PARLIAMENTARY.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIIC, Issue 14278, 19 August 1910, Page 7

PARLIAMENTARY.

Per Press Association. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. WELLINGTON, Aug. 18. The Council met at 2.30 p.m. CRIMES BILL. The debate on the second reading '. of the Crimes Act Amendment Bill was continued by Mr Caincrcss, who gen- ; erally approved of the measure which ; ho said iiad a noble aim to elevate the i criminal. He, however, urged that : provision should be made for limiting the ago of those sent to the reformatono. It would be a mistake to place m reformatories men who had spent many years in criminal pursuits. In regard to teaching prisoners trades, he thought it was of interest to trades unions as well as criminal., that the Utter should linvv some means of earning a livelihood upon liberation. Mr Loughnan commended the now system of prison reform and defended the proposal to teach prisoners trades. iMe believed that the proposed system would bo :i very line one based upon rational methods of treating; criminals. Mr McGowan did not think it right to use the funds of the Slate to teach skilled trades to those who had forfeited their places in society, and certainly wrong to pumper criminals in the way proposed. He condemned the proposal for prisoners' board, maintaining that the Minister had no right to shirk his rosponsibilties. The debate was adjourned and the Council rose. HOUSE OF "REPRESENTATIVES. The Hon-- -'.f at ->.:-V) n m FIRST READING.' The Mines Act .Aiu.i.auieiii "Hill was introduced by Governer's message and read a first time. LlyrOß IN DRILL SHEDS. Replying to Mr Taylor (Christehurch) the Hon. Mr Eowlds said that he would take steps to see that the decision of the House last session to keep liquor out of the drill sheds was given effect to. LOSS OF BANK NOTES The petitions committee reported that it had no recommendation to male;' regarding the petition of Fredk. 'letley. Mr Duncan (AVairau) moved that the matter be referred back to the committee for reconsideration. He outlined the facts of the case which showed that Mr Tetley, a working carpenter, had taken a contract from the Marlborough Education Board for the erection of a school at Lydia Bay. On completion of the contract the £O2 10s due to Mr Tetley had been forward in bank notes by post to Mr Tetley, but the same had been lost through the wreck of the Penguin. Mr Tetley had brought an action against the Education Board but had lost the case, though the Judge was of opinion that the Bank of.New Zealand was liable. The bank refused to make good the money lost as the numbers of the notes had not been noted. The Hon. Mr Fowlds said that the case was a hard one, but the Government could not accept any responsibility. The secretary of the Education Board had gone outside his functions in cashing a cheque and forwarding notes to the contractor. Mr R. McKenzie supported the amendment and thought that a vote should be placed on the supplementary estimates to provide Mr Tetley with the sum. After further discussion, chiefly favourable to the amendment, it was put and agreed to. LOCAL BILLS. The following Local Bills passed the second reading—Hastings Electric Power and Loan Empowering, Christchurch Tramway District Act 1906 Amendment, Nelson City Drainage Loan and Empowering, Gisborne Harbour Act 1905 Amendment. The (second reading lof the Town Boards Amendment Bill was moved by the Hon. Mr Buddo, who explained that the Bill empowered Town Boards to raise rates for water supply, lighting, sanitation and the establishment of public libraries. The second reading was carried. The House went into Committee on the Stone Quarries Bill. The House adjourned at 5.30 D.m. and resumed at 7.30 p.m. Mr Sidev moved the second reading of the Public Health Amendment BiH, which provides that on the certificate of a District Health Officer any building which is ruinous or insanitary, thelocal authority may require the owner to pull dawn. Mr Haiiiiu considered the Bill gave too great a power to the local bedies in deciding whether buildings were insanitary or not. The Hon. Mr Buddo said that the provisions of the Bill might operate harshly on owners who had no say as to whether the buildings should remain. He admitted that the provisions in the Public. Health Act were insulticiont and further power ought to be given to the District Health Officer and local authority to wipe out slums. He suggested that the Bill ought to be amended so a.s to allow the owner to state his ease before a Magistrate. Several other members also spoke. Ihe second reading was carried on the voices. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL REFORM:. -liio House went into Committee on the Legislative Council Reform Bill. On clause 3 which provided for the election ol Councillors by the electors fi + i" uiovcd as an amendment I" i i U . Jlousc ot ' Representatives should elect the members of the Council.

After discussion the Hon. Mr Carroil moved to report progress. The House rose ;it 12.10 a.m.