PARLIAMENTARY.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 11725, 27 July 1901, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

.» GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NEW ZEALAND. >~2 LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, (PER PrtESS ASSOCIATION. — ABRIDGED.) Friday, July 26. — The Hon. the" Speaker took the chair at 2.30 p.m. It was resolved, on Hon. W. T. Jenning's motion, and on the casting vote of the Speaker, that a return be furnished showing for the past five years: — (1) The number of births registered and the number of vaccinations recorded. (2) How many case 3 for non-compliance with the compulsory clauses have- been constituted by registrars for the past fire years, and how many persons were fined for refusing to have their children vaccinated. The Land for Settlement Act Amendment Bill was read a first time. ! he Cemetery Trustees Validation Bill passed all stages. The Police Offences Act Amedment Bill was read a sscond time, and referred to the Statutes Revision Committee. ■ The second reading of the Referendum Bill was adjourned after a speech by Hon. G. McLean in opposition. At 4.5 p.m. the CoHncil adjourned till 8 p.m., whea The Council again met and passed the Imprest Supply Bill for £470,000 through all its stages without amendment. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Friday, July 26: — The Speaker took the chair at 2.30 p.m. The Imprest Supply Bill was brought down by Governor's message. On the motian to go into Committee of Supply, for its consideration, Mr Fisher moved an amendment that a Select Committee be appointed to inquire into the conduct of the Police Department as administered by Commissioner Tunbridge. He said there were complaints thioughout the colony at the administration of the Force. His motion in no* way applied to the rank and file of the Force. Its scope was limited to Commissioner Tunbridge, and the higher officers who were directly under his control. He proceeded to make a series of charges against the Commissioner, going very fully into details. Hon J. McGowan defended the Commissioner, and said he had always found him most anxious to serve the colony in the best manner possible, and to do fairly by all cases that came before him. Mr Fisher had not one strong instance against the Commissioner. If it could be shown that the Commissioner had done anything against any of his officers, he (Mr McGowan) would be only too willing to facilitate an enquiry into the matter, but not King had come under his notice which would warrant such action. Mr Miller said the trouble was that the Commissioner was too clever for the Commissioner was too clever for the schemers in the force. Mr Wilford said matters were' not satisfactory in the force in Wellington. Mr Napier said in Auckland matters were most satisfactory. The Premier said they should keep this matter out of politics, as political interference in the past had been detrimental to tho Force. He highly complimented tbe Commissioner. He had been told before approaching him that he was one of the ablest men in the service at Home, and^since bis arrival here he had done firei-class work. The Government desirjd to hive the police force kept as perfect and independent as possible, and did not want to have it dragged into political life. It would not promote harmony in the force or further the ends of justice to have these charges bandied about on the floor of the House, and he hoped the member for Wellington -would withdraw his amendment and let the House get on with the Bill. Many other members spoke, the tone of the discussion being strongly in defence of -the Commissioner's administration. The House adjourned at 5.30 p.m. until 7.30, when Mr Fisher's amendment was negatived on tbe voices. The House went into Committee of Supply for the purpose of putting the Imprest Supply Bill for £470,000 through its final stages. Captain Russell pointed out there was an increase of £190,000 in imprest to date as compared with the corresponding period of last year. . The Premier said the increase in the estimates was very large, in addition to which thero were very largo orders from the Agent-General The additional imprest was due to increased general expenditure, both in the Public Works Fund and the Consolidated Fund. Captain Russollsaid the Premier should give the House some idea of the nature of the increased expenditure. The Premier replied that if the Public Works expenditure was increased- the imprest must also be increased. In' reply to Mr Massey he said the money .had been expended in accordance with the directions .of Parliament. Captain Russell desired to know when the Financial Statement and Estimates would be brought down. Three months of the financial year had gone, and £940,000 had already been voted for.imprest this year, and members had no idea how the money had been spent. The Premier said ho hoped to- bring down' the Statement the week after next-. There was good reason for bringing the Statement down early this year. It was necessary at the present rate of expenditure to go into the Finances carefully, and the Government was desirous of obtaining the assistance of members as soon as possible. The Bill passed through Committee without amendment. .On the motion for tho third reading, Mr Massey enquired why a re urn, showing the travelling expenses of Ministers, bad not yet been luM on the table. The Premier would find his estimates would go through quicker and easier if this return were forthcoming. The Premier said the return would bo available in a day or two. The increased imprest was due to the fact that expenditure was going up and was already in excess of last year. Certain reductions in taxation had been promised, and he referred particularly to the mortgage tax, but was afraid these remissions could not be granted unless an increase was made in another direction, viz., in tbe graduated land tax. The Bill then passed its final stages. <: he Miners' Rights Fee Reduction Bill, and tho Shop and Shop Assistants Act Amendment Bill, were read a second time. Mr Ell moved the second reading of the Totalisator Abolition Bill to abolish the use of the totalisator. It was tbe opinion, he said, of one of our judges that the largo percentage of crime by young New Zenlanders in a calendar lately before him arose mainly from gambling. The State prevented other forms of gambling and branded book- j makora as blacklegs, and to bo consistent should abolish the totalisator. i Mr Lawty maintained that the increase in gambling was due not to the use but' to the repression of the totalisator, such repression as was given effect t|j)in a Bill introduced in 1894 by Sir Robert Stout, limiting tbe number of totalisator ; permits. If tho -. honourable gentleman! wished to become a reformer let him | bring in a Bill Ito devote all totalisator j money to charitable purposes. Mr Carncross believed the abolition of the totalisator would no more suppress gambling than prohibition would prohibit alcoholic trade. The totalisator had beon a great factor in the decrease in tho number of race meetings throughout the colony owing to the limit of permits. Mr La renson supported the Bill, holding that the real question was whether the State should legalise gambling in any form. Mr A. L. D. Fraser contended tbatthe tot;il:sntor brought about .-if improved breed of horses, and encouraged the importation of he best blood from Home. An >tlier great recommendation in favour o£ tho machine was thajtit was conducted on a cash basis,

I Mr Herries thought the House should have an expression of opinion on the Bill fromjthe Government benches. He defended the totalisator as being the best form of betting on horses, but if the Bill passed the second reading he hoped a clause would be inserted in Committee to meet the cases of Racing Clubs which had made programme engagements some time ahead. Mr Meredith looked upon the totalisator as a very great evil, and what was. morally wrong could not be legally right, Mr Willis said the State -was inoon-. sistent in allowing ths totalisator to exisfc. If sweeps were illegal the totalisator should also be illegal. Hon. J. Carroll said he had always been opposed to the abolition of the totahsitor, and he had seen no reason to change his views. Gambling would exist in one form or other. If they abolished one form it would break out in another. Things connected with sport had been in a very bad way some years ago, gambling being rampant in all shapes aad forms, but the atmosphere had since been cleared and the totalisator now served to minimise racing. Years, ago there had been no pioper supervision or regulation of the sport, but all that had now been ohanged and the Racing Conference which met annually was composed of men whose only desire was to upraise the sport of racing. If the totalisator were abolished an undesirable class would come to the front who were now kept in chsck. If he thought the gambliug spirit could ba eliminated from human nature he would support the Bill, but he felt sure its mover would be disappointed with the effect that would be produced if the totalisator were swept away. Mr Bennett opposed the Bill. MrjGilfcdder had ju3fc risen.to speak when the debate was interrupted by the 10.30 adjournment, and the House rose.