Chairman of Committees. The motion was unopposed, and was carried. The usual sessional committees were set up. Mr Allen tabled a stflt<"r>en+ of revpnnn for the year ended 1912. Compared with 1911 the revenue for the.current year ending July 31, was £11.169.174, and for the previous year £10,569,683, a total nett increase on f*ll trn-ncaptions of £609,491. For four months of the current year the revenue was £3.029 145 oomnnred with last yenr's total of £1.830.1-50. The net" increase was £189,995. DEPUTY-GOVERNOR'S POWERS. Mr Herdman mover the second reading of the Deputy-Governor's Powers Bill, providing that during the temporary absence of the Governor from the seat of Government or from New Zealand, all powers and authorities conferred on or vested in the Governor mnv be exercised by a person appointed by the Governor to be his deputy during such absence. The Bill was read a second time. PHOTOS AND FINGER-PRINTS. Mr Herdman moved the second reading of the Prisons Amendment Bill, ■which provided for the taking of photographs, finger-prints and measurements of all persons accused of offences as well as those convicted. It was further provided that any prisoner who refused to obey such regulation, after the same had been read to him by an officer of the gaol, would be deemed to be guilty of an aggravated offence.

Mr Laurenson said that the taking of finger prints of accused persons did not •looeal to him, nor did the provision in the Bill for punishing those who objected to undergo the operation. Mr Bradney suggested an amendment that all traces of finger-prints should be removed if an accused person were found not guilty. Mr Hanan advocated a proper system of gaol inspection. He did not agree with the present method. A good man should be secured for the post of inspector of prisons. He thought such a m^u should be secured in New Zealand. He desired to take the opportunity of giving his reasons for not laying the prisons report before the House. Evidence was given to. him as confidential, and contained allegations against the Rev. Mr Kayall. He wotild not publish an exparte statement given in confidence. Mr Malcolm saw no humiliation in leaving one's finger-prints in official quarters. It was not so bad as taking a man's photograph, which he tmderstood was done now. An innocent man mifrht be able to prove his innocence through his finaer-brmts'. Mr Hindmarsh asked the Minister of Justice to consider the matter of making a distinction between prisoners, incarcerated for debt and ordinary criminals.

Mr Isitt thought that there was no humiliation in having finger-prints taken, but hp thought the prison authorities should use some discretion in the matter. For instance, if a man knocked another man down he need not have his finfror-prints taken. A voice: "They -were already token."

Mr Herdman, in reply, said that it was essential to take finger-prints of ac- J cused nersons, and instanced the case of a burglar having loft his nrints on a I window. How, he asked could they connect a man with a. crime if they could not take the accused's rtrints? H<* re- : f^ r fr>d incidental^ to the prison farm at Toknnui, tliA development of which, ho said, depended urjon the finances of tlm country. The Minister also paid a tribute to the Prison Board. They were do^cr exceedingly well, he said. The second reading was agreed to on the voices. DIPLOMA OF HEALTH. The second reading of the New Zealand University Amendment Bill, pro- ' viding for conferring a diploma in public health by the Senate, was moved by Mr Allen, who held, that the time "had arrived when it was desirous to train men in New Zealand for work in connection with public health. Mr Sidey held that the university had no statutory power to grant a diploma. They could grant degrees or certificates, but not diplomas. Mr Russell held that the time had arrived for modernising and democratising university senates. The fees charged for examination, he said, were unreasonably and unfairly high, because the Senate received a very large subsidy from the Government. The university would never progress until the large outside interests now unrepresented were allowed to take part and express themselves in the senaba. i Mr Malcolm said that he would like to see many of the recommendations made in regard to university reform carried out. He was of opinion that in some cases the student was sacrificed for the professor. He thought the position should be reversed, and the professor sacrificed for the student. Mr Allen, in reply, said that he wished to make it plain that this divtloma of public health was not the ordinary diploma given by colleges, which had power to give a diploma of less value now. The very reason for coming to Parliament was to be able to give, in addition to degrees already attained, either in medicine, midwifery, or surgery, a diploma in public health. He held quite as democratic views as Mr "Russell in resard to university reform. The result of these reforms would be felt in years to come. The Bill was read a second time on the voices. The House adjourned at 11.10 p.m.