PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13798, 10 July 1908, Page 6

PARLIAMENT.

[BT telegraph.—press ASSOCIATION.]

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL Thursday. The Courier met at 2.30 p.m. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL gave notice to move, "That a committee be set up to inquire, with the committee set up in the Lower House, into the question of a site for Parliament Buildings.*' The Mcikle Acquittal Bill was read a first time, the second reading being set down for Tuesday next. ADDRESS-INREPLY DEBATE. The debate on the Address- in-Reply was continued by the Hons. G. JONES and J. BARR, who touched on the working of the Arbitration Act, the former stating that the. Act had been evolved at the instigation of the workers, and should be treated by them with respect. The Hon. J MARSHALL moved the adjournment of the debate, and the Council adjourned at 4.55 p.m. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Thursday. The House met at 2.30 p.m. WELLINGTON HARBOUR BILL. Mr. WILFORD moved the second reading of the Wellington Harbour Board Reclamation and Empowering Bill, and explained its objects, stating that authority was asked to borrow £I*ooo,ooo. The Board proposed to buy out the Wellington Patent Slip Company. Messrs. MASSEY and FISHER raised «i point of order as to whether the Bill was lightly designated as a private Bill, and argued that it was a local, and in some respects even a public, Bill. The SPEAKER said he was in doubt on the point, and would refer the matter : .o the Committee on .Standing Orders for its opinion. Further consideration of the measure was accordingly postponed. FIRST READINGS. The following Bills were introduced -.nd read a first time: Auckland and Suburban Drainage Bill (Mr. Kidd) and Auckland (Svmouds-street) Cemeteries Bill (Mr. Kidd). MAORI LAND CLAIMS BILL. A Bill to repeal clause o2 of the Maori Land Claims and Adjustment Act, 1906, was introduced by Governor's telegraphic message. Mr. MASSEY asked the Prime Minister if a copy of the Bill had been telegraphed to the Governor. The PRIME MINISTER replied in She negative, and said he had sent a copy .>f the Bill to the Governor by that afternoon's mail. Mr. MASSEY said it seemed to him that it was aa irregular proceeding for the Governor to send to the House a Bill he had not seen.

Mr. J. ALLEN spoke in a similar strain, and; argued that a mistake might very well occur. The PRIME MINISTER replied that the objection was. a trivial one, and he did not see how a mistake could occur, as the Governor never altered a Bill. Bills had not been telegraphed to the Governor, and they would not be telegraphed in the future. ■- .';"-' .... <■ * - ■ The Bill was read a first time, and **- ferred to the Lands Committee. BILLS PASSED. . The third reading. of the Incorporated Societies Bill was moved by Sir J. (J. WARD, and carried on the voices. The New Zealand Society of Accountants Bill-was reported from the committee, read a third time, and passed. PAWNBROKERS' CHARGES BILL. , The Hon. J. McGOWAN moved the second reading of . the Pawnbrokers' Charges Bill. He said the present charges of pawnbrokers were equivalent to 80 per cent, interest, and fell upon those least able to pay. The Bill proposed to reduce the interest chargeable by pawnbrokers to 25 per cent, on loans of £2 and under, and to 20 per cent, on loans over £2. Mr. HERRIES supported the Bill, and after discussion, The Hon. J. McGOWAN, in rcplv, said the Bill was cine to the suggestion of a member of the Opposition. The second reading was carried on the voices. ■' -i-? 4 ' ■ IMPOUNDING AMENDMENT. -The Hon. J. McGOWAN moved the second reading of the Impounding Amendment Bill, providing for certain conditions under which cattle seized for the purpose of being impounded can be released before isuch cattle have actnallv been impounded. Sir W. J. ; STEWARD supported the measure.-'

Messrs. Mas Witty, and Buddo advocated that the Bill should be referred to the Stock Committee. . «vThe Hon. T. DUNCAN supported the Bill, which was read a second time, and referred to the Stock Committee. ''■, CORONERS . AMENDMENT. The Coroners Amendment Bill was committed. '~ . ■• ~ -~;"•' ", . • •_.■■ .: .• 'Ike House adjourned at 5.30 p.m. The House resumed at 7:30 p.m. ' Several - members protested ■ against the clause dispensing with the necessity for a coroner or his jury to view a dead body as likely to facilitate fraud. --■ Mr. IZARD moved to amend section 1 oi' clause 4 in the direction of making it compulsory for the coroner only to view the awlf. * ..■;-', Mr. FLATMAN , moved a prior amendment in the direction of making it compulsory for both the coroner and jury to view the body. On a division Mr. Flatman's amendment was lost and Mr. Izard's amendment carried. • , ■ ■•■' " On the 1 motion of Mr. WILFORD clause 8 was amended to allow of the payment of a witness who had been summoned and had attended, but had not been called. .-...'.■..,» On the motion of Sir W. J. STEWARD a new clause was added to provide that the power to hold an inquest without a jury be not extended to a deputy-coroner or a justice of the peace acting as coroner. The Bill was reported as amended. CIVIL SERVICE AMENDMENT. Sir JOSEPH WARD moved the second reading of the Civil Service Amendment Bill, and stated that the object of the Bill was to allow of certain tet porary appointments, especially of experts in Hie Civil Service, being made for . a longer period than six months, which is the. maximum period at present permitted by law, such appointments to be made by Order-in-Coun-cil and reported to Parliament within ten days after the making thereof if Parliament be sitting, and if not after the commencement of the'next session.

Mr. MAbSEY opposed the proposal as a retrograde measure calculated to make appointments depend upon political influence. The Hon. R. McNAB said the Govern-

ment had rigorously adhered to making appointments only from the Civil Service list where that was possible. In the Agricultural Department it was not possible. After the supper adjournment the Hon. R. McNAB enumerated the classes of experts employed in the Agricultural Depart-« ment who had to be obtained from sources not covered by the Civil Service Act and whose appointments would have to be renewed every six months unless the Bill was passed. "~" Mr. HERRIES objected to clause 5 on the ground that it prevented clerks rising above clerkships in the service, all the higher positions being reserved for experts. The discussion was continued by several members. ■,'.-. The PRIME MINISTER, replying, explained the difficulties attending the con/; ferrfng of appointments and promotions in the service, and vigorously defended the Bill. • ■_ , ' iT,.'.Thc. second leading was. carried on the j ■ voices. ' • ■-, -\ . , BILLS INTRODUCED. /,".-• The Friendly Societies Consolidation Bill I and Second Bill were introduced by Governor's message, and the House adI joarnett'at.l^.'p.ia.. - '?" VI /; ■;•,*-