PARLIAMENT OF NEW ZEALAND.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLII, Issue XLII, 16 September 1908, Page 2

PARLIAMENT OF NEW ZEALAND.

[Unitkd rasas AAWCiAnoN.j SUMMARY OF BUSINESS. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. WELLINGTON, Tuesday. The Council met at 2.30 p.m. Mr Reeves took the chair in the unvoidable absence of the Speaker. The report of the Joint Committee on he proposed site for Parliamentary Juildings was laid on the table. On the motion to go into committee ,n the Second Ballot, Messrs Sinclair nd Kelly defended the BUI, and expressed their intention of supporting he measure. . . . , Mr Samuel adversely enticed the neasure, and contended it was not advisable to change the mode of electing the members to the House, He paiti;ularly objected to the proviso of clause 2 and the gag clause. Mr Carncross expressed his intention of opposing the gag clause. Mr McCardle would support the Bill generally, but was opposed to the proviso of clause 2. Mr Callan described the gag clause as a deliberate blow at the liberty of the Press, He hoped the clause would be rejected. tJ ., I Mr flaldey would support the Bill, but oposed the 500 majority proviso. Mr Paul objected to the gag clause, and to the 500 majority proviso. Mr Jones would endeavour to exclude the gag clause from the Bill. The Attorney-General said in deference to the criticism of the Council he was prepared in committee to remove the 500 majority proviso of clause 2. He justified the inclusion of clause 9 (the gag clause) which had the support of the majority of the members of the House, and this was an indication that the clause was a reasonable one. He justified the clause, which would give each candidate a fair opportunity of obtaining the suffrages of his fellows in the interval between the first and second ballot. He proposed to submit an amendment to provide for the publi- i cation of any statement if true in substance, and If publication thereof is for the public benefit. The motion was carried. Clause 1 was passed unaltered, and the Council adjourned at 5 p.m., until 8 p.m. The Council resumed at 7.30, m committee on the Second Ballot Bill. The proviso to clause 2 was struck out. Clauses 3 to 17 were passed unamended. The consideration of clause 18 was postponed until after clause 19 had been dealt with. Mr Rigg moved an amendment to strike out the first line of clause 19. The amendment was rejected by 17 votes to 11. Dr Findlay moved an amendment to sub-clause 1 of clause 19, to provide for it being an offence for any person to address or take part in a public meeting with intent to promote, or oppose the I election of and candidate at the second ballot.