PARLIAMENT.

Wanganui Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 160731, 18 August 1920, Page 3

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. <Per United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, August 17.. The Legislative Council met at 2.30 p,m, - j The joint Committee bn Bills reported that the Nelson Harbour Board Amendment andHawke’s Bay Rivers Aipendmejit were local Bills. The Council agreed to suspend the Standing Orders to allow bHe latter to proceed. The Bill was put through the final stages and passed. The Statutes Revision Committee reported the Law Practitioners’ Amendment and the Juries’" Amendment with amendments. The Hon. MacGregor introduced the Law 'Amendment BiU, explaining that it provided for a bank nob being liable for paying an altered cheque in good faith when the cheque was made out in such a way as to facilitate alteration. It also provided in cases of shipwreck, etc., where two people lose their lives, that for the purposes of succession to property the elder of them shall be considered the survivor. The Bill was read a first time. Sir Francis Bell moved the second reading of the Legislative Council Amendment Bill, explaining that one of the reasons for the B.iU was to give effect to the Primp Minister’s promise that Parliament would have an opportunity of considering its details before tlie original Act was broiight into force. The debate was adjourned till Tuesday. The Council adjourned at 3.4 p.m. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES The House met at 2.30 p.m. RURAL MAIL CONTRACTS. Replying to Mr Hockly, the Hon. Coates said the Postal Department was not letting rural mail contracts for a longer period than twelve months. The reason for this vus that Mr Morris, who is now attending the Postal Conference, will, before he returns, visit Canada, which country has a very up-to-date rural mail system. Mr Morris would enquire into that system and report upon it, with a view to adopting any suitable features in New Zealand. THE STATE MINERS. Replying to Mr Holland, Mr Massey said he hoped to hear to-night that a settlement had been reached which would result m the return to work of the State’coal miners. THE GAMING BILL. The House then passed to the consideration of the amendments made in the Gaming Amendment Bill. The Hon. Sir William Herries (in the absence of the Hon. Anderson) explained that in the clause summary conviction has been restored. 'ibis would not deprive the bookmaker of the right of trial by jury, as the fine had been Increased to £IOO and the term of imprisonment extended to two years. 'The fine for a person who makes a bet with a bookmaker had been fixed at £IOO, and imprisonment for a term of six months. This would also preserve to such person the right to trial by jury. The Council had also introduced amendments permitting of betting telegrams being sent to secretaries of racing clubs, and the publication of dividends, of which he approved. Mr Parry said telegraphing was too dirtv for the bookmaker, but was not too dirtv for the State! Another amendment limited the number of races in one day. in some cases to seven, and this was the only amendment he proposed to dsiagvce with, as some clubs would suffer under it much more than others. He moved that the amendments be agreed to, with the exception of the one just mentioned.

Mr Holland argued that the power given to the Stipendiary Magistrate under Clause 2 was too great. To lino a person £SOO or impose two yeaiV imprisonment was a power that might be given a Judge of the Supreme Court, but not to Magistrates. Mr Wilford said every person charged under Clause 2 would have the right to be tried by jury, and few under those circumstances would elect to be tried summarily by the magistrate. Mr Mitchell .said he objected to the provision inserted by the Council providing that* betting telegrams may be sent to the secretaries of racing clubs. Mr Glenn contended there was less harm in betting by telegram than with a bookmaker, because in the first case it was necessary to send the money, and a working man would look twice ar a pound before sending it away. In betting with a bookmaker it could be done on credit, and was therefore more dangerous. Mr Isitt said the attitude of the House towards these amendments would determine whether or not there was anv moral sense left in hon. members. For one small virtuous amendment introduced bv the Council (Limitation of Races) they had introduced others which were perfectly vicious. Mr McCombs moced that the amendments permitting betting telegrams and the publication of dividends be also disagreed with. Mr Yeiteh said the Bill as it stood meant that racing clubs having succeeded in abolishing the bookmaker, were now asking the House to hand over the Imokmaker’s business to them. In this he considered the racing clubs were both selfish and unwise. Mr E. Newman said he was convinced that facilities to send betting telegrams wpuld enormously facilitate betting amongst the public, Mr Parry said he would oppose the new clauses, because they simply took away the bookmakers’ calling and gave it to the racing chibs. But for this he would support them, because he thought it just as legitimate to gamble on the racecourse as to gamble on the Stock Exchange, in the land of the country, or in the foodstuffs of the people. Mr Smith (Waimarino) argued in favour of all the amendments made by the Council, as they voiced the opinions and wishes of the’ rational section of the community.

Mr Bartmm would support Mr McCombs’ amendment. The Bill was an example of rank hypocrisy,, and a measure. for fattening the fat, a Bill under which the biggest thief collared the swag. A division was then taken on Mr McCombs’ proposal to disagree with the Council’s amendment that betting telegrams and the publication of dividends be permitted. The amendments were disagreed with by 30 to 24.

