PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 October 1921, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. THE JURY SYSTEM. MAJORITY VERDICT PROPOSAL. By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington. Last Night. The Legislative Council met at 2.30 p.m. The Treaties of Peace Amendment Bill was put through all stages. The Bill merely continues the existing law, which was due to expire on Friday. The Law of Libel (further amendment) Bill was reported with amendments by the Statutes Revision Committee.

The Rabbit Nuisance Amendment Bill was received from the House and read a first time.

The Hon. J. MacGregor (Dunedn) moved the second reading of the Juries Act Amendment Bill, which provides for taking a five-sixths majority in verdicts in all but capital criminal offences. He read the opinions of Sir John Salmond and Mr. Justice Adams in favor of the proposal, and he said four out of five judges approached previously were in favor.

The Hon. O. Samuel, K.C. (New Plymouth) opposed the Bill on the grounds that it had not been shown that there existed an evil needing such a Bill. He quoted Mr. MacGregor, now SolicitorGeneral, and Mr. Hanlon, of Dunedin, as opponents of the Bill. Other opinions used to support his contentions were those of Justice Cooper, Justice Stevens and Mr. Forsyth, author of Trial by Jury. He moved that the Bill be read a second time this day six months. Sir Francis Bell (Leader of the Council) said weight should be given to the opinion of Judges. He was of opinion, as Attorney-General, that a change to the extent of the Bill was a change which would lead to more regular and more consistent administration of criminal justice in this country.

The amendment was lost on the voices and the Bill was read a second time. The Council adjourned at 4.53 p.m.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES DEFENCE OF THE EMPIRE. COST NOT YET ALLOCATED. The House of Representatives met at 2.30 p.m. Replying to Mr. G. Mitchell (Wellington South), Mr. Massey said no definite action was taken at the recent Imperial Conference regarding military defence. Naval defence was gone into fully and he had explained the position when he spoke in the House on Imperial affairs some time ago. The basis of the cost of naval defence was not decided, there being some difference of opinion upon the point. It had been suggested that the basis should be per capita, but there were some portions of the Empire which thought they were not so keenly interested in naval defence as other parts. The allocation of _ the cost would be settled at the next conference, but the Parliaments of the Dominions would be consulted before it was put into operation, and he only desired to repeat what he had already said, that he was confident New Zealand would do her share. Military defence was left as it is at present, each country determining the reform of its own system.

REPLIES TO QUESTIONS. FOREIGN COAL CONTRACTS. Replying to Mr. H. E. Holland (Leader of the Labor Party), Mr. Massey reiterated the intention of the Government to return to the use of local coal as soon as the foreign contracts were completed. He did not wish to say who was to blame for compelling the Government to go outside the country for coal, but the position was that lie. as Minister of Railways, came to a point where he had decided whether he would go outside for coal or stop the railways. No one would be more pleased than he to revert io local coal. There was no comparison between the position of wheat and coal and the Government could not agree to take over all coal produced as they had agreed to take over wheat.

The Hon. W. Nosworthy said considerable misunderstanding had arisen as to what the Government proposed to do in the matter of taking over wheat grown in the Dominion. He desired to make it dear that the Government was not handling the whole of the wheat produced; the millers were to take sufficient to supply the requirements of the Dominion, and it was only the surplus that the Government would take over and dispose of as circumstances may dictate. WOOL SCOURING. The House then discussed, replies given by Ministers to questions, the following being amongst the replies given: That considerable interest had been taken by the Government in the wool scouring industry. During the four years of the Imperial Government purchase the Government arranged, in addition to wool scoured on stations before appraisement, 417.770 bales should be set aside for scouring in the Dominion, equal to 20 per cent of the wool purchased. The saving in shipping' space effected by the scouring of this wool amounted, to 55,493,338 lb net weight, and the amount paid to wool scourers for the treatment of wool was .£747,400. During the same period the I central wool committee, which was in charge of the arrangements for the pur-

chase of Australian wool for the Imperial Government, set aside 12 per cent, of the wool purchased in Australia for scouring in the Commonwealth to eracourage the saving of wool fat for the preparation of lanoline and similar products. The New Zealand Government arranged that the residuals after scouring should become the property of the wool scourers, and at most up-to-date works full advantage was taken of this arrangement, and the residuals saved for later purification. That the suggestion that land values should be adjusted at frequent intervals by an automatic process, without an actual inspection of firoperties, ift. ac-

cordance with the fluctuations in the current prices of stock and products, is quite impracticable. The inspection and revaluations of properties are necessary in order that anomalies may be corrected and the relative uniformity of unimproved values maintained. It is particularly necessary that the relative uniformity of unimproved values should be observed, otherwise one owner would be taxed and rated unfairly in comparison with his neighbor. That the Government is of opinion that the additional revenue derived from the adoption of a sliding scale of stamp duty on receipts would not compensate 1 for the irritation and annoyance such a scale would cause the general public. INTEREST ON LOANS. That it has been the endeavor of the Government to keep down rates of interest as much as possible. Any local authorities borrowing from the State Advances Office can borrow at the rate of 4-J per cent. There are no special conditions governing this rate or rates charged by the Government Insurance Department and the Public Trust Office. Ln the two latter departments the rate is 6 per cent. In cases where local authorities wish to raise loans in New Zealand the Government empowers them to do so at a rate not exceeding 6% per cent.

That the sterilisation of bank notes is a matter which comes entirely under the control of the banks. The matter has already been referred to the banks and one bank has informed the Government that during the last twelve months 811,000 notes have been cancelled.

That a reduction in the cost to the Government of Welsh coal has been obtained in consequence of the fall in price. That legislation is already on the Statute Book which would enable compulsory grading of export meat to be established should such a course be considered necessary.

That an endeavor will be made to secure lower freight rates for apples and pears during the coming export season. When the period for shipping apples and pears approaches the High Commissioner will be requested to furnish information as to the selling prices in Great Britain.

That the staff of the Department of Agriculture includes a capable entomologist, who is already going into the life history of the cattie tick in New Zea- . land. i HOSPITAL MATTERS. That a draft scheme of superannuation for nurses is under consideration, but as it involves a considerable capital contribution by the State it is doubtful whether at the present time a Bill embodying the scheme will be introduced. That a Bill is being drafted for the purpose of increasing the subsidies to smaller hospital boards, and when completed it will be considered by Cabinet. That the question of what instruction in sexual hygiene should be given in schools has been engaging the attention of educationists for some time, and there is no doubt that something must be done. Even among enthusiastic advocates of such instruction there is an extreme divergence of opinion about how and by whom instruction should be given. Arrangements are now well under way for a step forward in this difficult matter and it is hoped thereby materially to assist young people in forming better ideals of life and conduct.

That it is regretted, it is not practicable to afford any special relief to soldiers in the matter of an extension of deposits at call. That the. question of introducing legislation permitting marriage between a man and his deceased wife’s niece will be considered when the marriage laws of the Dominion are under review.

OTHER BUSINESS. SAMOA BILL PASSED. The Painters and Decorators Health Protection Bill (Mr. W. A. Veitch) was read a second time pro forma and referred to the Labor Bills Committee. The Samoa Bill (Hon. E. P. Lee) was read a third time and passed. The Education Amendment Bill was introduced by Governor-General’s message. The House rose at 11 p.m.