THE WEEK IN PARLIAMENT.

Otago Witness, Issue 3886, 4 September 1928, Page 24

THE WEEK IN PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. ■WELLINGTON, August 29. The Council met at 2.30 p.m. CHRISTS COLLEGE BILL. The Christs College (Canterbury) Bill yvas read a second time without discussion. FIRST READINGS. The Surveyors Registration Bill and |he Property Law Amendment Bill were received from the House and read a first |ime. LAW PRACTITIONERS BILL. In moving the second reading of the Law Practitioners’ Amendment Bill, Mr j. MacGregor said it had been promoted by the Law Society. - The proposal contained in the Bill had been under discussion by the society for many years, and it had now been generally approved by the society. It had the approval also di. Sir Francis Bell, to whom it had been submitted. Sir Francis Bell commended the Bill, remarking that the honour of the legal profession had been besmirched by dishonesty on the part of some of its members in regard to the administration of trust accounts, and the society wished to indemnify the publie against such acts of dishonesty. He asked the Council to enable the society to protect its honour. Mr W. H. MTntyrc described the measure as a most astounding one in certain respects. A levy was to be imposed on all lawyers to guard against the dishonesty of very few. An amendment was necessary, compelling solicitors to enter into a fidelity bond so as to .assure the public of protection. Mr G. J. Garland and Mr G. Witty supported the measure, which was read a second time. The Council adjourned at 3.10 p.m. WELLINGTON, August 30. The Council met at 2.30 p.m. MAGISTRATES’ COURTS BILL. The Magistrates’ Courts Bill was reported from the Statutes Revision Committee with minor amendments. NOXIOUS WEEDS BILL. The Noxious Weeds Bill was reported from the Agricultural and Stock Committee with a trivial amendment, and put through its final stages and passed. RABBIT NUISANCE BILL. The same committee reported the Rabbit Nuisance Bill without amendments, ani. the measure was passed. PROPERTY LAW AMENDMENT BILL. The Property Law Amendment Bill was read a second time, and referred to the Statutes Revision Committee. FINAL STAGES. The Surveyors Registration Bill, the Surveyors Institute Amendment Bill, and the Law Practitioners Amendment Bill were put through their final stages and passed unamended. A THAMES MEASURE. The Thames Borough Loans Rate Adjustment Bill was read a second time. The Council adjourned at 3.32 p.m. WELLINGTON, August 31. The, Council met at 2.30 p.m. IM PREST SUPPLY BILL. The Imprest Supply Bill (No. 3) was received from the House and put through all stages and passed. CHURCH OF ENGLAND EMPOWERING BILL. Tn moving that the Council approve of the report of the Special Committee in regard to the Church of England Empowering Bill, Sir Janus Allen said that those who had petitioned against the Bill had been heard, and heir objections had been met bj a slight alteration by which unanimity had been achieved. The peti-' tioners had discovered that they were under a slight misapprehension in regard to the proposals. Mr Barr said that some people had feared that something might be imposed upon them under the present Bill by the mother Church. j. He oointed out, how ever, that the Bill adequately mair*-ained the independence of the Church of the Province of New Zealand, for no alteration could be made in the formularies unless it had not only been approved in general synod, but had also been passed by a two-thirds majority each of bishops, <elergy, and laymen. r "ha + in itself was a sufficient check. Moreover, *f five persons in the whole of the Dominion objected to an alteration in the formularies they could be heard by a special appeal court, and if r. made good their petition an alteration coulf be made Thus, the proposed legislation, far from being of detriment to the Church, as had been feared, gave greater protection than •was at present possessed so far as fundamentals were concerned. The Bill was put through its final stages and passed. The Council adjourned at 4.20 p.m. >ntil Tuesday next.