PARLIAMENTARY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXIV, Issue 13889, 25 October 1905, Page 9

PARLIAMENTARY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Monday, October ,23. AFTERNOON SITTING. The Council met at 2.30 p.m. BILLS. The following Bills wore read a third time and passed:— Native Townships, Local Government, Victoria College, Hutt Railway Improvement, Auckland Hospital Acts Amendment. ' The Tapanui Commonage Reserves Bill was further considered in committee, read a third time and passed. The Medical Practitioners’ Registration Bill was road a second time. The Council rose at 4.15 p.m. Tuesday, October 24. ' AFTERNOON SITTING. The Council met at 2.80 p.m. BILLS. The Victoria College Bill was read a third time, and passed. The Public Trust Office Amendment Bill was read a second time, and passed through committee with amendment, read a third time, and passed. CRIMINAL CODE. The Hon A. Pitt moved the second reading of the Criminal Code Amendment Bill. He urged that it should pass through the Council because when made law a person’s reputation would be better protected than under the existing * law of libel and slander. The Bill, which would also prevent unjust prosecution, was a justifiable alteration of the law. The Hon J. Rigg objected to the Bill passing, because it was designed to meet special cases. It was a Government, blunder, and would tend to stifle public criticism. The Hon H. F. Wigram, while not altogether objecting to the Bill, did not tiesira it to endanger public utterances by publi men. Nevertheless, people should be protected against slander. He favoured the postponement of the Bill till the new Parliament, to allow fuller consideration. The Hon G. Jones urged the passing of the Bill on the grounds that no man should have a right to slander his fellowmen, and that the provisions did not aim at interference with the present privileges of public utterances,- but it would curb license. The second reading was carried by 20 votes to 4. • MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS. The Medical Practitioners’ Registration Bill was being debated in committee when the Council adjourned at 5 p.m. till 7.30 p.m. evenincTsitting. The Council resumed at 7.30 p.m. in committee on the Medical Practitioners Registration Bill. The Hon J. Marshall moved the following new clause:—“ln the case of any person not possessed of qualifications mtitling bun to registration under the principal Act, it shall be lawful feir the Governor-in-Council to place upon a separate register the name of any such person, provided he gives proof that he has pa,seed .through a due course of study at a recognised school of medicine and. surgery, and that he 'has practised in a reputable manner as a medical practitioner in New Zealand .'during five years at least prior to- the passing of , this Act, and such person, when so registered, shall have all the rights of a registered medical practii turner.” v This was lost on the voices. [ The Bill was reported without amendI meats and put through" its final stages, j The Council rose at 9.30 p.m. [ HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. j ■ Tuesday, October 24. MORNING SITTING. The House met at 11 a.m. FIRST READING. The Crown Suits Amendment Bill (Mr Millar) was read a first time. CONDOLENCE. On the motion of the Premier, a resolution was placed on record regretting the death of the Hon J. T. Peacock, and expressing condolence with his family. As a mark of respect to his memory, the House adjourned till 2.30 p.m. AFTERNOON SITTING. The House resumed at 2.30 p.m. LEAVE OF ABSENCE. Three days leave of absence were granted to Mr E. G. Allen, on account of urgent public business, and three days to Mr Mander on urgent private business. THE LOAN BILL. The Hon W. Hail-Jones moved the second reading of the Aid to Public "Works and Land Bill, which provides for the raising of £1,000,000. The motion was also taken as an opportunity for debating the Public Works Statement. In framing the Estimates, Mr Hall-Jones said, he had been largely guided by the reports of the public officers. The works that had been provided for last year had made good progress, and ho had no doubt that with the increased amount asked for this year better pro gross would be made than had been done for several years past. It tv as true that some works had been overlooked on the Public Works Estimates,' but these should be provided for' , on the Supplementary Estimates. Great care, forethought and prudencn had been exercised by the Government

