CONCLUSION OF THE DEBATE.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1805, 18 July 1913, Page 8

CONCLUSION OF THE DEBATE.

The House of Representatives met at ' 6.30 p.m. Mr. T. iH., DAVEY (Christchurch East) gave notice of his. intention to ask the Prime Minister whether he would this session introduce legislation to prevent a voter at a- municipal- election from duplicating his vote against which there were at present quito inadequate Safeguards. Mr. Massey: There will bo a Bill, . THE-v DUTY ON TOBACCO. Mr. J. V. BROWN (Napier) gave notice to ask that sixpence per pound be taken off the duty on plug tobacco, which was largely, .used by poor men, and that tho revenue be made.up by increased dutie9 on champagne' and other luxuries. A WASTE OF TIME. Mr. G. M. THOMSON (Dunedin , North) gave .notice to ask the Government that in futu.ro tlio Address-in-Reply debate be abolished as' being a gross waste of time, and altogether unnecessary because members had .ample opportunity at ether .times of ventilating their ■grievances.;'POLICE EXAMINATIONS. Mr. H. ATMORE (Nelson) asked the Minister for Justice, without notice, whether, in view of the general dissatisfaction - and feeling of .injustice' existing among the .non-commissioned officers in the police force, consequent upon the recent introduction of examinations into the force as a condition precedent. to promotion,, lie would arrange for the rescinding of regulations'" 417, 433, and 434, in so far as tho present sergeants and senior sergeants of the police force wero concerned, and in tho meantime suspend those regulations?. Mr. Atmore referred to past commissioners of police, and stated that in many cases they had failed to pass examinations in their earlier years. The Hon. A. L. HERDMAN, in reply, gaid he knew of no instanco- in which a man had been„pass»d over or treated unfairly. ' If .the lion, gentlemen knew of any such case it was-his duty to bring it under tho notice of tho Minister. Ho knew of no general dissatisfaction and no general sense of injustice existing in the force at present because the-new regulations prescribe that police constables and police officers should pass an elementary education test before gaining promotion. What the lion, gentleman had said in Teferenoe to commissioners who had coil--trolled the police force in. the past might be quite accurate, but he (Mr. ilErdman) was certain that before police officers got promotion 6ome test -Should be passed by them, in order that they might prove that. they. were familiar with the rudiments of education. The Department had had instances of- men in charge of country stations who had got their accounts into a hopeless state of muiddle, not because they were dishonest, but liecause they were uneducated and lgnortint of how to keep accounts. He would very glad to consider, all that Mr. Atanoro had brought under his notice, and suggested that Mr. Atmore write him fully as to cases of men alleged to have been unjustly treated.. ' ' • . Mr.-Atmore thanked tho Minister for .his reply, and promised to give the information desired. THE EXPEDITIONARY.FORCE. The Hon. D. BUDDO (Kaiapoi) -read the passage in tho Defence Report referring to the proposal to train an expeditionary force, and.asked tho Minister for Defence, without''notice, whether he was responsible for tho proposals, or whether they wero adopted by the Government? He also also asked what legislative authority Government had for making such proposals which bad never been discussed by Parliament. „ The Hon., J. ALLEN (Minister for Defence) advised Mr. Buddo to put his question on the Order Paper. MARLBOROUGH LAND BOARD. Mr. R. M'CALLUM (Waij-au) asked the Minister for Lands when he intended to appoint a-member to the. vacant position .on the Marlborough Land Board, saying that the shortage of a member was causing inconvenienco and delay in the transaction of business. . '. Mr. Massey: I have already given instructions to have the vacancy filled. BILLS INTRODUCED. The Shops and Offices Bill (tho Hon. W. F. Massey) and the Springs County Council Reclamation 1 and Empowering Bill (the Hon. R. H. Rhodes) were introduced and read a first time. The Magistrate's Court Amendment Bill was introduced by Governor's Message, and read a first time. DEFENCE COMMITTEE. The Hon. J. ALLEN moved: "That a Select Committee be appointed, consisting of ten members, with' power to confer with any similar committee appointed by the Legislative Council, to consider the . amendments made in the defence legislation by the Act of 1912 in the relation To" military custody, punishment, alternative service, and such other matters as the Minister for Defence may refer to it; the Committee to have power to call for persons and papers,.,and to report to this House within twenty-one days; three to bo a quorum: the Committee to; consist of Messrs.'Bradney, Coates, Davey, Escott, Isitt, Myrs, E. Newman, Statham, Veitch, and the . mover." " " /

MOVER'S REPLY. SIX DAYS A WEEK BILL.