LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 8261, 25 October 1912, Page 7

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

DEFENCE AMENDMENT BILL

The Council met at 2.30 p.m. MOKAU COMMITTEE.

An extension of seven days in which to report was granted the Select Committee dealing with, the petition of Joshua Jones.

REGISTRATION AMENDMENTS. The Births and Deaths Registration Bill was received back from the House of Representatives with amendments made. These were agreed to on the motion of the leader of the Council, seconded by the Hon. 0. Samuel.

MATTERS IN COMMITTEE. The Defence Amendment Bill was committed. On clause 11, which provided that fines under the principal Act might be recovered by the attachment of wages, the Hon. J. Rigg said he thought sufficient of the wages should be protected to ensure the necessary sustenance to the individual.

The Minister (the Hon. H. D. Bell) said that not many of the men wore likely to be married, and the magistrate would have regard to the circumstances and not make the amount oppressive. The Hon. J. Anstey said these fines wore creating irritation and objection to the Act. It would be far better to make the terms of compliance easier than bo searching for methods of punishment. Some of the orders issued to the country settlers were neither considerate nor wise. Recently, also, an officer had haled a man before the court for displaying a newspaper cutting in his window without an imprint. Such a man should bo cashiered and no longer retained in the service. AMENDMENT MOOTED. On subclause 13 of this clause the Hon. Sir Rigg moved to strike out the word “no” and add tho words quoted to make the clause read: Section 27 of the Wages Protection and Contractors’ Liens Act, 1908, shall have application to any attachment under this section “ Where the amount of wages exceeds £1 per week and not otherwise; and tho said section is hereby modified accordingly.’' The Hon. H. D. 801 l hoped the Council would not agree. The effect of this proposal was that a boy who was receiving £1 per week or lees would be exempt from having to pay a fine which he had incurred. Why should he? A boy in receipt of .31 a week was In all probability just tho kind of boy who ought to bo fined, and whose fine would not hurt anybody else. On a higher scale of wages greater obligations would devolveTho, amendment was lost on the voices. MILITARY LAW. Clause 16 dealing with the application of military law in time of peace came in for some criticism. The Hon. J. Rigg said that if they had tho opportunity of reconsidering the establishment of courts-martial he would vote against them. Tho people should not be placed under ( the ironclad army system of Britain. Tho Hon. 6. J. Smith held that those courts were only boards of inquiry.

The Hon. J. Anstey dwelt on the difficulties of duplicating courts. It was wrong that in time of peace martial law should prevail. The Bon, H. D. Bell.replied that this clause only made the" thing workable, and did not abrogate powers. The Minister, in reply to Mr Anstey, undertook to have tho Army Act summarised and published.

THE CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTOR,

In subsection 2 of clause C 4 providing for exemption from military service on tho ground of religious belief, the words " contrary to the doctrines of his religion,” were altered to “Contrary to his religious belief ” on the motion of the leader of tho Council.

Tho Hon. J. T. Paul expressed his pleasure at the greater room allowed by this clause to the conscientious objector. He cited a case in Christchurch which placed a young' man in bad company after conviction, and said that the Act had been carried out in such a way ns bo disgust many people in sympathy with the Act. He was afraid that unless these things Were emphasised in public tho military authorities would get worse in their administration of the Act. The military authorities should bo condemned for some of the things that had been allowed.

Tlio Bill was reported with amendments. The third reading was set down for to-day. widows’ Tensions.

The Widows’ Pensions Amendment Bill Was committed and reported With technical amendments. It will be read a third time to-day. • The Council adjourned at 5.15 till to. day.