PARLIAMENTARY.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXI, Issue 8834, 14 July 1905, Page 4

PARLIAMENTARY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. The Council met at 2.30 "p.in. yesterday. The Address-in-Reply. The Address-in-Reply debate was resumed by the Hon. Mr Holmes, who eulogised the proposals in reference" to oldage pensions, but-thought pensions should Le given to women at the age of 60. He thought the Government might have exercised a little more energy in the direction of completing the West and East Coast railway. The Hon. A. Pitt dealt at some length with the Hen. Mr Ormond's criticism of the setting up of the Land Commission, maintaining that the land for settlements policy was a success from first to last. The setting up of the Land Commission was not an infringement of the rights of Parliament, as Parliament was absolute. Mr Ormond had prophesied that the report of the Commission could only be in favor of the freehold, but it was a safer thing never to prophesy until One knew. The allegation that land values were fictitious was a reflection upon officers of the department and the Assessment Court. The hoa. member had condemned the Xative land policy of the Government, but he would like to ask the hon. member what previous Governments had done in the matter. As a matter of fact the present Government had done much to better the position, despite the almost insuperable difficulties. As to the question of education, he stated that a very great deal had been done during the last five years for education in the colony, and he quoted figures to show the increased vote for the department. The Government had also improved the position of teachers, but there was, he submitted, room for further improvement. Referring to the Hon. Mr Rigg's complaint that there was no mention in the Speech of the Colonial Conference and the Imperial Council, he said the conference was going to be held. There were not wanting those who even now held that Mr Reeves was merely holding the High Commissionership for someone else, but he would draw attention to the fact that Mr Reeves had been appointed for three years. He denied that capital was leaving the colony, and declared that our credit stood very high on the London money market, and the position of the colony generally was such as should be gratifying to everybody in the country. The Hon. M. Wigram having replied, the Address-in-Reply was adopted, and the Council rose at 4.20.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House met at 2.30 p.m. The Duty on Flour. Mr Hogg gave notice to introduce the Flour Duty Abolition Bill. The Land Commission. Mr Massey gave notice to move for a return showing in detail the cost of the Land Commission. Leave of Absence. Sir William Russell was granted 14 days' leave of absence on account of ill-health. Fire Brigades Bill. The Fire Brigades Bill was brought down by Governor's Message, and read a first time. Harbor Board Empowering Bill. The Otago Harbor Board Empowering Act, 1903, Amendment Bill (Mr Millar) was Tead a second time on the voices. The Bill provides for the payment by the BoaTd towards the increase of the Dock Trust Sinking Fund. Habitual Criminals Bill. Mr Sidey moved the second reading of the Habitual Criminals Bill. It provides that when a person is convicted of sexual offences, poisoning, wounding, abortion, robbery, extortion, burglaTy, and housebreaking, theft, false pretences, fraud, ar- ' son, forgery, and coinage, the Judge may also declare him to be an habitual criminal if he has twice previously been convicted of the offences with which, he is charged; and in such a case the habitual criminal will, at the expiration of the sentence, be detained during his Majesty's pleasure. Every person so detained shall be required to work at some particular vocation while in gaol, receiving not less than, half the net proceeds of his labor. If the Governor determine that an habitual criminal is sufficiently reformed, or that for other good excuse it is expedient, he may direct his release; but, if during his freedom he misbehaves himself, he is liable to a fine up to £2O, or to imprisonment up to three months, besides being liable to be recommitted as an habitual criminal. If he behaves himself for two years he ceases to be an habitual criminal. Speaking to the Bill, Mr Sidey quoted figures to show that there had been no diminution of crime in our midst; some other method was necessary. The treatment of criminals should be punitive, deterrent, and reformatory. So far, he contended, nothing had been done in the direction of reform, and better methods would have to be discovered. He went on to speak in favor of indeterminate sentences for habitual criminals, with whom the Bill proposes to deal. Mr M'Gowan thought the bill would be worse than the present system. He would not like to see the Elmira system of prison reformatory introduced into New Zealand, because he considered that it was not a success. He had seen no system which was an improvement on the system in New Zealand. In connection with tree-planting bv prisoners, they needed to guard against treating criminals better than they treated the hard working individual in the open market, and in addition he thought that greater care should be taken in regard to criminals between the ages of 15 and 21. He did not think it would be a wise thing to give to any judge the power proposed by this bill. He did not agree with prisoners being allowed to come into competition with free labor. That was one of the reasons that actuated the Government in putting prisoners on the work of reafforestation —a work in which they did not come into competition with free labor. Further, the bill, if passed, would result | in a great many applications being made > to the Minister of Justice for the release of prisoners indeterminately sentenced. His idea was, if the colony could stand the expense, to put prisoners on farms on which they would earn the cost of their i keep. Mr Hanan having spoken in support of the bill, the second reading was agreed to on the voices, and the bill referred to the Joint Statutes Revision Committee. I Waitaki"s Little Bill. Sir W. J. Steward moved the second . reading of the Marriage Restriction ReI moval Bill, which proposes to allow mar'jriage with a deceased wife's niece and a deceased husband's nephew. , Agreed to on the voices without debate. ; The House rose at 5.30 p.m. j Evening Sitting. . The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. ! Statutes Compilation Act. i The Statutes Compilation Act Amend- ! ment Bill (Sir W. J. Steward) was read a ! second time pro forma, and referred to the ; Statutes Revision Committee. | Rating on the Unimproved Value. Mr Ell moved the second reading of the j Rating on Unimproved Value Act Amendj ment Bill, which provides that where ratj ing on the unimproved value is in force all rates shall be brought under the system ; by special order of the local authority. i Mr Massey regarded this as a policy | question, and he expected that Ministers ; would have given the House a lead on the I subject. He thought the principle of the I amendment wont too far. The proposal | contained in the Bill was a step further in ■ the direction of the single tax, and of j placing the whole taxation on the unimi proved value of the land, and for that ; reason he opposed it. : The TTon. Mr Mills saw no reason why i local bodies should not have the power to | determine the system of rating within their control. ! Mr Fowlds pointed out that the coming iinto operation of the Act could be post- ! poned for an agreed period. Sir Joseph Ward said if the Bill was amended so as to give ratepayers the option of voting whether the unimproved values system should be applied to the striking of rates it would be much improved, and he would have much pleasure in supporting it. Every of taxation was difficult of adjustment, but if the House was prepared to trust the ratepavers in the matter past experience showed that they would not go far wrong. The debate was carried until the supper adjournment, and on resuming at 10 p.m. the House was "counted out."