IN PARLIAMENT.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3329, 22 September 1911, Page 3

IN PARLIAMENT.

V. THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. f. •' • i MENTAL DEFECTIVES BILL. AN INTiiEESTINO DISCUSSICIt i_PI2K CU.-.Ss ASSOCi ATIOJV.J WELLINGTON Sept. 21. The Council met- at 2.30 p.m., when the Imprest Supply Bill was put ■ tU.cngli all stages. ’The Attorney-General informed the Hon. J. Barr that a return of the number of members of the union of employers, and the union of workers would be prepared, and laid on the table. On the motion, to commit the Mental Detectives; Bill, the Hon. J. T. Paul suggested its reference to a Select Committee. as there were matters which could more effectually be threshed out than on the floor of the Council. The Bill was on the right tines, but did not touch the bedrock of the- difficulty. He contended that we uoght to stop, the breeding of mental defectives, and that the effect of the propagation of these, was such as to demand the fullest discussion', and the people of the country looked to Parliament for the betterment and purity of the race. The Hon. J. E. Jenkiuson also said be advocated sending the Bill to a> Select Committee. The Hon. M. Anstey thought that before drastic steps were taken to deal with mental defects, we ought to aim ourselves with a good: deal more scientific knowledge than we possessed. The Hon. G. Jones moved the adjournment of the debate, and at the suggestion of the Attorney-General, the debate was adjourned until 8 p.m. He would, lie said, have an opportunity of considering the suggestion- to refer the measure to a Select Committee. The Attorney-General moved a. resolution of appreciation of the public services of th© late Mr hlatman. and evmpathy with his family. The Council then rose until 8 p.m. out of respect to the memory of the deceased. , , The Council resumed at 8 p.m., and the Attorney-General stated that he had considered the question raised, by the Hons. J. T. Paul and J. E. Jenkmson as to referring the Bill to a Select Committee. He had come to the conclusion that, seeing the lateness of the session, it would be better to proceed in the ordinary course. The qriestions raised by Mr. Paul were outside the range of the Bill, and "presented difficulties. To cover these matters would require not a month but three months, for the committee’s consideration. It would, he thought, be better to deal with the Bill as it stood that evening, and further action could be considered next session. The Bill, if not all that was hoped for, was, at least, an immense advance on the existing law.

The Council then went into committee on the Bill, and progress reported at clause 24 without any amendment having been made. The Council rose at 10 o’clock.

HAPPENINGS IN THE HOUSE. BEARING ONE ANOTHER’S BURDENS.

THE LATE MR. F. R. FLATMAN

The' House met at 2.30 p.m. Mr. Pearce (Patea) asked the Minister of Agriculture, if it was corrert that the officers of his Department had to pay a lovy of 2d per cent to cover the defalcation of,.an. officer of the Department. The Hon. T. Mackenzie explained that scheme obtained in the Civil Service by which, under the Act, officers were- bound to make good, by levy, the amount of any defalcation. This had been in operation for 35 years, and an alteration was not contemplated. Sir Joseph Ward read! a telegram announcing the death of Mr. Flatman. an ex-member of the House. Ho paid a tribute to th© deceased gentleman’s work in public life, and moved. the usual resolution recording the House’s appreciation of the late Mr. Flatman’e sendee to the country, and sympathy with his family. Mr. Massey, Sir Wm. Steward, Mr. Nosworthy • and Mr. Buxton also paid tributes to the sterling qualities of Mr. Flatman, and on: the motion: of. Mr. Massey the House adjourned until 7:30 out of respect to the memory of the deceased.

IN THE EVENING.

SERIES OF MEASURES DEALT

WITH.

The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. The Sir Donald McLean Memorial Park Bill, the Grey town Lands and Hospital Lands Exchange Bill, Oamaru Municipal Exchange and Market Reserve Leasing Bill (Hon. T. Y. Duncan), and the Wanganui Harbor Board Vesting Bill were read the third time and passed. The Waikowhai Park Bill was reported without amendments, and the Mount Hutt County Bill (Mr. Hardy), Heathcote County Boundary Bill (Mr. Laurenson), City of Christchurch Empowering Bill (Mr. Davey), Mosgiel Borough Empowering Bill, Awatiro County Bill (Hon. T. Y. Duncan), Counties Bill (Mr. Massey), and Waimakariri Ashley Water Supply Board Bill (Hon. D. Buddo.) were read a second time. Vancouver Mail Service.

The Prime Minister asked the House to ratify the arrangement entered into for the renewal of the mail service between Canada and .New Zealand. He had hoped that Australia would have joined into the contract, but, for reasons of their ora, they had decided otherwise. The term of the contract was for five years from the Ist August, 1911, and three steamers were to be engaged in the service. They were the Makura, Marama, and Zealandia, and he was informed that the Union Company were preparing to put another steamer on. Special conditions were embodied in, the contract to allow for perishable oroduce being freighted to Vancouver. There were 10,000. cubic feet of space in two of the ships and 5000 in the other for frozen produce, and 2000 cubic feet of space had been reserved for New Zealand, After the Ist of July next fresh arrangements would be entered into. Regarding the reservation. of space for New Zealand. The speed of the vessels was very satisfactory,. and the New Zealand mails wore being landed in London in 31 days. A faster service could not be provided for £20,000. A maximum amount had been fixed for freight charges and passenger fares, and this could not have been exceeded.

The new service would alternate with the ’Hrisco service, and the reason that the short period, of five years had been fixed for the contract was that the Panama Canal would be opened shortly before the expiration of the con-

tract, and there was bound to be a difference then in the services from here to England. It was very important to have connection between this country and Canada, and the amount- to be paid for the service was very moderate. Mr Massey said there was very little difference of opinion in the matter. The general opinion was at the present time that New Zealand's mail service was out of date. He was pleased that the steamers were twin screw, and equipped with wireless. Mr Lulce (Wellington Suburbs) supported the motion. Mr Henries (Tauranga) said that numerous services should be dispensed with, and one fast service maintained. Sir Joseph Ward, in reply, said that £200,000 was the whole amount for the service, and! no postage was to; be paid. The motion was agreed to, and the House rose at 11.30 p.m.