THE HOUSE.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1579, 24 October 1912, Page 6

THE HOUSE.

SIX DAYS' W^EEK

The Houso of Representatives met', at 2.30 'p.m. yesterday. Mr..)V. A. VEITCH CWanganui) asked tlio Minister for Labour what progress was being made with tho liill providing for a six darn' week for hotel unci restaurant employees. Tho Hon. W. V. MASSEY replied that he would introduce a Bill in a few days, and it would be at once referred to the Labour Bills Committee. • LEAVE OF ABSENCE. Fourteen days' lenvo of absence was granted to Mr. Ifc M. Campbell, member for llawko's Bny, on account of ill-health. BILLS AMENDED. Amendments to the Pharmacy Bill and the- Public Service Classification Bill/ivero introduced by Governor's Message. ■ QUESTIONS BY MEMBERS. MINISTERS' REPLIES. THE DEFENCE ACT AND SCHOOL. Mr. G. W. RUSSELL (Avon) asked tho Minister for Defence ivhether ho will ascertain if it is a fact that attendance at tlie Duncdin Technical School is counted for the samo evening as attendance at drill; if so, is this custom allowed throughout the Dominion; if not, why not ? Tho Hon. J. ALLEN (Minister for Defence), replied: The position regarding attendance at drill of Dunedin Technical School Cadets is as follows:—lnstructions given' by District Defence Headquarters mndo it plain that. Technical School Cadets who had to attend school on thoso nights in each'week on which drill was ordered to bo carried out were to transfer to a company which drilled on a free night in .rdcr that drill would not interfere with attendance at school. There neve some fourteen cadets who were either attending school every night or for reasons of locality were granted leave till t end of term. These cadets will nut in the required drills during the holidays. The school authorities are arranging the syllabus to allow drill to work in with school hours next year. It will be seen, therefore, that there has been no intention on the part ;.l the Department of allowing attendances at drill to count as such unless they actually took place. RAILWAYS MANAGER. THE APPOINTMENT TO BE MADE. ' _ Replying to a question by Mr. R. \V. Smith as to what steps were being taken to appoint a General Manager of Hailways, The Hon. W. H. HERBIES minister for Hallways) stated: "Tho High 'Commissioner has been instructed to. invite applications in the United Kingdom for the position of General Manager of Railways. Should applications be received by ■ the High Commissioner from countries outside Grftat Britain they will he forwarded to the Government for, consideration. It is intended-to confer the appointment on the most-suitable applicant, who ;. must,*" however, have had' practical railway experience."

A POLICEMAN'S LOT. WORK SEVEN DAYS A WEEK. Mr. H. ATMOBE (Nelson) asked the Minister for Justice: Whether ho will take the necessary steps to—(1) Allow the men in the New Zealand police force.one day's holiday in each week; (2) provide completed uniforms instead of cloth only; and (3) allow time off to any constable who has made, an arrest (luring nightduty and has to attend Court in the morning in what would otherwise be his own time? o The Hon. A. L. HKRDJIAN' (Minister for Justice) replied: (1) To comply with the honourable gentleman's request a very large-increase wonld,have<to.bojnade(in the present strength of-the force, and as the men are paid by tho dny for seven days weekly, tho additional expense would be considerable. Annual leave is provided for by regulation, and in addition to this Sunday leave in turn is given, where possible, without any loss of pay. (2) Tho question of providing boots and the cost of making up uniforms is one of additional expense, probably over .£IOOO per annum, which'would have to be considered. It is not many years since all members of the police force had to provide uniforms at their own cost. (3) A rule to allow two hours off duty to all men who during their turn off duty have to attend Court for a short period would mean a considerable increase in the force, as other men would be required to take up the work of those-allowed off. At present the custom'is to allow men who are detained lons »t Court a concession of time off as far as the circumstances will permit. RESERVES AND DOMAINS. , When tho House -.resumed at 7.30 p.m., the Public Reserves v and Domains Amendment Bill was read a first time. DIVORCE BILL. The House went into Committee on the Divorce, and Matrimonial Causes Amendment Bill. Mr. C. E. STATHAM (Dunedin Central) objected to and called for a division on Clause 2, which gives the right to a divorce to a person whose husband or wife is confined in a mental hospital for an aggregate of seven years out of ten. At present the aggregate period required is ten years. Air. Statham said that too great laxity of divorce laws in the United States had undermined the wiole social system of the Republic. The clause was retained, on a division, by 12 votes to 13. The Bill was reported without amendment. The PRIME MINISTER said that- this Bill had been placed at the head of the Order Paper that night at' the request of the oldest member of,the House, who, was then lying seriously ill, and was interested in.the provisions of the measure. ;