in allocating the votes for this year, and the Government was satisfied that a policy of fair progress was preferable to borrowing three Or four millions to finish some of the works in hand. Referring to the votes for utilisation of w'ater-power, he said he .wished to disabuse members’, minds of the idea that the Government was nailed down to the particular sources of supply named in the Public Works Statement. Any other sources of power would be inquired into. Mr Massey expressed a hope that when the Government went on the English market for this loan it would bo able to get it at a lower rate than it had been compelled to pay last year. In Ms opinion, 4 per cent was too much for this colony to pay for money. He regretted that ■ the colony’s stock had not risen, as predicted by the Premier, and he could only attribute it to the fact that the English moneylender had lost confidence, not in the country, but in the Government of the country. Ho expressed the opinion that there was tremendous _ waste in connection with the Public Works expenditure, and so far as the system 'of railway construction was concerned he advocated the setting up of a Royal Commission of inquiry. He believed the work of such a Commission would pay the colony handsomely, and lead to a better state of things in regard to our railway construction. The condition of affairs in regard to the North Island Main Trunk line was, he considered, a standing disgrace to the Government. He expressed pleasure at the fact that the Government had made provision for the utilisation of the water-power of the colony, and suggested that the Government should take the Huka Falls or Waikaremoana for the purpose of demonstrating what could be done in the matter. , ,

The Hon G. H. Mills urged the'completion of the South Island main trunk fine. He agreed that greater telephonic facilities should be extended bo outlying' districts. Ho referred to the prosperous condition of the colony under the present administration, and instanced the fact'that, whereas for many years people, disputed the Government surplus, now it was generally admitted. Sir William Russell contended that the Government still borrowed lavishly, squandered recklessly, and did not, in regard to expenditure, get the full value for its money. Ho also complained that expenditure was more lavish in the south than in the KcVth Island. The debate was interrupted by the 5.30 adjournment. EVENING SITTING. The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. Continuing the debate, Mr Hogg said that he regarded the amount on the Estimates as only the small beginning of the most gigantic and comprehensive water-power policy in the world. Ho advocated enterprising and progressive expenditure for the fostering of the industries of the colony. Mr Herries contended that the colony had not got as good terms as it should have obtained for its loans. He insisted on the necessity of greater speed in expending public works votes. So far the expenditure had been very slow, and he hoped that during the summer the works would be carried on with greater expedition. Mr E. M. Smith advocated a liberal land policy. He challenged the Opposition to go to the country with a proposal to remove any of the policy Acts of the Government from the Statute Book. The Hon T. T. Duncan,claimed that the TTasbourne Estate was one of the most successful purchases of the whole series of resumptions. Mr James Allen insisted that the advent of a good administration to power would restore the colony’s stocks to the top of the quotations. He was ashamed to Say that the Government let the colony go to the dogs to keep itself in power, and its followers supported them. Ho would bo told presently that he was debasing the colony, but he would continue to denounce these who had debauched the constituencies with bribery. The Premier, replying to Mr James Allen, said the fact wms that that honourable member hankered after the Treasury benches, but found himself further from them every year. He ventured to say that Mr Allen would not refer to his speech of that night on the 'hustings, and that when ho had slept the sleep of the just he would greatly . modify his “ Hansard ” proof. The Premier went to to declare that the amount asked for in the Bill was fair and just, in view of the progress and prosperity of the colony. With regard to the stock quotations, he urged that New Zealand stocks were better in most lines than those of most of the colonies. He declared that the colony was financially sound and prosperous, and would continue to prosper, in spite of the attempts to destroy its credit and fair fame. _ He asked honourable members opposite if they had a feeling that the Government was asking for too heavy borrowing powers to say so in a straightforward manner, and not begin by assisting to put measures on the Statute Book and end by denouncing the Government ns a debaudhor of the House and countrv. The debate was continued by Messrs Moss, Major, Rutherford, Duthio, Kirkbride, Lang, Alison, Laurenson and Reid. The Hon W. Hall-Jones, in the course of his reply, said that it had been suggested that the Government should provide more votes for local bodies, but a number of letters had been received

from people’in various districts, stating that they did not want the money to bo entrusted to local bodies, but preferred that the Public Works Department should carry out the works, on© reason being that the Department had better trained and more experienced officers. The Minister was still speaking when the telegraph office closed, at 2 a.m.