PARLIAMENT.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2652, 6 November 1909, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. REFORM ATOIW INSTITUTIONS BILL.' 1 V . , '■ rpuu Press Association.] WELLINGTON, Nov. 5. The Council met at 2.30 p.m. The Attorney-General moved the second reading of the Reformatory Institutions Bill. It repeals the habitual drunkards provisions of the Police Offences Act, 1908, and makes further provision jn the same matter. Private establishments', as hitherto, are to be licensed as inebriate homes, and habitual inebriates (including persons addicted to the excessive use of drugs) may. be ordered to be detained (1) on the application of the inebriate,' (2) on summary conviction by a magistrate, (3) by order of a magistrate on the complaint of a relative ci the inebriate, (4) by a judge of the Supreme Court on the conviction of an inebriate in that Court of 'any offence of which drink is the contributing cause. The period of detention extends from six months, to two years. The Bill also provides for the establishment of reformatory homes to which women or girls may be committed for certain specified offences, instead of being imprisoned, or. after the expiry of a term of imprisonment. ’ The Attorney-Gen-eral explained that the law was defective and, crude in these matters, and the present measure was based on the laws of England. The Hon. J. T. Paul urged that the Bill made for permanence, and was practical and necessary. The Hons. C. H. Mills.and W. Keehan supported the Bill. The Hon. J. B. Callan, while sympathising mainly with tile measure, said it would require careful scrutiny, as it affected the liberty of the subject, and he would be glad if the Bill were referred to the Statutes Revision Committee. The Hon. G. J. Smith also held that the Bill should be referred to the Statutes Revision Committee, though lie annroved of the principle which it embodied. The Hons. W. E. Collins, C. M. Luke, J. R. Sinelair ? and W. C. F. Carncross also spoke in approbation of the Bill, which was read a second time and referred to the Statutes Revision Committee'. ' w ,«■ - - The Council adjourned pending receipt from the House of the Imprest Supply Bill. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. ELECTIVE EXECUTIVE BILL DEFEATED. After midnight on Thursday, the debate on the Elective Executive Bill was continued by Mr. Baume who supported the Bill, and criticised the personnel of the Cabinet. Mr. Russell sunported the Bill. Sir W. J. Steward replied, and on a division the second reading of the Bill was lost by 35 to 24. The House rose at 12.45 a.in. GOVERNMENT ADVERTISING. At the afternoon sitting on Friday, an Imprest Supply Bill was introduced by Governor’s message. On the motion for committal of the Bill, Mr. Wright moved as an amendment that Government advertisements be distributed to the press regardless of political opinion. . He mentioned that the “Dominion” had been excluded from the receipt of Government advertisements, although it had a very large circulation. 7.

Considerable discussion ensued on the subject, the Premier remarking that the mover and seconder (Mr. Fisher) had been made political eatspaws of by the Ormosition in the matter. More money was spent in advertising in Wellington than in any other city. Advertisements were distributed throughout the country with perfect fairness. Mr. Massey said that tile boycotting of the Opposiion press was no new tactics. Some ten years ago, a Wellington journal had been punished for criticising the Government by the withdrawal of .advertisements The amendment was lost by 37 to 18. At the evening sitting, on the motion to go into Committee of Supply on the Imprest Supply Bill for £722,000, Sir Joseph Ward, referring to Mr Wright s statements in the afternoon relative to the distribution of Government advertisements, said that the “Dominion had manifested strong political bias leading to unfair criticism, m marked contrast to the other leading Opposition journals. No member of'the Cabinet interfered with the “New Zealand Times,” which was managed in a highly creditable and impartial manner. Any interest held by members of the Government in that journal was entirely in their private capacities. An attempt had been made by landed proprietors to destroy the Government _ organ m Wellington. He (the Premiei’), along with others, had frustrated that , attempt in the interests of the country. He denied that the Government-' had attempted to alter the politics of the “Dominion” by means of boycotting, and resented the insinuations levelled at the Administration of using public funds to bribe supporters m the press. The House then went into Committee of Ways and Means, and the Bill was read a second tune, and passed thiough committee. On the motion for the third reading, Mr. Massey complained of the lack of information relative to the loans recently raised in England, and said that the Premier ought to have placed before the House details of the retrenchment scheme. Rumors were nfo of gross favoritism in-connection with retrenchmMr! lierries asked the Premier for fuller details in regard to the financial and taxation proposals of the Government. ’ , ■., ~ , T , , Sir Joseph Ward said that on Wednesday next these would be placed before the House. He hoped before the end of next week to circulate the Land, Defence and Native Bills. Ho denied the accusation of in carrying out retrenchment in the Civil Service. He would give such information as he could in regard to loans already placed, but this must necessainy be limited, for obvious reasons. ) (Left sitting.)