LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4405, 11 July 1901, Page 7

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 10.

The Speaker took tho chair at 2.30 p.m. New Bills. The Hon W. C. WALKER pave notice that ho would introduce tho Public Offices Act, Young Persons Protection Act, and Ohine.se Immigration Act Amendment Bills. Tho 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 th o Hon W. 0. Smith, be appointed Chairman of Committees. In moving the motion, tho lion gentleman said he trusted that tho Council would agree with him that the gentleman ho had nominated was fully qualified to carry out the duties of tho 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 ho had adcled considerable lustre to the proceedings of the Council. With regard to the gentleman he was now proposing for the position, the mover would say that the Hon W. 0. Smith’s many years services in another placo was an ample guarantee of his fitness. The Hon J. D. ORMOND seconded tho motion. Tea hon gentleman now proposed for the office had been a mem* her of the House of Representatives for a considerable tune, and his experience in that sphere would no doubt fit him for the position vacant in the Council. Mr Ormond went on to pay a tribute to the late chairman (Captain Bailhe) for tho 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 Baillio. 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 no diminution, and it was to bo l hoped that the Council would take this fact into consideration when deciding the motion. The Hon 8. B. SHRIMSKI regretted that tho Government had not seen fit to ro-nottiinate Captain Baillie for th© position. Speaking from experience gained; in another place, Mr Shrimski said he had always found Mr Smith possessed of qualities which fitted him for the position for which he was now nominat°dTho Hon GEORGE JONES said he had listened with interest to the remarks *of tho previous speakers. Everyone must agree with tho encomiums which had been passed upon the Hou Cantaiu Baillio, and to add anything to them would be like painting the lily- He would assure Mr Speaker that if the hon gentleman ho had referred to were to stand at that late hour no one in the Council would stand against him. In conelusion, Mr Jones moved that the OBairman of Committees be elected by ballot, and that such ballot be taken in tho same way as provided for the election of Speaker in the Standing Orders of October, 1897, except that the “call of the Council” bo not made. The Hon H. SCOTLAND said he had known a number of ballots taken in the Council, but ho had never known good to come of any of them. Tho Hon W. ,0. WALKER did not favour tho amendment, but had no objection to make against it. The Hon B- BEEVES 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. Ho could not see that a training in tho Lower House was essential for competency. He thought all officers of the Council should be elected by the Council, and therefore he would vote for the amendment.

A further amendment was moved, haVing for its object the 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 £6O on each member who failed to obey it. This wag lost on the voices. The Hon C. C. BOWEN moved a further amendment, that all words of the Hon G. Jones’s amendment be struck out, and that in their place be added the name of the Hon Captain BaUlie. The amendment of the Hon G. Jones was then pub. aud carried by twenty votes to ten. ’’ The SPEAKER: The question now is, that the election be taken by ballot. The Hon J. M. TWOMBY: WhenP

The SPEAKER: Now. On a« ballot being taken in accordance 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 Captain Baillie 25 voteg, and the Hon J. Rigg 17 votes. The latter gentleman, before the final was taken, requested those who had, intended to supiport 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 earlier. The final ballot was th,en taken formally, and the Hon the Speaker do olared the Hon Captain Baillie duly elected Chairman of Committees. The various candidates returned thanks fbr the support accorded to them, and the elected member was felicitated upon his return hv the Minister for Education, and the Hons G. Jones, J. Rigg, W. C. Smith and H. Scotland. The Council adjourned at 4.15.