PARLIAMENT.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2297, 16 September 1908, Page 3

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

AFTERNOON SITTING

[Press Association.]

WELLINGTON, Sept. 15

'flu l Council mot at 2.30 p.m. Hon. it. if. Hooves took tlio chair in tho unavoidable nbseuco of the Speaker. Tlio report of tho Joint Committee on the proposed site for tlio Parliamentary Buildings was laid on tho table. tin the motion to go into commiitteo on the Second Ballot Bill, Hons. Siucla;r and Kelly delonded the Bill, and expressed their intention of supporting the measure. lion. O. Samuel adversely criticised the measure, ami contended that it was not advisable to change the mode ot electing members to the House. He particularly objected to the proviso ol clause 2 anil the “gag” clause, Hon. AV. F. Cnrneross expressed lvie intention of opxiosing tho “gag” clause. Hon. AV. AV. McOardle would support the Bill generally, but would oppose the proviso of clause 2. Hon. J. B. Callan described tho “gag” clause as a deliberate blow at the liberty of the press. Ho hoped tlie clause would be rejected. lion. A. Bnldey would support the Bill, but would oppose the 500 majority proviso. ■ ; ■ ilon. J. T. Paul objected to the “gag” clause and tho 500 majority proviso. Hon. G. Jones would endeavor to exclude the “gag”' clause from the Bilk ' The Attorney-General said that in deference to the criticism of the Council he would move in committee to remove the 500 majority proviso of the .clause. He justified tho inclusion of clause ID (tlio “gag” clause), which had the support of tlio majority of tho members of the House, and this was an indication that the clause was a reasonable one. Ho justified the clause, which would give each candidate a fair opportunity of obtaining the suffrages or bis fellows in the interval between the first ami second ballots. Ho proposed to submit an amendment to provide for publications of statements, if time in substance, and if publication thereof is for the public benefit. 'l’lie motion was carried, and clause 1 was passed unamended. The Council adjourned at 5 p.m. until 7.30 p.m. EVENING SITTING. The Council resumed at 7.30 p.m. The proviso to clause 2 was struck out. Clauses 3 to 17 were passed unamended. Consideration of clause IS was postponed until after clause 19 was dealt with. Air. J. lligg moved nil amendment to strike out the first line of the clause. , The amendment was rejected bv 17 to 11. Dr. Findlay moved an amendment to sub-clause 1, clause 19, to provide for it being an offence for any person to address or take part in any public meeting with intent to promote or oppose the election of any candidate at the second ballot. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. AFTERNOON SITTING. Tho House met at 2.30 p.nj. Tho Bill for the closer settlement of land by ithe establishment of land settlement associations was brought down by message from the Governor, and read a first time. The Alanawatu Railway Purchase Bill was committed and reported after a desultory discussion on various minor points. In committee on the Public Bodies Lease Bill, at subsection 4, clause 8, Hon. R. AlcNab said it would be unwise not to give leasing authority at discretion, as provided therein, otherwise it. might, have to accept unfinancial or otherwise undesirable tenants. Hon. T. Y. Duncan said that in every case a body should have to show cause why the highest tender should hot be accepted. Several other members spoke to the same effect, and also objected to subsection 5 as indefinite. On the motion of Hon. It. AlcNab thc-se two sections were struck out. .The House adjourned at 5.30 p.m. « EVENING SITTING. The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. Tlie Public Bodies Leases Bill was read a third time and passed. The AVellington-Alanawatu Railway Bill was read a third time and passed. The Inspection of Alacliinery Amendment Bill, the Declaratory Judgment® Bill, and the Impounding Amendments Bill were read a third time and passed. Sir Joseph AVard moved the second reading of the Local Bodies Loans Amendment Bill. He said tho Government could not go on indefinitely finding all loan moneys required by local bodies. The Bill provided a scheme whereby local authorities, instead of procuring loans from the Government under the Local Bodies Loan Act, 1908, can raise loans from public debentures guaranteed bv the Government. The aggregate amount to bo guaranteed in any one year is not to exceed £500,000, and in respect of every guaranteed local authority must establish a sinking fund in the hands of the Public Trustee of not. less than one per cent of the loan, half of this amount being paid by the local authority and the other half by the Government by way of subsidy. ‘ He considered this a most beneficent scheme, and 1 thought that under the circumstances the Government were entitled to ask local bodies to invest n sinking fund in public securities. The Premier, continuing. pointed out that the Government’s liability for any loan would be a constantly diminishing amount. He thought the Bill wouldJbe a prelude to a wider measure of local government in this country, and it would relieve the ever-increasing burden on the central authority. Air AV. Herries said that all sections of the House would help to pass the Bill, which local bodies had been clamoring for. Ho would like to know, however, if the Premier intended this measure to supersede, the Local Bodies Loans Act. . .... Sir Joseph AVard: No, it is an addition to that Act. ... Air. AV. Herries said he would like to know what principle the Government would follow in discriminating between, various bodies applying for guarantees as they approached the £500,000 limit. During the first year or two there was sure to be a rush, and he thought struggling local bo dies should get preference over more wealthy municipal bodies. He also thought there should be some system of inscription whereby stoc'k would be quoted on the Stock Exchange. Several members’ spoke in general support of the Bill. . Mr. A. AA r . Hogg expressed the hope that the Bill would not result in a practical withdrawal, or even a reduction of the Governments assistance to settlers in country districts under the Local Bodies Loans Act. Mr. T. K. Side.y congratulated the Government upon the measure, wluch would be of great benefit to local l,0 Mr S AV. T. Jennings feared that the Bill favored chiefly the settled districts while it was the back-blocks settlers that required assistance. Air AV F. Alassey agreed that the back-blocks interests must be safeguarded. While generally favonng tlie m cash re, he nevpptjiclcss felt that it would chiefly help' v/ealtljiot loci bodies in settled districts, it was .obvious, to, tjiat money was going to cost local bodies at least 4 per cent. He ventured to assert that this measure would not reduce at all the demands made upon the Public AVorks Fund. He felt that such reduction could only ensue from a complcto reorganisation in the system of local government. He thought it very unfair, to expect local bodies to place all their sinking funds in the hands of the Public Trustee, whether the loans were guaranteed or not. _ The debate was continued on similar lines by Messrs Ross, Marnier, AVitty, Ell. and Duncan. Mr. A. T. Ngata said that the Bill was- a liberal measure which would re-

quire amendment in committee to enable native township councils to take advantage of its provisions,. Mr. James Allen favored the Bill, Init thought a more liberal measure still would he required to relievo political pressure on the free roads and bridges vote. Tlie provisions ol tlie Bill did not compare favorably with those of the Loans to Local Bodies Act. Continuing, Mr. Allen said that under tlie former Act money was lent; by tho Government for 32 years at 3j per cent. Under the present measure local bodies had to go to the open niai'kot, paving 4J per cent lor 33 years. lie hoped the Government would not reduce the operations under the Loans to Local Bodies Act. Messrs Barclay and Okey continued the debate. Tho Prime Minister, replying, caul that the Government could only refuse loans under the Local Bodies Act under the conditions mentioned in the Act. The Government had' mo intention to reduce the operations under that Act or to reduce subsidies to local bodies. No such suggestion had ever been made, lie thought it would lie unwise from the point of view ot tho financial stability of the country to inscribe guaranteed stock. Iho Bill would be of great uso to bodies wishing to borrow larger suiuk than at present the State law permitted.