LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXVI, Issue 10477, 12 October 1912, Page 7

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

Per Press Association. , Wellington, Otcober 11. The Council met in the afternoon. The Public Service Bill was further considered in committee. Clause 10 ■was altered on the motion of the Hon. Bell, to provide that the Governor in Council, and not the Governor, should act in connection with the removal of the Commissioner. On the~postponed Clause 7, providing that the term of the appointment of Commissioners should be seven years, the Hon. Paul moved to substitute five for seven, on the ground that the system was quite an experiment, and if it proved a failure, seven years would be far too long. The Hon. Bell objected, holding that as the salary offered was only £I3OO, it would be far more difficult to obtain a good man at that salary for live years than tor seven. On a division, the word seven was retained by the casting vote of the Speaker, who supported its retention on the ground that the House had passed it without discussion or division.

Claus© 15 was amended to provide that the Commissioner shall report to the Government once a year within sixty days after March 31st, and that such report should go before Parliament within 31 days of the commencement of the session. Progress was reported, and Council adjourned. The Council resumed at 8 o’clock. The Pharmacy, Local Bodies, Superannuation, Justices of the Peace, and Wanganui River Trust Amendment Bills were put through the final stages. The Hon. Bell moved t!m second reading of the Auckland University College Amendment Bill. The second reading was agreed to. The Public Trust Office Amendment Bill was read a second time. The T. G. McCarthy Trust Bill was passed unamended. The Widows’ Pension Amendment Bill was considered in Committee, Clause 2 was amended to provide that certificates of two medical practitioners, instead of one, should be necessary regarding the incurable condition of a husband detained in a mental hospital as a preliminary to enable the wife to qualify for benefits under the Bill.

The Council adjourned at 10.55 till Tuesday.