HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 33, 23 September 1911, Page 5

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

The House met at 2.30 p.m. Sir Joseph War 1 informed the-House that the report of the Electoral Boundaries Commission would not bo available! before Monday, and that the report of the Imperial Conference would bo ready on Thursday evening next. REFORMING THE UPPER HOUSE. The House went into committee on tho Estimates. Mr Massey’s amendment to reduce the vote of £1350 for Legislative Council salaries by £5, as an indication that tho Council should be made elective, was further considered. Speaking to tho amendment Mr Massey said that ho was strongly of opinion that tho elections should be on tho proportional representation system.

Mr Fowlds was certain that the time was coming when the present system would have to he altered. When the matter came to ho settled it would 1)0 found that the Upper House could not he elected on the.same franchise as a general assembly. He thought a portion of the Council should bo nominative, to allow men who had done good service for the country to have a place there. Mr Jennings believed the nominative system had done good work. Mr Fisher said that if men were appointed to the Upper House for public services or for knowledge of public affairs there should not bo so much •-gainst the system, but immigrants ind people who had never uttered a '.ingle sentiment hi then lives had been appointed.

Mr Homes said members in the Council now represented tho Premier, because he appointed them. The same position would apply to any Premier. Mr McLaren held that Mr Massey’s amendment was designed to catch the unwary. After further discussion the amendment was negative! on a division by 37 to 22. Mr Fisher then moved to reduce the amount by £4, as an indication that the Upper House should be abolished. . Tho amendment was negatived bv 14 to 13. Mr J. C. Thomson moved to reduce the item by £3, as an indication that tho Legislative Council should ho elect'd by tho House of Representatives. EVENING SITTING. On resumption of the House in the evening, Sir Joseph "Warl speaking to Mr Thomson’s amendment, said the proposed system would not suit the country, and it was idle to move for an alteration of tho constitution on in item in the estimates. He was prepared at the proper time to submit i well matured and workable scheme. Ho would oppose the amendment. Mr, Massey said if they could not ■amend the Upper House, in which the majority of the people had lost confidence as at present constituted, he would vote for the 'abolition. His idea was that the Council should be more independent than the House. On that ground ho would make the term six years, half the members retiring every throe years.

Sir Joseph Ward, in further reply, pointed out, that different sections of the public should have a voice in the Upper House, and that they had now. He was opposed to the election of the Council on similar franchise as the House, and he was deadly opposed to restricted franchise. He was not prepared to commit himself to “a regular botch.” The matter should go to the country. <i> Mr Fraser said ho woidd bo stultifying himself if ho voted for the amendment. Mr Thomson’s amendment was negatived by 39 to 8. After further discussion, the item Legislative Council salaries was passed, and also the whole class for the Legislative Department £27,587. NATIONAL PROVIDENT SYSTEM. On the vote for a National Provident Fund Department, Sir Joseph Ward, replying to criticisms and suggestions, said that the fund could not lie run by the insurance department. Canvassing had not been contemplated nor would it be satisfactory. The Department was advertising the scheme thoroughly, and the system would permeate the country and be availed by wage-earners in course of time. K E E PIN G MFA IB EIIS STR ATG HT. Mr Massey asked the Premier if he would brihg in the promised legislation, following on the Hine Commission, making it impossible for members of Parliament to accept commiss on for transactions the Government was concerned in, or in selling land to the Government. Sit Joseph Ward said that it was net the nicest possible thing to legislate so as to Keep members straight. The desired object, coidd bo attained b • ar. alteration of the Standing Orel >i s. Wellington, September 23. After midnight Class IT, Department of Finance, £-15,58-1, was passed. In Class HI., item £900,070 for

rural telephones in the Postal and Telegraph Department, Mr Massey asked for greater consideration and assistance to settlers. Sir Joseph Ward said in the new system ho proposed to introduce tho c harges for one subscriber to .exchanges not open continuously would not be altered; for two subscribers, up to one mile, the charge would be £3 10s; tor three, four, live, and six subscribers on one line, up to three miles, the charge would be reduced to £3. Business connections would lie £1 extra. From three to live miles tho charge was £6 each, plus £7 3s for capital charge for tho first year. This would bo reduced to £4 8s without any charge on capital cost. For .the first year ten miles would lie £8 8s plus £8 10s, against £l4 4s heretofore. The system will allow settlers to got the telephone at a cheap rate. Assistance will bo given to provide lines. He intended going further into the whole question. The vote was passed and the House rcse at 1.50.