LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 6996, 9 December 1909, Page 8

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

Tho Speaker took his seat at 2.30 p.m. REFORMATORY INSTITUTIONS. Tlio Statutes Revisions Committee rc-oom in ended that tho Reformatory Institutions Bill be allowed to proceed wit.li certain amendments. Tho Attorney-General said tho amend. merits ivoi-o entirely non-contentions. It, was .exceedingly desirous that tho Jiiensiiro should pass this session, thero-fc-ro he would ask for a suspension of the standing orders to 'enable tho measure to bo put through all its stages in one .sitting so that it could go on to tho Lower House. This ooutso was agreed to, the amend, monts made were accepted and the Bill was committed. An amendment was made to section 9, sub-clause 2, providing that on the complaint on oath of a relative of any person that such person is an habitual inebriate, a Magistrate may, if by reason of special circumstances ho thinks fit, on such complaint, instead of issuing a summons, or after the issue thereof, issuo his warrant for tho arrest of tho alleged inebriate. On hearing tho complaint such person may bo ordered to bo detained in any certified Inebriates' Homo for any period not less than six months or more than two years. . Tho definition of "relative" was extended, to includo grand father, grandmother, grandson, and granddaughter. Sub-clauso 8 was added to providing that no CoiiTt fees should be payable in respect of any proceedings under section 9. A new sub-clauso was added providing that any complaint under tho section (ordering 'detention in inebriates' homes on application of relative) may bo heard and determined by tho Magistrate in private. Consequential and minor amendments were made, the Bill being reported as amended and read a third time. . OTHER BILLS. The New Plymouth' Recreation and Racecourse Reserves Exchange Bill and the Timaru -Borough Loans Consolidation Bill were put through their committeo stages, and read a third time. T/ho'New Zealand .Society of Accountants Amendment Bill and the Magistrates'. Courts Amendment Bill were read, a third time. SHIPPING- AND SEAMEN BILL. In moving the second reading of the Shipping and Seamen Act Amendment Bill tie Attorney-General said the measure contained a number of separate clauses touching many principles and did not require very elaborate explanation on tho second reading. The object of tho Bill was to give effect to certain resolutions passed at the Maratime Conference held in timo ago, and at which the Prime Minister represented the Dominion.; and to embody in Now Zealand law certain provisions of tho Imperial Merchant Shipping Act of 1906 which it seemed desirable should bo the law of the country owing to the changing circumstances there and to the experience they had had of the- existing S'lunping and 'Seamen Statutes. The Bill was an important one. Tho ,Kon. J. T, Paul generally approved of tho provisions of tho BiUbtrt outlined.minor directions m which he considered it was defective. The Hon. J. B. Jenkinson spoke on (similar lines. < , , The second reading was agreed to. The Council adjourned] at 5 p.m. until to-day.