PARLIAMENTARY.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 14038, 22 October 1909, Page 5

PARLIAMENTARY.

Per Press Association. LEG ISLATIVE COUNCIL. WELLINGTON, Oct. 21. The Council met at 2.30 p.m. ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS. Replying to Air Stevens, who asked wliother it was a fact that in the return of mortgages lately presented to Parliament ,tlie interest shown as payable was in any case at tho higher rates which are made by mortgages reducible when punctual payment of interest is made, " The Attorney-General said that in all cases where si' mortgage • disclosed a maximum and minimum' rate of interest, the minimum' rate was adopted. .Replying to Mr Jenkinson, the Attorney-General stated that the specifications for the new post office at Wellington were so drawn that it would be practically impossible, to have the steel work manufactured outside the Dominion. . ADDRESS fN REPLY. Mr Jenkinson resumed-thO debate on the Address in Reply. He suggested that the Attorney-General should establish a court which, would . simplify and facilitate the settlement of industrial disoutes. He urged that money borrowed outside bv local bodies should bo expended in the main within the Dominion. At prest nt» large sums were spent outside our borders. The only remedy for the unemployed difficulty was keeping our work in the Dominion.. He urged local bodies to,'."consider this matter. He thought that sOnie board should be set up to deal with public works and prevent extravagance. He insisted upon the necessity of building a harbour and dock on the West Coast, where the main'supplies of coAl were. The debate was adjourned. The Council tlie.n rose. . B HOUSE OF REPRESENTAT fV.ES. • Tho House met, at 2.30 .p.m. DAYLIGHT SAVING. Mr Sidey moved the second .reading of the. Local Time Bill, based ,on the Daylight Saving Bill introduced into the House of Commons. -The proposals contained in the Bill had received the support of many public and private bodies in Britain, as well, as of. many employers of labour, . and? deserved serious consideration. The committee On the Home. Bill had recommended that, the time be put forward one hour in the spring, and back again in the autumn. The Bill now introduced was based on that recommendation. The proposal was to utilise,.the sunlight, which would benefit those engaged indoors, and give further' time Tor recreation and snort.; The only serious objection to the proposal was that the cable news would be delayed to a certain, extent. The. Bill would result in a great saving of. expenditure on artificial lkdit. t ': C i;. Mr Thomson (Dunedin) opposed the Bill, and said that the 1 same benefit could be obtained by a. little co-opera-tion. • The Premier supported :the measure. The proposal was bound =to bo given effect to all over the world, sooner or later, and a discussion on it would bo beneficial. .Mr AYilford expected to find the morning papers against the proposal, as they would receive no Australian cables, which would be reserved for the evening papers. This was worth consideration. ' Mr Hanan, Mr Poole, Sir W. .T. Steward, Mr- Thompson (Wallace), Mr Stall worthy, aud Mr McLaren supported the Bill." MARRIAGE. The second reading of the Marriage Act Amendment Bill, which proposes to render lawful marriage with the deceased wife's niece or defeased husband's nephew, was carried. . MUSICIANS.

Mr Sidcv's Musicians Bill," providing for the registration x>f musicians and the incorporation, of the Society, was read a second time and referred to the Education Committee. . PREFERENTIAL VOTING.

Mr Fisher moved the-second reading of the Legislative Amendment Kill, to repeal the Second Ballot- Act and substitute preferential voting. - ■

The debate Avas, interrupted by the 5.30 p.m. adjournment. , 'On resuming at 7.80 r p.in.; Mr Fisher said the measure would remove all.the bitterness, trouble and ytnrm6il' of the Second Ballot Act whichb'ad the effect of disfranchising many ' electors ' wbo were unable to go a second time to the poll. _ , ' Tho Premier said ho expected/only six ballots "but there had been 25 at last general election. > . Mr Filter I'l'ged thi?t:>t least clause 6 repealing the Second Ballot Act be passed. Mr Lnurenson opposed the second reading. The Act had not been the failure alleged as. in fifteen centres out of 25, the second ballots of. the electors confirmed the first choice. l

Mr Massey asked-where wavS the tise of the second" ballot: if .electors in fifteen cases out of 25 confirmed; the first choice.; ' He' 1 would Support Mr Fisher's Bill if-o:rily for'tho elansc repealing the' Second Ballot-Act." The present system 'was' the ■ most-wasteful possible, and opened thevway to cross abuses. He -advocated l proportional representation which, was • imported- to work satisfactorily in Tasmania. - • Sir J. G.' Ward explained the effect of the second ballot at tho"last'general election. " The votes I 'cast "for the Government increased over 1905 by 31,000, while those for the' 1 Opposition decreased by 13,442. He attributed tlio large number of second ballots to the fact that tho Government paid £SO towards tho exnenses of candidates at tho second ballot. Pr;bpbfctiohsjl representation in Tasmania. resulteid. in an unstable government, a "third administration being on tlie point of taking office. It was not desirable to. reproduco this' state' of affairs in New Zealand. It had bceii stated that the Act was passed to injure tlie labour party, but tho fact was that_tho only labour candidate who went to the second ballot was returned. It was impossible for tho second ballot, to in-jure-«.ny party..- He could not support Mr Fisher's Bill which proposed iv system condemned by every country in Europe. - Mr Hauaii contended that although the Act was nob perfect it-should have a fair trial. .

.Mr Herrics said il hc believed'the Government's opposition to the Bill, arose from tho fact that it. emanated from an Opposifcio'ri member. A change of Government, now and tliep was desirable. Tho BilV was undoubtedly better than tho second ballot.; ■ ■ The Hon. Mr Fowlds; explained his support to Mr MeNab's majority .Bill which was an improvement on the old system. Mr Fisher's system rendered it possible for a-candidatehaying the lowest mimber of, votes to bp elected. This '• was" 'impossible under-'Mri McNab's system. >■ ■__ . Messrs Buick, Nosworthy, Phillips, and Guthrie supported the,, Bill; Messrs McLaren, Smith, Macdonald, Clark; and Graham opposed the second readme- A* (Left Sitting.)