parliament.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVI, Issue 66, 23 July 1913, Page 2

parliament.

TUESDAY, JULY 22

THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

Wellington, July 22

The Council met at 2.30 p.m

The second reading of the McDougall’s Trust Estate Bill, a private Bill to enable the surviving children to participate in the will was carried oh the voices.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL REFORM

THE GOVERNMENT’S PROPOSAL

Hon. H. D. Bell moved the second reading of the Legislative Council Bill. He explained the points of difference between the union’s measure and this, and pointed out that the first Constitution proposed for New Zealand provided for an elective Council. The division of the Islands into two electorates was no departure from the principle of the Bill of last year, but bo would move in Committee to put the Taumarunui electorate in the southern half of the North Island and Napier in the northern half. The Government was determined that the Bill should pass, if not this year then next year. He assured the Council that they would meet all reasonable objections in Committee stage. Whatever opinions Councillors held, ho invited them to formulate and express them, but, above all, to come to a decision on the measure.

' The debate was adjourned, on the motion of the Hon. J. R. Sinclair, and the Council rose at 4.35 p.m.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

The Hous« met at 2.30 p.m

PENSIONS AMENDMENT,

A Pensions Amendment Bill was introduced by Governor's Message. The Bill provides for a pension for women at 60 roars of £2l; at 61, £22; 62, £23; 63, £2 i ; 64, £25; and 65, £2O. A £3O pension is provided to war medallists, irrespective of the property owned. If a man has been a bona lido resident of the country for 10 years he is entitled to apply for a pension, provided he has been resident in the country for twelve months prior to the / application. Another; improvement is that miners’ relief fund amounts are not-calculated as income. 'AiMißdfc W> Russell and Mr G. Witty contended that:, the Govm/imept glared; r aflLjaajtft.tEie pepsipn. ptiiversal. If it: did the whole thing would break down, owing to the jemfmtyns costThe Bill wasYeajtl,a second time. ~ The Pensions Reciprocity Bill, ratiAllude 1 * betd-eOii' the Hon. F. and the Premier of the Commonwealth, regarding old ago pensions, was read a second time. THE POLICE FORCE.

Mr Herd man moved the second reading of tlieiPolico Force Bill, providing for appointments to the force, the powers of the Commissioner, enquiries as to breaches of duty, an# a Board of Appeal, consisting of A magistrate nomitlfVtfxl by Minister, an officer senior or equal in rank to the appellant, and some other person not in the force.

Mr Herdman, replying to speeches, said that there were no officers in the force over 65. He did not see his way to ipcrea.se the pay of the police. The rawest recruit was drawing equal to 9s 6d per day.

The Bill was read a second time

POLICE OFFENCES ACT,

Mr Herdman moved the second reading of the Police Offences Act, providing in certain cases for arrest without warrant.

The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. Mr G. Witty continued the debate on the Police Offences Amendment Bill. He contended that the measure was an effort of a weak Government or a weak Minister. Instead of creating peace, the Minister would create a riot if the Bill came into force. Surely no Minister should give to the police the powers proposed. A man could bo arrested anywhere at the sweet will of a policeman. He may as well go to tiie extent they did in the Cook Islands and compel everybody to carry a light after dark.

Mr T. M. Wilford agreed with the principles of the Bill, and thought that moat offences were provided for. lie did regret that the limit of three months’ imprisonment was contained in the Bill, because it prevented anyone charged with any of tho offences in the Bill from being tried before a jury or his fellow-beings. Dealing with the powers conferred upon the policy he' submitted that it took oyer three civilians to outswoar a policeman in the Court.

Mr J. Payne said that the Bill was the most iniquitous measure ever introduced in a civilised community. He labelled two clauses of the Bill as “Waihi clauses.” An attempt was being made to take from the workers the only little bit of liberty that remained to them. Mr R. McKenzie said l;ia J more coni -. be done by law of reason than by the provisions of the Bill. He wondered whether the Bill aimed at gagging the people and preventing freedom of speech.

Tho Hon. A. L. Herdman, replying, acid that misconceptions evidently existed regarding the Bill, which was designed to allow tho people to go about their business peacefully. He contended that the language of the Bill was plain. He traversed Mr Russell’s statement that the Bill aimed . t the suppression of public meetings in or out of Christchurch. The clause referred to was already in the Police Offences Act. If there was any difference between the present and proposed law it was slight only.

It secmod to him that the object of the Opposition wa» to prevent increased protection of tho people in the ordinary way. That was the only reasonable inference to draw. The only inference to draw from Mr Robertson's speech was that ho desired disorder and anarchy. What had taken place at Waihi had rendered it necessary to incorporate in tho Bill provisions which would render a repetition impossible. The Government was obliged 1 to* protect 'people who desired to go about their business in a reasonable way. He was confident that if the Bill was placed upon the Statute Book, instead of causing riots, as suggested, men could go about without fear, and the police could do their duty more satisfactorily.

A division was called for on the motion for the second reading, and resulted: Ayes 37, Noes 22. Mr Herdman asked leave to refer the Bill to tho Statutes Revision Committee.

The House wont into committee on the Amendments’ Incorporation Bill, which passed through unamended.

The Bill was then read a third time' and passed, and the House adjourned at 10.40 pan.