PARLIAMENTARY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CIII, Issue 12241, 29 June 1900, Page 6

PARLIAMENTARY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Thursday, June 28. AFTERNOON SITTING. The Council met at. 2.30 p.m. BUBONIC PLAGUE BILL. - The Hon W. C. Walker moved the second reading of the Bubonic Plague Prevention Bill. . , . The. Hon J- - M'Leani condemned panic legislation, and feared that the result would be to keep tourists away frcm the colony. I He agreed that the Government required to j take strong measures in such an emergency. I The Hon Di- Grace thought that tie plague could be- checked in any country if there was strict isolation. There should be tib difficulty in-stamping out the pla.gue in : New Zealand, if they were fortunate enough to have" discovered the first case which had ' occurred, 1 and to have taken prompt and proper : steps for its isolation. - ' ■' • The Hon A. Lee Smith said that the vigorous action taken by the Government was in-the real interests of the trade of the colony. I Other • members spoke. I The Hon W. C. Walker, in reply, sale that -the introduction: and passage of the Bill would show people at a distance that the Government was vigorously dealing with the emergency which had arisen. The Bill was read a second time, passed through committee without amendment, read a third time amd passed. . ;-, THE HON J. M'KENZIE. A: memorandum from the Governor announcing the acceptance with regret of the resignation of the Hon J. M'Kenzae as Minister of Landß, and member of the Executive Council was ordered to be entered on the records. Nea-rly. every member expressed regret at the necessity of Mr M'Kemzie's retirement from politics, spoke in high terms of his great services in connectioni with the land policy, and expressed a wish for his j recovery. • " ADDRESS-IN-REPLY. J The debate was continued by the HonSs D. Pinkerton,.Hi..Gourley and J. Kerr. ■ Mr ! Kerr' urged ;'&tVv greater encouragement ', should^^e' 1 given tbithe mining industry,' pariaculajrly, in getting machinery to mines in'/places difficult of access. The coalmeasures on the West Coast' of the South Island, now lying untouched, should be developed. ■ . .?•• -.■''. The'Hon A.. J.' ; Cadmam thanked members for their kind references to his appointment to the" Council; .""'.'' The, Hon W. C. Walker moved the adjournment of the debate. The motion was carried,and the'Council rclse'at 4.50 p.m. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Wednesday, Jxjxe 27. THE BUBONIC PLAGUE BILL. After the telegraphic office closed, Mr Bollard asked why the Government had ' not requested Professor Thomson, of Auckland to report on the subject. He believed that sufficient time had elapsed to show if it was a case of plague. Mr -Pirani supported the Bill, but he considered the charge should be put upon the Consolidated Fund. Mr Ma-:sey had doubt as to the case being the bubonic plague, and quoted the opinion of Dr Bakewell in support of his contention. He hoped that the whole expense would be made a charge upon, the Consolidated Fund. He suggested that instead of pushing the Bill through to-night, it sboidd Ije delayed until next sitting. Mr Fisher thought that the pla.gue alarm was largely made'up of scare. '' Mr Hall"objected to the cost of dealing . with the plague being made a charge upon the whole colony. I Messrs Hemes and Lewis thought that some provision should be made for com'pensating people whose property, in consequence of the plague, was destroyed. Mbtsts W. Fraser and Buddo urged that the Bill should be proceeded-with. ■ Mr Barclay thought that .tho Bill gave the Governor too great power. Mr Witheford said he would support the Bill with an amendment in Committee. Mr Guinness contended that the subject was a matter of colonial importance, and should be immediately attended to. . Mr G. W. Russell urged that the Bill ! should be proceeded with. .;..;■ ' Mr R. Thompson raid that ho had no : faith in. the reports of experts, as to the I existence of the .plague. I Mr Lawry said he would not oppose the i Bill, as he believed it would prove inopera-

