PARLIAMENT.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LX, Issue 17074, 30 August 1917, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. s

(Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON. Aug. 29. r Upon the Legislative Council, resuming tins afternoon, the Juries Act Amendment Bill .was considered in committee and v substituted dkusfe adopted to provide that if ten jurors empannelled to try a. criminal case- other man a capital ease, shall, after tlie jury lias retired to consider their verdict ioi- t a period of at least three hours, intimate to the judge that there is ro probability of being unanimous, the verdict of ten jurors shall be accepted v the judge may see fit. The last part of tho clause, providing that in capital cases the verdict of eleven jurors bo accepted, was struck out. Another substituted clause—providing in the case of the death, illness or default of attendance of any member of a jury during a trial, the judge shall liave power to direct the trial to proceed with eleven jurors,—was alsc adopted. , ,

The Hon. G. MacGregor consented to on- l<rancis Bells-suggestion that,the third reading be taken at a- date to be appointed by the Council. \ \ Sir Fracins Bell explained thit the Bill as amended had bis and the Government's support. Th e effect of the decision to postpone the third reading to a. date appointed' hv the Council would mean that the Bill .went off the Order Paper, but if possible it would be gone on with later by the Government.

The Council adjourned at 4.10.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES <

The House of Representatives met at 2.30 p.m.

THE WAR LOAN.

Replying to Mr Poland. Sir Joseph Ward said the banks had agreed to lend depositors up to 90 per cent, of their capital at 5£ for the purposes of the War .Loan. v

_ Replying to Mr. Newman, Sir Joseph Ward said he did not think it possible to. allow depositors in the common fund of the Public Trust Office to withdraw from that fund to invest in the \\ar Loan, as the office itself was to bp\a large investor in the loan, probI i]jnJ?s xfhe €xtent °f fr<Hn £200.000 to £250,000.

PATRIOTIC SOCIETIES' ADMINI&. TRATION.

Replying to Mr. Field (Otaki), the .Hon.; Russell said there was no proposal to interfere with patriotic societies' administration of their own funds. ' ■

THE WAR LOAN,

Sir Joseph- Ward made a statement to the effect that arrangements had been made in the four centres to establish, ail Information Bureau in connection with the loan and taxation. Tn other centres information had been supplied by the Post Offices.

FIRST READINGS

The following Bills were introduced and read a first time: Whangarei Harbour Board Vesting Bill <Mander),-", Whakatsme Harbour Amendment Bill (Hon. Ma^DonaldL Tlie following wefce amongst the answers given to questions, by Ministers: That the Lands Department will be asked to recommend for physical feature an<j beauty spots names associated with British history, instead of the names'of enemy nationalities." That money lent by the Government Insurance Department will pay income ' tax in the same way as that of any other institution; money lent on mortgage by the Public Trustee from the j common fund, however, is not to be )• liable to taxation, the fundp from ' which the advances ate made being Government funds, is the object of taxing them. < , 7

That it is inadvisable to bring the Post Office Savings Bank into line with commercial banks in the matter of provision for depositors to operate on their accounts by cheques.

That rum is issued at the reinforcements camps in New Zealand, on the recommendation of the principal medical officer at each camp.

That the Government has power to purchase the Union Steamship Company's ships at definite prices, which are fixed in charter parties, being the value at the time the charters were entered into.

The Premier moved th c customary resolutions of sympathy regarding the deaths of the late Messrs. Kidd and Gore. The House rose at 5.10 as a mark of respect to their memories. Resuming at 7.3, the House went into Comittee of Supply to consider the Imprest Supply Bill No. 3, appropriating £1,043,300 .

Sir Joseph Ward explained that the Bill only differed from previous Bills in the item of £74,000 for telegraph extension. '

On the second reading of the Bill, Mr Poland complained that certain men iii Waihi were being penalised by the mining company winch controls labour in that district because they took part hi the strike some years ago. He claimed that the men had paid the penalty of their conduct, and it was .j time the-embargo against their employ- ' inent was lifted. He appealed to the Minister of Justice, the Premier, and Parliament to see that this was done.

Dr. Thacker complained that workers' suburban trains had not been restored.

Mr. Harris objected to the curtailment of members' travelling expenses and privileges generally. ..•• • Mr. Veitch contended that the services of members had been ignored in war work, and the Govei'nment of th« country handed over to boards, who in no sense were representative of the people. Mr Hudson appealed to Ministers to show greater consideration to fruit and kindred .industries.

Mr Jennings drew attention to the largo number of defalcations taking place, in connection with public funds, also land aggregation, which he declared to He rampant. Sir James Alien defended the Gotermnent against the charge that members had been ignored in connection. with war work." Members could not acton boards sitting- and working all the year round. Ho quoted letters to show that members hatVheen invited to cooperate in bringing the Military Service Acfc into operation. Their services were desired in every way uossihle. The debato was continued by Messrs Webb and Pa.yne. Sir Joseph Ward briefly replied, and the Bill passed all stars-. The House rose at 11.10.