On a further division, the amendments made by the Council in. clauses 2, 3 and 7(a definition of bookmakers) were agreed to. The discussion was proceeding when the House adjourned at 5.4.3. When the House resumed at 7.30 it was agreed on the voices to disagree with the amendment made in the Gaming Amendment Bill by the Legislative Council limiting the number of races on one day to seven. Messrs .McCombs and Witty and Sir William Herries were appointed managers to confer with the managers of the Council. END OF A STRIKE. Mr Massey stated that he had received a telegram stating that a settlement with the State coal miners had been arrived at, and the miners would resume work to-morrow. ACTS INTERPRETATION AMENDMENT. Mr Massey moved the second reading of the Acts Interpretation Amendment Bill. He explained that the measure enabled a member of the Executive Council who was not a responsible Minister of tbe Crown” to discharge the duties of a Minister. He stated that Sir William Fraser was willing to act for the Hon. Anderson during his illness, hut, the wording of the present Act prevented him doing so. Mr Wilford said no one objected to Sir William Fraser acting for Mr Anderson, but the Bill was wider than that. It was general instead of particular, and gave the Government power to appoint anyone as a Minister, though he might not be a member of either House. Tina was something his side of the House could not agree to. The Hon. J. A. Hanan said the wording of the Bill was too wide, important portfolios should be held by members of the House. That question was settled lon o' ago, when it was decided that the Minister of Education should not he in the Legislative Council. Mr Statham asked the Premier if he would insert an amendment affirming that no one be appointed under this Bill unless he be a member of either House. Mr Massey said he proposed to insert a clause that the Bill should continue in operation for three months and no longer. Mr Veitch said the Bill was a confession by the Premier of no-confidenee in his colleagues. The fact was that the Government was in need of a Minister of financial ability. Hence the desire to get Sir William Fraser into tire Cabinet. The Premier briefly replied, and the Bill was read a second time on the voices. It was thou put through the remaining stages and passed with the Premier’s promised amendment limiting the operation of the Bill. MASSEDRS’ REGISTRATION. The Hon. Parr moved the third reading of the Masseurs’ Registration Bill, which was agreed to, and the Bill passed. STATUTES REPEAL. The House, then went into committee on the Statutes Repeal , and Expiring Laws Amendment and Continuance BiU. The Premier explained that the Bill proposed to clear off the Statute Book a number of measures passed during the war, but which we re now spent or expired. Dealing with the finance clauses, he gave the House an assurance that he did not intend, either now or in the future, to issue debentures free of income tax. On clause 3 Mr McCombs moved an amendment which would have the effect of preventing the issue of new debentures in the purchase of land free of lino me tax. Mr Massey said that was the law now under the Act of 1915, and if it was not quite clear he would have it made so in finance legislation which was to come down later in the session. Loans free of income tax were raised specifically for war purposes. Clause 3 dealt with debentures given in purchase of land, to which’freedom from income tax had never applied, as far as he knew, and would not apply in tire future.

Mr McCombs contended that under the New Zealand Loans Act, 3908, of which the Act of 1915 was part, debentures could bo issued free, of income tax, aid vhe House should say once and for ail that this practice should cease.

On a division the amendment was lost by 44 to 9, and the clause passed. Aft'-r the supper adjournment, Mr Fraser attacked clause 5, which proposed to jjmend the definition of '‘discharged soldier” in connection with the Housing Act by removing protection from eviction fiom all members of the Expeditionary Forces who did not go overseas

Mr Masaey said the proposed change had not been agreed upon without serious consideration. It had been found in seme cases that men who had only bieu in camp a few days were keeping from occupying a house men who had been in the tranches. He thought prefort nee should lie given to men who had gone to the front. Mr Wilford acknowledged the difficulty of dealing with all eases, but pointed out that many heme service men would’ have gone to the front if they had been allowed to do so. Instead of being sent to the front they were kept in camp for years training men and doing other useful work. He thought there should be some provision for a review of individual oases instead of adopting the sweeping method of disqualifying all soldiers who had not been overseas.

Mr Sidey considered the proposal in the Bill too drastic and sweeping.

Mr Vcitch advocated a system of preference m which soldiers should be graded by service.

The Hon. Sir Wm. Herries said an amendment to the Housing Act would be brought down this session,, and any necessary amendment could be introduced into that measure. The present proposal was, lie thought, based on the decision of a Magistrate, who decided that every man was a soldier who received Government money for military service. That meant that every man who was turned down was a soldier, because everyone medically examined received ss, which was Government money. On a division the clause was retained by 38 to 9.

On the motion of the Premier, clause 6, dealing with Samoa, was deleted, as further Samoan legislation would bo coming down. On the motion of Mr Sidey, clause 7, dealing with banking and leans under the Finance Act, 191G, was extended from twelve months to three years. In reply to Mr Fraser, the Premier said consideration would be given, when framing the Housing Bill, to the conditions under which combined shops and dwellings were rented, also to the bonus evil and to a wider definition of the term “’undue hardship ” The -schedules were passed without amendment, the Bill was reported with amendments, and the House rose at 12.12.