LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1533, 18 July 1901, Page 43

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

TUESDAY, JULY 9. The Speaker took the chair at 2.30 p.m. BIBLE IN SCHOOLS REFERENDUM. The Hons. W. C. Walker, H. Feldwick, D. Pinkerton and H. Gourley presented separate petitions praying that Parliament order to be taken a referendum of the people as to whether Biblereading in public schools shall be sanctioned or not. The Hon J. M. Twomey explained that he had been given a similar petition to present. He left it in his box, but when he came back be found.it in his waste-paper basket. He made that explanation so that the signatories might know the reason for its non-presentation. JUVENILE SMOKERS. The Hon. Colonel PITT asked the Minister of Education whether he would during the present session introduce legislation having for its object the suppression of cigarette-smoking by youths under the age of seventeen years ? The consent of the Council was given to the questioner to amend his question by substituting “tobacco” for “cigarettes.” The questioner explained that he did so for the purpose of preventing manufacturers placing on the market any equally injurious article which would not come under the designation of cigarettes. There was in Victoria, said Colonel Pitt, a penalty of £IOO provided by statute to be inflicted on any tobacconist supplying cigarettes to boys of tender years. The questioner said he would not like to see that penalty introduced in any Act that might be passed here, for he its eifect would he to make convictions very hard to secure. The Hon. W. C. WALKER said he believed the greatest danger to youthful votaries of tobacco came from the consumption of cigarettes which did not contain tobacco at all. As to the amended motion proposed by Colonel Pitt, the speaker was not prepared to go that far; but he would assure members that he would consider whether ; the practice of cigarette-smoking by boys could be minimised. DEFENCE OFFICERS. Th e Hon. Colonel PITT further moved that there be laid on the table of the Council a return showing the rank and names of the several officers upon the staff of the Commandant of the Forces of this colony, and likewise upon the staffs of the respective officers commanding- districts;, snch return to show the date of appointment of each such staff officer, the amount of his salary, and what his duties are. In moving the motion, Colonel Pitt said the return would be of "Very great service to Parliament when the question of defence was to be dealt with. There had been remissness in the matter of superinten ‘■' -a- Volunteer matters throughout the colony, and it was evident, that there m t he something wrong with the constitution of the staff when the fact was stated that in certain districts in the colons there had not been an inspection at all for the last two years. There was something radically wrong when that could be. Last session a sum of money was voted by both Houses for the establishment of a military school of instruction, and a commandant of the school was appointed at a salary of £4OO a year. That officer, however, still performed the duties of staff officer to the Commander of the Forces. The theory scheme of the staff was that each officer * commanding a district was to have an adjutant to assist him, - such adjutant to be an officer brought from England; but with only one exception no appointment of either English or colonial officers as adjutants had been made. He trusted the information asked for would be given. The Hon. W. C. WALKER said he .thought the hon. gentleman had been a little rash in some of the statements he had made. (Colonel Pitt: Wnich. one?) There was, however, no reason why the return asked for should not . he given. It would be brought down in due cours*. FLICIT ATION S. On the motion of the Hon. H. Feldwiek, ■ seconded by the Hon. H. Scotland, the congratulations of the Council were extended to Sir H. Miller (the Speaker of the Council), Sir John McKenzie, and the Hons.W. C. Walker, C M.G., and A. J. Cadman, C.M.G., on the honours conferred upon them by their Sovereign in recognition of their long and honourable lives spent in the service of the colony. The motion was * spoken to by a large number of members and was eventually passed unanimously. The .Hon. the Speaker thanked members for their kind remarks, and said he had felt, when the title was offered to, him, that to refuse it would be a serious discourtesy on his part, as he knew the honour was meant for the Legislature, and not for him personally. The Hon. W. C. Walker replied shortly, -andmade feeling reference to the ab-

