PARLIAMENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 15096, 12 September 1912, Page 8

PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

MARRIAGES VALIDATION BILL

TWICE SAVED BY CASTING VOTE.

fur TELEGRAPH. —i-ekss ASSOCIATION*.]

Wellington, Wednesday. Tjiij House of Representatives met at 2.30 this afternoon.

The Local Authorities Superannuation Amendment Bill (Hon. A. L. Herdman) and the Cook Island Government Amendment Bill (Hon. Dr. Pomare) wero read a first time.

The Speaker read a Jotter from Mrs. Monk expressing appreciation of the sympathy of tho Ifouso on the death of the late Mr. Itiehard Monk.

Ministers stated that tho Government proposes to consider during the recess tho question of amending tho Workers'/ Compensation Act; that tho State Guaranteed Advances office does nob compel a mortgagor to insure with tho State Eire Office, but it. does give every facility to tho State Firo Oflieo to secure the insurance; that it has been decided to let the right of selling newspapers oil trains by tender, ami that under this arrangement tho number of news-runners will be restricted to one on each train; that it is not intended to erect a wireless station at Gisborne, as the other stations will meet, all requirements. 'I lie House adjourned at 5.50.

Marriages Validation Bill. In the overling tho House went into Committee on tho Marriages Validation Bill, designed to validate marriages between a woman and her deceased husband's nephew, and man and his deceased wife's niece.

The Bill was challenged at the outset-, and on a division there wore 26 votes for it and 26 against. . 3. ho Chairman gave his casting vote in favour of the measure. lhis is Iho second occasion on which tins Bill lias been saved by a casting vote. On iho second reading a week ago the votes were 29 for and 29 against, and the Speaker gave his casting vote in favour of the Bill.

After considerable discussion, a motion to report progress was lost by 39 votes to 27.

Mr. Davey (Christchurch East) moved an amendment to make tho measure prospective as well as retrospective, but eventually the amendment was withdrawn. .Mr. Russell (Avon) suggested that the time of tho House could be saved if private members' Bills had first of all to go before a Grand Committee of the House, wlijch would decide as to whether the measure was worthy of engaging the time of Parliament. This would prevent such a vaudeville show as had been going on lor the- past two hours. ° Subsequently Mr. Ngata (Eastern Maori} put an amendment similar to Mr. Davey'e, but in different terms, and this was carried by 34 votes to 1 . The Bill was reported as amended. Daylight Saving Bill Withdrawn. The New Zealand Meantime Bill was next -on tho list. Mr. Sidey (Dunedin South), however, said he recognised that the Bill had no chance of passing, and ho moved to report progress. The motion to report progress was agreed to.. Signed -Newspaper Articles.

Tho next Bill to come under consideration was the Legislature Amendment Bill, in charge of Mr. Hindmarsh (Wellington South). This Bill provides that election organisations shall make a return of expenses incurred in elections, and that during election week election articles in newspapers must be signed. The Bill, said Mr. Hindmarsh, was almost an exact copy of the measure now operating in the Commonwealth.

Mr.. Anderson (Maiaura) said the Bill would interfere with the liberties of the press. Ho moved to report progress. This ."was lost by 35 votes to 32. Tho discussion proceeded until 11.35 p.m., when the Prime Minister said it was evident that members wanted to go home. In answer to Mr- Hindmarsh, Mr. Massey said he was not in favour of tho Bill. Mr. Malcolm (Chitha) moved to- report, progress, and tho motion was carried bv jl votes to 23. Tho House rose at 12.20 a.m.