HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume L, Issue 12145, 5 September 1908, Page 5

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

WELLINGTON, Sept. 4. rho House met at 2 30 p m IN MEMOEIAM On the motion of the Premier it was decided to place on record-the hi>h sense of the services rendered to the country and Parliament by the late Mr \ A. D. Willis, formerly member for ' Wanganui, w hose death occurred a few ! nays ago. I TOWN BOARDS AMENDMENT BILL The third reading of the Town Boards Amendment Bill was moved, and during the discussion Mr Ell suggested that ■if. one Minister was in charge of all I Local Government matters he would Ihen be an expert. -Sir Joseph Ward said that if one Minister had to deal' with all Local Government questions it would involve j his going into other Ministers' departments for information. * Really, the whole question involved the creation of I another Ministerial Department, and the appointment of an extra Minister, nnd he did not know if the country was disposed to have' that. Mr Massev: There are too many now. Rir Joseph Ward: Well, the hori. member may say so, but I don't think others will agree with him. Sir Joseph Ward added that he was sure the Coun- ; try did not want Ministers to work themselves in death, and when the Country realised what - was on the shoulders,of Ministers it would understand what was necessary. Mr Massey said he di<3 ;npt: agree that an increase of Ministers was necessary. Mr Hornsby.: They want under secretaries. "* '" "•"■ '■■■■'.' Mr Massey: They don't. If Ministers' devoted "themselves to work -instead of gadding about the country attending^ rare meetings and opening tuppenyhalf permysschools they would hot be overworked. If anyone had a right to complain it was the Leader of the Opposition, who had more -work on his. shoulders, than anyone; else. :.:■' Sir Joseph Ward: "Sfou give me" your correspondence for one day and I'll give you mine. Mr Massey: You give me your secretaries. . : Mr T. McKenzie held that more Ministers were necessary to cope with the work. After, further discussion of a general character the third reading was carried, and the Bill passed. THIRD READING. ■The- Police Offences Act Amendment Bill-was read a third time and passed. SECOND BALLOT BILL. In committee on the Second Ballot Bill, Mr Massey said tKat the short title of the Second Ballot Bill-was misleadiiiflt as there might be three or.even fonv Ballots. The Bill would lead to political corruption, and was distinctly a retrograde measure. A huge mistake was -boirig made in forcing the Bill on electors, ..y^ho had not asked for it and did not want iti Sir Joseph Ward said that no more than two 5 ballots were possible. It was a'mistake* to supposs that the Bill waa a Party measure, or that the minorities were disfranchised by it. The House rose at.5.30 p\m. The House resumed at 7.30. The debate on the short title was continued and carried on at great length, a .stonewall, being obviously intended. At 8.25 the short title clause was passed by 39 to 14. On clause 2, Dr. Chappel moved a series of amendments to sub-clause 2, which the Chairman ruled out of order, as being"'the'negative'of the second bal- ! lot:"- - '■'■'■ -■■■■ .' . . : ; • - Progress was reported to consult' the Speaketj . who upheld the Chairman s ruling. -..,.'.,-.'. Sir J. G .Ward moved an amendment to sub-clause 2, clause 2, providing that where at a first ballot the first candidate has polled 600 votes more than the second ho shall be decided to have obtained. an absolute majority, even though be'1 should not have done so mathematically. Mr Massey supported the principle, even though vit practically meant the destruction of the absolute* majority. Sir J. G. Ward acknowledged that the suggestion .came to him from the Opposition -side of the House. •Mr Massey moved that the figure 500 be reduced to 250. The amendment was lost, and Sir JG. Ward's motion carried by 36 to 5. Clause 2 was agreed to. Clause 3 was agreed to by 40 to 12- •..■: ==/. Clause 4,' referring to the interval between the first and second poll, was carried on the Voices. Clauses 5 to 8. were passed unaltered without debate. At clause 9 exception was taken to the compulsory character thereof. The clause was'carried by 36 to 12. Clauses 10 to 14 were agreed to Without discussion. ■■•... - -s.