sence of the two other hon. members whose names were included in the motion. HOSPITAL NURSES BILL. ' The Hon. W. C. WALKER moved that the Hospital Nurses Registration Bill b© read a second time. The Hons. T. Kelly, Wright J. Kerr, S. E. Shrimski, A. L. Smith and G. Jone s all spoke to the motion, no great exception being taken by any of them to its provisions. The Bill was agreed to without division, and its committal was made an order of the day for Wednesday. The Council adjourned at 4 p.m. WEDNESDAY, JULY 10.. The Speaker took the chair at 2.30 p.m. NEW BILLS. The Hon W. C. WALKER gave notic© that he would introduce the Public Offices Act, Young Persons Protection Act, and Chinese Immigration Act Amendment Bills. The Hon W. M. BOLT introduced the Law Amendment Act, which was read a first time, and set down for its second reading on Wednesday of next week. CHAIRMANSHIP OF COMMITTEES. The Hon W. C. WALKER moved that the Hon W. C. Smith, be appointed Chairman of Committees. In moving the motion, the hon gentleman said he trusted that the Council would agree with him that the gentleman he had nominated was fully qualified to carry out the duties of the office. The mover expressed regret, that the gentleman who previously filled the chair was not in a position to again take the post. He had come to a period of life at which he was entitled to rest. During his lengthy occupancy of the office he had added considerable lustre to the pro* ceedings of the Council. With regard to th e gentleman he was now proposing for the posi vion, the mover would say that the Hon W. C. Smith’s many years’ services in another place was an ample guarantee cf his fitness. The Hon J. D. ORMOND seconded the motion. To 3 hon gentleman now proposed for the office had been a mem* ber of the House of Representatives for a considerable l:me, and his experience in that sphere would no doubt fit him for the nosition vacant in the Council. Mr Ormond Avent on to pay a tribute to the late chairman (Captain Baillie) for tne services rendered to the Council by him over a long period of years. ’ The Hon H. SCOTLAND questioned whether the Minister for Education was correct in his assertion about the Hon Captain Baillie. In the speaker’s opinion,- no member in the Council had a clearer head for business than the late Chairman of Committees. His mental powers had suffered Ho diminution, and it was to be hoped that the Council would take this fact into consideration when deciding the motion. The Hon S. E. SHRIMSKI regretted that the Government had not seen fit to re-nominate Captain Bfmlie for the position. Speaking from experience gained in another place, Mr Shrimski said he had always found Mr Smith possess* ed of qualities wmeh fitted him for the position for which he was now nominated. „ The Hon GEORGE JI>NES said he had listened Avith interest to the remarks of the previous speakers. Everyone agree Avith the encomiums which had been passed upon the Hon Cautain Baillie, and to add anvthing to them would be like painting the lily- He would as - sure Mr Speaker that if tne hon gentleman he had referred to were to stand at that late hour no one in the Council would stand against him. In conclusion, Mr Jones moved that the Chairman of Committees be elected by ballot, and that such ballot be taken in the same Avay as provided for the election of Speaker in the Standing Orders of October, 1897, except that the “call of the Council” be not made. The Hon H. SCOTLAND said he had known a number of ballots taken in the Council, but he had never known good to come of any of them. The Hon W. C. WALKER did not favour the amendment, but had no oh* lection to make against it. j Th e Hon R. REEVES objected to be told that any member of the Council who had been in the Council for a few years had not sufficient experience to enable him to guide the discussions in committee. He could not see that a training in the LoAver House was essential for competency. He thought all officers of the Council should be elected by the Council, and therefore he Avould vote for the amendment. A further amendment Avas moA’ed, haA r ing for its object. th e striking out of the final words of the Hon G. Jones’s amendment, in order that there might be made necessary -a special call of the Council for Tuesday next, entailing a fine of £SO on each member Avho failed to obey it. This Avas lost on the voices. The Hon C. C. BOWEN moved a further amendment, that all Avords of the Hon G. Jones’s amendment be struck out, and that in their place be added the name of the Hon Captain Bailli®. The amendment of the Hon G. Jones was then put and carried by twenty votes to ten. ' The SPEAKER: The question now is, that the election be taken by ballot. The Hon J. M. TWOMEY: When? The SPEAKER: Now. On a ballot being taken in accord-

