PARLIAMENTARY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXXII, Issue 15715, 7 September 1911, Page 8

PARLIAMENTARY.

(Abridged from Press Association.)

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

Wednesday, Suri'EmiEß 6,

AFTERNOON SITTING. The Council met at 2.30 p.m. . A MINISTER’S RETIREMENT,

Sir John Findlay officially announced the retirement of the Hon G. Fowlds from the Ministry. BILLS.

The Wanganui School Sites Act Amendment oill was read a second time. Sir John Fiudlay moved the second reading of the Mental Detectives Bill, received from the Lower House, explaining the proposals of the Bill at considerable length. The lion J. ltigg took exception to the provision of tiio Bill referring to the licensing of institutions. He contended that the mental defectives should be directly under the care of the State. It was undesirable to send mentally defective persons to a private institution conducted for profit. The benefits derivable from public hospitals were superior to those of private institutions.* Under the Bill large private institutions would spring up all over the State, and ho asked whether it was intended to fix the burden on the community rather than oil the State. • If so, lie was sorry for it. Many of the mental defectives wero well able to do work of various kinds, and this work would add to the profits cf a private institution. Institutions of the kind, 1 he maintained, should be conducted by the State and by the State alone. Tho debate was adjourned. The Council rose. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. ' Wednesday, Sei’tehuer 6. AFTERNOON SITTING. The House met at 2.30 p.m. BILLS. The Auckland Electric Power Station Site Bill (Mr Myers), A water© County Bill (Mr J. Duncan) and Foxton Harbour Boardi Loan Bill (Mr Newman) were read a first time. OLD SOLDIERS. Speaking on a report from the Petitions Committee on petitions from ols soldiers, Sir James Carroll said that reports on claims of eld soldiers for pensions had come in from Magistrates. The Department had been through them and summarised them. They were now in the hands of the Prime Minister, who had discussed them with the Cabinet. It .was the intention of the' Government to keep faith in the matter of any promises it had made. QUESTIONS. Replying to questions, Ministers stated that officers of the New Zealand Staff Corps wore not required to pass any further examination in order to retain their 1 commissions. The only examination these officers were called upon to undergo was the examination for promotion to the next higher rank to that held. That strict orders ivere given by the defence authorities to guard against young men being called upon to present themselves for medical examination at tho local publichouse. That there was no regulation making it compulsory for Territorials to wear their hair any particular length, nor had any such, regulation ever been contemplated. That, in common with every other kind' of tenure, holders of small grazing runs are subject to the varying incidence of land taxation. Selectors of Crown lands are supposed to be aware of their liability. That the allegation that those in the Territorial ranks have little or no opportunity of ever obtaining commissioned rank is quite unfounded. Under the universal scheme, in which everybody has, to serve, appointments will of necessity all bo mad© from the ranks. That a medical officer, when filling 'in the medical report, is required to state whether each Cadet or Territorial examined had been successfully vaccinated'. There was no authority to enforce vaccination. That the grievance of tontine policy holders in tho Colonial Mutual Insurance Society' was under consideration. Great difficulties had been encountered in suggesting an effective remedy, which, in the circumstances, u r ould be retrospective. A Bill was being prepared for introduction this session to make it clear that teachers have a right of appeal in cases where they are transferred against their will. The nouse adjourned .at 5.30 p.m. EVENING SITTING. The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. MARRIAGE LAWS. Sir William Steward moved the second reading of the Marriage Act Amendment Bill, validating marriage with a deceased wife’s niece or a deceased husband's nephew. The motion for the second reading was defeated by 31 to 30. ELECTIVE EXECUTIVE. Sir William Steward moved the second reading of tho Elebtive Executive Bill. After a long debate the motion for the second reading was negatived by 38 to 26. SUNDAY LABOUR. Mr Fisher moved the second reading of the Sunday Labour Bill, which provides that every person who labours on Sunday shall have twentyton r hours during the next six days without labour. The Bill was read a second time pro forma and referred to the Labour Bills Committee. The House rose at 12.35 a.m.