PARLIAMENT.

North Otago Times, 2 December 1910, Page 4

PARLIAMENT.

± — Per Press Association. WdU o t.n UiCum!;er 1

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, The Council met at 2.30.

-Mr Hine's Uuargcs.The Attorney-General moved the adoption of the report of the Hine Commission' respecting the charges against Mr MacDcnaM. Dr Findlay prefaced his remarks by a strong denunciation of the practice and system of public detraction which had grown up in the political life of the Dominion, and of which the present case was an illustration. The trend of Dr Findlay's' remarks was that while Mr Mac Donald was nominally attacked, the real attack was aimed at the reputation of the late Mc Sed!don, and! the line of investigation on the rart of Mr Hine was such as ta "leave a nasty taste in the mouth of the public over the whole affair." It was plainly Mr Hine's object to throw discredit upon the only Minister who had anything whatever to do with the" purchase and Mr Mac Donald was only an incident in this political inquisition. His action was only used as a means of discrediting and dishonoring, a great name in the cause of Liberalism, but Mr Hine stood convicted of hypocrisy, not only by his conduct but by his words, for while begining by 'disavowing. any imputation against Mr Seddon, he, through his lawyer, proceeded to cast as much suspicion on Mr Seddon's memory as heJndirc'Otly could. The whole spirit and methods of these charges were a blot; on our public life, and since Mr Hinei had throughout the support and approval of the Opposition Party, that party, along with himself, had committed themselves to methods of political warfare which surely must make every fair-minded man sorry if not indignant. In conclusion, he thoug|M? it desirable to bring -the legislature into line with the recent legislation en Municipal Corporations, Harbor Boards, etc., toj prevent the chance, however remote, of a man's private profit and ' public duty coming into contact.

: The.debate, which Mollowod': was W, • .id: the Attoriicy-Geiwfll, in reply, enid. ho: lator on would bring down some definite proposal as to. the suggested, legislation, and also on the question "of privilege in- j volved in. the charge mado by a member of one House against the member', of the other House. It would' bo 'better, however, to defer action f;r;a little. '. The report wa3 adopted. -Tramways Dill.-. The Tramways /■■•Bill) was further considered in Committee, and finally passed without vital amendment. -Grcymouth Harbor Board.The Grtymouth Harbor Board Loans Consolidation,Bill was passod. The Coi nril rose. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES The House met. at 2.30. -Land Finance Bill. — The report of the managers net up to center with the Council in regard tn the amendments made by the latter In the Lands for Settlement Finance Bill was received and re:.d by the Sneaker. Sir Joseph Ward explained the new clauses agreed to by the conference. Under these no person holding land of over £2500 in value could take up laaid under the Bill. The report was adopted. -Public Works,Replying to Mr Massey, Mn R; M'Kenzio said the debate on the Public Works Statement would be taken on Friday afternoon or the evening. —Government Railways.— The House went into Committee on the Government .'Railways Amendment Bill., Clause 7 (giving the Minister power to grant leave of absence to a member of toe railway service) and clause 10 (providing that: the Council may fix the salaries of the officers within limits) were struck out on the voices. Tlia Bill was reported with amendments. —Mining Bill,— The Mining) Amendment Bill was committed. Clause 18 (referring to gold stealing) was struck out om the voices. Th 3 House rose at 5.30. The House resumed at 7.30. Consideration ■of the Mining Amendment Bill was resumed in committee. Clause 20 was amended by altering the date of its coming into operation from the Ist January, 1912, to the Ist October, 1911. The clause provides that working, shafts exceeding 200 feet shall have a cage for raising and lowering miners. The Bill was reported with amendments.

On the House resuming the Government Railways Bill passed its final stages. —A Question Raised.—

Mr Massey raised the question on clause. 16 of the Mining Amendment Bill whether the same was not a taxation clause on His Majesty's metnls, and should be sent Home for the Royal assent,

The Speaker upheld Mr Massey's contention, aod said t)»3 clause Would 'be linoperative without the Royal assent. The Bill could be recommitted with a view of strlbing out the clause, or another Bill could be introduced with a recommendation from tihje Governor, Mr R. M'Kt-nzie moved tcl reoommit the Bill with the object of striking out the clause. Mr Poland protested against the tactics .'adopted to prevent the passage of the Bill. He said that the representatives of the mining companies had been allowed to sit alongside the Speaker's chair, Subsequently a clause was introduced by Governor's message, and passed through Committee, and the Bill was read a third time ami passed, Sir Joseph Ward moved the second reading of the Reserves and Other Lands Disposal and Public Bodies Empowering Bill. Mr Mtssey protested against the Bill, which was really a number of Bills rolled into one, being, introduced so late in the session. Mr Merries-said several sections of the Bill should 'have gone to the Native Affaira Committee. The Bill was read a second time. . -Greymouth Harbor Board.The amendments made by the Legislative Council in the Groymouth Hari-or Board'i; Bill were agreed to, —Bills.— The .House went into Committer ori the Reserves and Other Lands 1.-is-Posnl Bills, The, Public Bodies Empowering Bill passed through Committee, and was reported with amendments. The Native Land Claims Adjustment Bill was reported with amendments. -Law of Libel.— The Law of Libel Amendment Bill was vommitted. A motion 'by Mr Andersen to include public meetings amongst the privileged reports was rejected en the voices.

Messrs Herdman and Massey objected to sub-clause Eof clause 2, which confers privilege on reports of the proceedings of the Executive or any Department thereof/' when authorised by a Minister of the Crown. The clause wis, retained. At clause 4, disallowing successive action in respect of publication of defamatory taatter, unless made within ten 'days "after the commencement of a fresh action, Mr Jennings lrtoved to substitute 30 days fcr 10 • days.-Oarried on the voices. (Left Sitting.)