PARLIAMENT.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXII, Issue 17068, 22 August 1917, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

Per Press Association

WELLINGTON, August 21. The Legislative Council resumed tkis afternoon. On tho motion of ' the Leader, Sir Francis Bell, the Standing Orders were altered to give the Council power to alter certain bills containing money clauses, whether initiated in the Lower House or the Council. The Hon. J. MaeGregor spoke at considerable length on the second reading of tire Juries Act Amendment Bill, previously introduced by him, which proposes, that a verdict of three-quarters ot a jury shall be sufficient when a complete agreement is not arrived at. Mr AlacGregor read reports of judges of the Supreme Court on the proposals, explaining that Justices Edwards, Cooper and Hosking dissented. ; At 4.15 p.m. the debate was adjourn, ed, on the motion of the Hon. Samuel

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

(Per Press Association.) ti rr WELLINGTON, August ft. Ihe House met at 2.30.

NATIONAL EFFICIENCY BOARD

Replying to Mr Jsitt, the Hon. W. F. Massey said the 'resignation of the A-a-tional Efficiency Boarf. was in the hands of the Defence Minister, who however, had an understanding with the Board that he would hold it over until Cabinet had an opportunity considering the position which had arisen. He himself had done his best to induce the members of the Board to withdraw their resignation, but he was atraid without success. Cabinet would look into the matter, and after that the next move would be with the members or the Board. THE MILITARY AGE. Replying to Mr Webb, the Hon W ;-. said the Cabinet had not omcially considered the-., questkn of sending youths of nineteen to the front. His personal opinion was that there were many youths of nineteen in tbe Dominioa who were at gobd.men a*. ev*r . they would be, and provided their parauts we'-e willing, he ihougnt they should have an opportunity of goin^ to the front'if they desired to do so. That was the opinion he had expressed to the Cabinet, and he now repeated it to the House, and if the country wished to find fault with it it was for tha country to do so. LIQUOR IN NO-LICENSE DISTRICTS. The Minister of Justice laid on the table a return showing the quantity of liquor sent into, and the charges and convictions for oifences in no-license districts in 1915. This excited a lengthy discussion, during which views reflecting all phases of the liquor question were expressed by various speakers. THE PRISONS REPORT. ' The Minister of Justice laid on th« table the prisons' report. Mr Webb contended there was absolutely no classification of prisoners at> the Wellington and Lyttelton Gaols, first offenders being compelled to herd with men convicted of murder. The latter institution was simply an incubator of crime. Our prison system to a great extent made criminals. The men being deprived of newspapers had nothing to converse about except their own crimes, and many men came out wor.s« than when they went in, and consequently it was not long-before they were back "home," as they call it. He did not blame the authorities at the > Lyttelton Gaol so much as the system, there being no ward in which sick could be treated. The medical system generally wanted revision. Reformative ,i I treatment did not exist at the Welling- I I ton and Lyttelton prisons. He com- j 'plained that when men were released ) frorii gaol the police immediately fol- ' lowed them up, and warned an employer against a man, with the result that ha lost his billet. } The Hon. Hetdraan said he did not believe such a system existed. j Mr Webb declared he was able to , prove his statement, and Would give j 'the Minister instance?. He contended the object of the prison system should be to turn men out better than when they went in. For this purpose he contended there must be a complete system of classification of prisoners. ' Mr Hornaby regretted that no better opportunity had been given the House to discuss prison reform. He complimented the Minister on the many re- I forms effected in . recent years. Crime was to a great extent .disease. What was wanted was improved environment, and in extreme cases sterilisation.

The debate was interrupted by the 5.30 adjournment.