anc© with the forms of the Council for the selection of three members for the vacant position, Messrs Baillie, Rigg and Smith polled the three highest totals — respectively 17, 13 and 13—and on a selection by the Council of two out of these three the'*result was the Hon Cap* tain Baillie 25 vote s , and the Hon J. Rigg 17 votes. The latter gentleman, before the final ballot was taken, requested those who had intended to support him to cast their votes for the Hon Captain Baillie, and explained that he (the speaker) would not have been a candidate for the office had the hon gentleman announced his candidature e a r~ lier. The final ballot was then taken formally, and the Hon the Speaker de dared the Hon Captain Baillie duly elected Chairman of Committees. The various candidates return ?d thanks for the support accorded to them, and the elected member was felicitated upon his return by the Minister for Education, and the Hons G. Jones, J. Rigg, W. C. Smith and H. Scotland. The Council adjourned at 4.15. THURSDAY, JULY 11. Th e Speaker took the chair at 2.30 p m. NEW MEMBER. The Hon Charles Louisson took the oath and his seat. NEW BILLS. The Hon W. C. WALKER introduced the folloAving neAv Bills : —Police Offences Act Amnedment Bill, Young Persons’ Protection Bill, and Chinese Immigrants Act Amendment Bill. These were read a first time, and the second readings made an order of the day for Friday. The, hon gentleman gaA r e notice that oil Friday h© would bring down the Property Laiv AmendmentBill, Co-operative Act Amendment Bill and the Mortgages of Land Bill. The Local Authorities Indemnities Bill passed by the House was introduced by Mr Walker. CHAIRMANSHIP OF COMMITTEES. The Hon R. 11. J. REEVES moved, without comment, that it is desirable that the standing order of the Council be amended so that an annual ballot be taken for the election of Chairman of Committeees of th e Council, and that it he an instruction to the Standing Orders Committee to prepare the necessary new order. The Hon D. PINKERTON briefly seconded the motion. The Hon W. C. WALKER said he thought that a little more might haA r e been said by the mover and seconder of the motion. What happened in the Council on the previous day was the result of bad counsel. It should not be taken for granted that such would be happening each year. He saw no reason for the ballot being introduced at all, except the desire by members to avoid the consequence of an open vote. The Hon W.. D H. BAILLIE said he was personally in favour of open voting. There was a chance under the ballot system of the Council that a third member might be allowed to attain a position through the anxiety of certain members t© keep out one of the two others. There was, however, a lot to b e said on the side of the mover of the motion. The Hon W. C. SMITH moved that th e debate be postponed for a week. There was no urgency in the matter, and it was desirable that absent members should he given time to arrive and to take part in the discussion. Th e Hon T. KELL* suav nothing to be gained by postponing the motion. The matter should bs left to the Standing Orders Committee. The lion R. H. J. REEVES, speaking to the amendment, said the trend of opinion of late years both in England and in the colonies had been in favour of the secret ballot. Many members on an open vote might possibly not A r ot© against a candidate because he happened to be a personal friend. The opinion was expressed by a large number of members that the motion should be postponed in order that absent members might be giA r en a chance to attend. The Hon G. JONES said the ballot movement Avas brought in in order to enabl e members to vote without fear or faA*our for any member of the Council. He could not see that any good purpose could be gained by the motion for adjournment. He saAV no reason Avhy the Government shoxild b e given the right to saj r who should be appointed to the Chairmanship of Committees. The Hon A. L. SMITH briefly favoured the ballot, and deprecated the mo* tion being postponed. On a division being taken the motion for adjournment was carried by 21 to 10. Friday of next AA r eek v\ r as fixed as the date for the debate to be resumed upon. HOSPITAL NURSES REGISTRATION. Th© Council went into committe e to consider the Hospital Nurses Registration Bill. . . . After a desultory discussion, in which it AA r as agreed that a copy of the register of nurses to be kept in accordance with the proposed Act be published in the “Gazette” annually in the month of January, and also that the Minister in charge of the Bill Avould carefully consider the trend of its interpretation clause, th© Bill was reported to the Council with amendment, read a second time, and its third reading made an or-, der of the day ‘for Friday.

