PARLIAMENT.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 19, 7 September 1911, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

LEGiSLATiVE COUNCIL. (Per Press Association.> Wellington, September (j. The Legislative Council met at 2.30. Sir .John Findlay, Attorney-General, ollicialiy announced the retirement ot the Hon. CL Fowlds, and the acceptance of that Minister’s resignation oy the Governor. He expressed regret at the severance of oiticial relations with the hon. gentleman .with whom lie had been associated for sonic years. The Wanganui School Sites Amendment Bill was read a second tune. Sir John Findlay moved the second reading of the Mental Detectives Bill at considerable length. 'The Hon. J. Rigg took exception to the provision of tne Bill referring to the licensing of institutions. He contended that mental defectives should ho directly under the care of the State. It was undesirable to send mentally deficient persons to a. private institution conducted "for. profit. The benefits derivable from puolic hospitals were superior to those of private institutions. Under the Bill large private institutions would spring up all over the State, and lie asked whether it was intended to lix the burden on the community rather than on the State’, if so, ho was sorry for it. Many of the mental defectives wore well'able to do work of various kinds, and tins work would add to the profits of private institutions. The debate was adjourned, and the Council rose. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House of Representatives met at 2.30 p.m. THOSE*THREE MILLION PEOPLE. Sir J. G. Ward stated lie bad cabled t!io High Commissioner in connection with an article published yesterday relative to three million people being required in the Dominion, and asking him to look up the Westminster “Gazette” of July 22, which was said to contain a statement issued by him. He had to-day received the following reply:— “Re Westminster ‘Gazette,’ July 22. Had not seen this until receipt of your telegram of September 5. The statement was not made by me, and was an extract from the ‘Otago Witness’ of May 10, issued by outadvertising agent, who selects paragraphs from the Now Zealand papers for circulation, after first submitting thorn for approval. This was not clone in the present case.— Hall-Jones.” The Prime Minister drew attention to the fact that the exact words published in Wellington were to lie found in the “Otago Witness” of May 10, page 15, which he proceeded to read to the House. The “Otago Witness,” lie added, was a well-known Opposition journal, it only showed, he said, what amount of damage was done, or attempted, by such criticism and wild misrepresentations and misleading statements appearing in a section of the Opposition press. Mr. Massey pointed out that the Westminster “Gazette” published the article as an extract from a long article issued by the High Commisfiirnipr

Sir Joseph Ward said it was impossible to suppose the High Commissioner eon Id have done anything so silly. The advertising agents of the Dominion in London wore outside the High Commissioner’s office, and it was perfectly clear that the High Commissioner had nothing to do with the publication of the article in question. In answer to Mr. Herdman, Sir Joseph Ward said lie presumed the advertising agents were paid a percentage on advertisements that they got published. ' Mr. Allen said that if the advertising agents were to be paid to cut out paragraphs and publish them they should get them approved before publication. Sir Joseph Ward said the paragraphs wore in the form of letterpress, and were not paid for. ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS. Replying to questions, Ministers said there was no regulation making it compulsory for Territorials to wear their hair any particular length. Allegations that those in the Territorial ranks have little or no opponuvity of ever obtaining commissioned rank was quite unfounded. Under the universal scheme, in which everybody has to servo, appointments will of necessity all he made from the ranks. There was no authority to enforce the vaccination of Territorials training under the defence scheme. The only exemptions from training are to be those for physical unfitness. The grievances cf the Tontine policy holders in the Colonial Mutual Insurance Society were under consideration. A Bill is being prepared for introduction this session to make it clear that teachers have a right of appeal in cases where they aim transferred against their will. The Public Works Amendment Bill will bo introduced this session. Provision will be submitted to the House therein, rendering it illegal for local bodies to erect toll gates in future, except with the approval of tiio Governor-iu'-Coun-cil. The remainder of the sitting was devoted to discussion of answers to questions, and the House adjourned at 5.30. EVENING SITTING. The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. Sir W. Steward moved the second reading of the Marriage Act Amendment Bill, validating a marriage with a deceased wife’s niece or deceased husband’s nephew. The mover held that if only one person_ in the Dominion was suffering a disability, the whole power of Parliament should be moved on behalf of that person. Oho second reading was defeated by 32 to 30. Sir W. Steward moved the Kvend reading of the Elective Executive Bdi. He deprecated the tendency growing up in favour of a one-man Government, and failed to see why the House, instead of leaving the appointment of the Executive “to one mmm, should not elect it by ballot. The Executive should be composed of i n-;h sides of the House.

Sir Joseph Ward said f aHer continued advocacy of twenty years the system has not won support it was plain that members did not see eye to eye with the mover. He w is convinced it would not ■ • a good thing for this country to elinumte j aity. Mr. Fisher said the Premier's ideas were bas’d on a wrong assumption. Mr. FowMs lad left ibo Ministry because the ;i:i:tv system had. tom Ids heart strings. The Hill wool I he an improvement/ on existing affairs. Mr. T. V. Duncan said that ' nler the prmvised conditions the position of the Government would bo intolerable. Mr. Finnan considered that Parliament should dictate the policy of the emmtr>’., and not the men on the Government benches. 'I fie people were thoroughly dissatisfied with the piesont system. Mr. Stallworthy opposed the principles of tlm Bill. Mr. Wngot snnnoi t.v.l, and Mr. Allen onpnst’d the Bill. AVolliugtou, September 7. Aft'o- 12 o’clock last night Sir William Steward, in reply, appealed to

the House* to give the system a trial, tie would be willing to put a clause in Committee which wool l enable the Bill to come into operation, if approved by tiie people, at the, next election. The motion for the second reading was negatived liy 38 to 2(5. Air. fisher moved the second reading of tiie Sunday Labour Bill. the House lose at 12.3-3 a.in.