PARLIAMENTARY.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIIC, Issue 14277, 18 August 1910, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

Per Press Association. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. WELLINGTON, August 17. The Council met at 2.30 p.m. THE MOKAU LEASES. The Attorney-General made a specific denial of the imputations contained in the petition presented to the House by Mr Joshua Jones in relation to the Mokau estate in which amongst other things the Attorney-General was stated to have acted professionally for A *Mr Lewis, the purchaser from the mortgagor of the Jones Mokau leases and that he (Dr Findlay) had improperly influenced the removal of a caveat lodged by Mr Jones to stop registration of the title to Mr Lewis. THE CRIMES ACT.

The adjourned debate on the second reading of the Crimes Act Amendment Bill was resumed by Mr Rigg who disagreed with the details of the Bill. Referring to inebriates homes he took exception to such institutions being in the hands of any sectarian body. He thought the Govern incut .should control the whole of the reformatory institutions. He objected to the proposal that the reformatory method should come after the expiry of sentence as still retaining an element of. revenge. The question of the employment of prisoners was one which would have to be considered, for if prisoners were brought into competition with outside labour it might endanger the successful carrying out of the Act. Mr Sinclair supported the Ball, speaking of the superiority of indeterminate sentence over a fixed sentence. There could be no question about the wisdom of leaving in the hands of a prisoner his own reformation and release. He felt confident that the application of the liill in proper cases would mean the final release at an early period of the indeterminate sentence. The success of the measure would depend entirely upon the manner in which it was administered. The debate was adjourned. The Council then rose." HOUSE OF REBRESKNTATIVES. The House met at 2.30 p.m. MORE UNIONS. Replying to Mr Taylor (Chri.vtchurch) [the lion. Mr Millar said that he had not promised to grant recognition to the Eug.lie-drivers Union but only to | reconsider the matter. When the [ membership reached 800 he was prepared to recommend the Cabinet to grant recognition and the matter would . be further considered. | After further discussion Sir J. G. ■ Ward said that the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants had done much to improve the conditions of the railway servants, largely owing to the fact that it represented the railway service as a whole. If the enginedrivers' claim were granted it would hot bu long before the surfacemen would desiro a separate union. He considered that it would be far better that the railway servants should be represented by one union. The petition of the engine-drivers, however, merited the careful consideration of the House.

Mr Fisher said the only way enginedrivers could obtain their rights was by forming a separate union. Mr Hogan said that it was a waste of time to discuss the matter at this juncture, as this and other questions were before the railway committee at the present time. REPLIES TO QUESTIONS.

Replying to other questions Ministers said that it was not intended to place a sum on the, estimates as compensation to Mr Mcikle, but legislation enabling the case to be dealt with will bo submitted during the session. That in order to obviate the difficulties created by the ruling of the Arbitration Court that a settlement to a dispute arrived at by two parties to the same cannot become an award until such is signed by all the parties cited, an amending Bill would be brought before the House. That the matter of making provision enabling uncertificated teachers to pass the D examination in sections will receive favourable consideration shortly when the regulations for examination and classification ai'e revised. The House rose at 5.30 p.m. SECOND READINGS. In the House in the evening the following Bills were read a second time pro forma: Mining Act Amendment Shops and Offices Amendment, Inspection of Machinery Amendment, Kauri Gum Industry, Tramway Amendment, Coal Mines Amendment. FREE DISCUSSION. The House then proceeded to discuss the answers to questions.

Mr Wright referring to the Mcikle case hoped that the hitter would be dealt with once for all. Mr Herries urged the claims of veterans for old age pensions, and said that publicity should be given to the fact that Magistrates are holding an inquiry into the claims of old soldiers for medals as a. recognition of services in the Maori war. Considerable discussion centred round the representation of county districts ill the Upper House, Mr Newman contending that the farming' community was not sufficiently representative. Mr Laurenson pointed out that there were nine members of the Upper House repiesenting the farming class, which was a fair number on a numerical basis.

Replying to Mr Glover, the Hon. Mr , Millar said that it was not the case, that the Judge of the Arbitration Court required every party cited to sign the settlement arrived at by two parties to a dispute before the same became an award, but only required a certain time to elapse to allow of any objection to the agreement being made. Replying to Mr Taylor (Thames), who demandid' the abolition of the Vaccination Act, the Hon. Mr Uuddo said that a danger was cropping in owing to the exemptions, of the supply (If vaccine running short, which might Iv a serious matter in the case of an epidemic. Legislation would have to be passed to meet this need. The abolition of vaccination would be opposed by a large section of the community, i The remainder of the sitting was I taken up in discussing the Rigg case . arising out of a petition that the New i Zealand cross be granted Harrv Ri«- K i for sei vices in the Bay of Plenty during the Maori war. The committee ;had no recommendation to make. Mr Hogg moved that the report be' referi red back to the committee for further . consideration. I The debate was adjourned. | Tbe House rose at 12.10 a.m.