The Council adjourned at t e n minutes to 4 p.m. FRIDAY, JULY 12. The Speaker took the chair at 2.3 C p.m. DEFENCE. The Hon W. C. WALKER laid upon th© table a report in reference to the engagement of Colonel Henry as the new Commandant of the Forces for New Zealand. He said that the officer had been specially recommended by Marshal Lord Roberts as being possessed of the special knowledge likely to fit him for the duties required by the New Zealand Government. The hon gentle® man said he trusted the appointment would with the approval of Parliament and of the country. The Hon L. WALKER said that the principal defence of the colony must necessarily be a coastal one. He hardly thought that a cavalry officer Avas the proper person to undertake the duties cf the colony’s defence. The Hon J. D. ORMOND objected to a statement credited to the Premier to th e effect that the Commandant was not under the authority of Parliament. Such a condition of things ought to be altered. No officer should be appointed to control defence matters who was not amenable to the -authority of Parliament. It was altogether contrary to the spirit of responsible government that an officer should be a IaAV unto himself. The Hon GEORGE JONES regretted that a different procedure had not been taken for the selection of the Commandant. We had had a similar reccm® mendation made before —and those recommendations had not been altogether a success, to put it mildly. The Hon W. C. WALKER, in replying, said there was a certain amount cf misconception about the matter of the Commandant’s standing. It was absurd to suppose that an officer appointed by a Minister was not responsible to* that Minister. The Minister stated inter alia that the appointment of the new Commandant was made on the same terms as th© retiring officer —£700 a year for a fixed period of five years, and in conclusion added that if any gentleman wished to challenge the appointment he had a proper course to take. PRIVATE SCHOOLS. Th© Hon W. JENNINGS asked the Minister of Education whether the right of giving certificates, as required by the Education Act, of passing the standards is denied to pupils attending any soholastic institution in the colony, thereby inflicting an injustice cn some pupils by preventing them from obtaining employment in the public service of the colony ? - The questioner said he was applying on behalf of a training college at Auckland conducted by a Mr Malcolm, who at one time occupied a high position under the Education Departnunt. A similar school to Mr Malcolm’s in Auckland had been granted the concession, but although Mr Malcolm had written both to the Education Department and to Mr W. C. Walker personally no answer had been vouchsafed him. The MINISTER of EDUCATION roplied that as regarded pupils of Catholic schools it Avas not fair that they should, b© debarred from entei'ing tlie public service of the colony because they did not attend public schools. He Avas sorry that the hon gentleman had not previously given him to understand that the question had reference to a particular school, so that h e might have made inquiry into the case. He would further the circumstances during th© coming week. Th© questioner said he objected to th© Minister assuming that the question Avas put on behalf of Roman Catholic schools; such Avas not the case. DTT 7* rJJII I I A Bill intituled an Act enabling the trustees for the time being of the will of the late Hon. William Barnard Rhodes, deceased, to sell and grant leases of certain lands situate in the provincial district of Wellington, and subject to the trusts of the said Avill was read a first time, and set down for its second reading on next sitting day. The Hospital Nurses Registration Bill was put through its third reading without material alteration. The Hon W. C. WALKER introduced the Companies Act Amendment Bill, th© Property Law Amendment Bill and the Mortgages of Land Bill. The second readings Avere fixed for Tuesday next. Th© standing ordei*s were suspended so that the Local Authorities Indemnity Bill might be put through its second and final stages at one itting. A lengthy debate (AA’hich introduced such subjects as “ true democracy,” the financial state of Oamaru, the appearance of th e Audoland arches of welcome to the Duke of ConiAvall, the destruction of forest shrubs and trees, Avith other more or less cogent subjects) ensued on the motion for the second reading, but eventually the Bill was passed in its entirety. The Council adjourned at 4 p.m. “In NeAv Zealand at the present time,” said Mr Millar on Friday, “you will find a larger proportion of Britishborn subjects following the sea than in the Australian colonies or at Home. But young men have more sense than to go to sea under the conditions existing at the present time.*’