tiv'e.T He did not think there wasany neces-/ sity for the measure. I Mr Hornsby supported the Government in J the action.. it had taken to prevent • the spread.of the disease, The Hon J. G. Ward replied, insisting that the evidence he had given showed conclusively that the case was one of the plague. The second reading of the Bill was carried, and, the House went into committee. Exception was taken by Mr Pirani to Clause 2, giving. the Governor, power to" do various acts, and he moved as an amendment that the words " Governor-in-Council" should be inserted. The Hon J. G. Ward replied that the clause was put in solely to save time in case of emergency. The amendment was lost on the voices. Clause 5, enacting that everything don© by the Governor shall be deemed an act of State, met with opposition, the contention being that the rights of property were not j fully protected, and that no provision was | made for compensation in cases where properties were destroyed. | Mr Atkinson moved as an amendment ! that provision should be made for payment of compensation. ■ Mr Hogg thought that some members ; were more concerned about the rights of ' property than the care, of human life. Mr Fowlds thought that provision should be made for a fair amount of compensation j in a case where properties were destroyed, j Mr Atkinson submitted that the question ! was not one of lights of property against rights of life, but one rather of rights of property against rights of robbery. On the division, the amendment was lost by 35 votes to 20. Clause 9 was amended so that half the expense of administering the Act should be borne by the Consolidated Fund. The Bill was' reported with amendments and read a third time and passed. The House rose at 4.20 a.m. I THtrBSDAT,.JI;NE 28. AFTERNOON SITTING. • The House met at 2.30 p.m. THE AUCKLAND PLAGUE CASE, Mr Fowlds . gave, notice to ask if the. Government was aware that the man Kelly, who was alleged to have'died from bubonic plague, had been, ill for sis. months previ-. pusly suffering from blood poisoning. j THE HON J. M'KENZIE. ■ The Premier made a statement that the Hon J. M'Kenzie hod formally resigned the portfolio of Minister of Lands. In reply to the formal announcement of resignation the Governor had forwarded a memorandum stating that he regretted the resignation;, and saying that the duties of the various .portfolios Mr M'Kenzie had held had been. Well carried out, especially as regarded that of Minister of Lands, and that the -relatidnis ' between the -minister and himself had been- from the first of a most cordial character. Mr Seddon moved a resclution to the effect that the House should place on record its sens& of regret at the resignation, and express its i-ympathy with the cause thereof.' Mr Seddon.proceeded to say-that he felt keenly the separation. At ate time he had thought that only cne of two things could separate his colleague and himself—the will of Parliament or death itself, but ill health had stepped in to effect that result. There- was' a feeling amongst the paxty.that hs should not have resigned.' He (Mr Seddon), under all the drarmstances, wai3 of that opinion, but Mr M'Kenzie with that independent that characterised him thought otherwise. * ■ Captain Russell, the Hon'W. J. Steward, the,Hen J. G. Ward, Meters Malls, Flatmari, and Meredith spoke- in eulogy - of Mr M'Kenzie's public services and private worth. ' '' The motion was adopted without dissent. LIBEL BILL. Mi- Carocross gave notice to introduce- the Libe'l Bill. LEAVE OF ABSENCE. Leave of absence was granted to Mr M'Lachlan and Mr O'Meara for one week. BILLS. A number c£ Bills' were introduced and read a first; time'..; ~ , '.-'' .: . V: ■ The Hon.W. J. Steward:moved 1 .the second reading of the .Mortgages Bill, 'which- was designed 'to enable a more simple.form of effeetinc mortgages. ( Mi- Wilford and Mr Guinness supported the Bill. Mr M'Nab supported the Bill, but doubted whether mortgagees would be satisfied with the security offered. Mr Barclay doubted- if the Bill would result in the cost of mortgages being reduced. Mr Field supported the Bill. Mr R. M'Kenzie thought that the fact of so many members of the legal profession supporting the Bill was a matter for suspicion, and he would: look very carefully into it when the measure reached commifctee. The second reading was carried on the voices. Mr M'Nab moved the second reading of the Absolute Majority Bill. Mi- R. M'Kenzie opposed the Bill, and considered that 'the Government should have given the House a lead on. the subject. The House adjourned at 5.30 p.m. EVENING SITTING. The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. Mr E. M. Smith said that the Bill' would simply tend to complicate elections, and on that ground he would oppose the measure. li, instead of such a Bill, the mover had brought in one to ensure purity of elections, it would find no greater champion than the member for New Plymouth. , Mr Hanan supported the Bill. Under the present law a large number of electors were, often unrepresented. Under the Bill the contingent vote rendered unnecessary a, second poll. Mr Fisher said that in theory the system proposed in the Bill was perfect, but in practice it was utterly impracticable. Even in our simple method of conducting elections many people had to be instructed in the way to vote. What would be the result if the complicated -system proposed in. the Bill were adopted. ■ The Hon J. G. Ward said that he would oppose the Bill. The objections raised to the present system were objections that might be urged against the election of anj body. No good reason had been shown for dong away with the present simple method of conducting elections. Mr Lewis said that he would support the Bill, but he. thought that for 1 he mw-.urc to work" fairly, it would be necc-s-ary to have singlo electorates. Mr Fowlds said that the Bill was intended

! tp secure, the representatio'D. of an absolute ' majority, and' as he approved of thaf.-^sria-ciple, he would support the Bill. In. mairj cases members were at present returned who had polled a minority. . •„" " ' ' Mr Millar thought the Bill at"' great danger to the Labour.Party,' and would t&erefore oppose it. • ' • Mr M'Nab,. having replied, thfr secanSf i reading was carried by 36 to SJ3,. • ':■•'-.-.:• | Mr G. W. Russell moved the second ing el< the'Removal of Women's E»kabil;tjeg/ Bill, which provided for. women■ 'fceujigi eligible for election to (any paibßp oflice petition. : . Mr Smith and Mr Gilfedder supported the ■Bill. ' ■ ■-■■..-.■';..■ ' / Mr Fisher eadd that he hoped that, the! House would not sanction this travesty on? legislation,' savouring of the perambulator and the feeding bottle. _ } Mr Hornsby advocated equal rights foi| the sexes, and equal pay for women and men for similar work. Mr Willis and Mr Ffcitman supported the Bill. ; " ; "'/ Mr Russell replied. - The second reading wbk carried by 30 td 21. • ' ! The House rose at 9.40 p.m. '