PARLIAMENT.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1922, 3 December 1913, Page 7

PARLIAMENT.

A DAILY SUMMARY. The Houso or Representatives did not meet yesterday until 7.30 p.m., tho 'usual week-end break having been extended in order to meet the convenience of tho members of tho Parliamentary party which attended tho opening of tho Auckland Exhibition. Although tho sitting only lasted until 11.30 p.m., no fewer thau six Bills, three of which wero down for committal and three for second reading, wore put through their remaining stages and passed. To all appearance members havo settled down to "tho end of session rush."

When tho House met, Mr. G. W. Russell asked the Prime Minister whether ho wan aware, that an "outside defence force" was being; formed at Auckland. Mr. Massey said that the Government had no official knowledge- of tho matter, but that ho believed a register was being made of those who wero acting as mounted special constables, and might bo willing to so act in future if the necessity arose. There was nothing in tho nature of an armed constabulary about it. Vivo miiiutwa aftor it met, tlio Houso went into Committee on the Counties Amendment-Bill, which ga-vo rise to an interesting discussion on country workers' dwellings and other subjects. The Bill was reported with amendments in less thau an hour.

When tho Police Offences Amendment Bill was being considered.in Committee, Messrs. Veitch and Hindmarsh attempted to secure a special legal recognition of strike-picketing.' An amendment having this object ill view wa3 negatived by 30 votes to 13. Tho next measure considered was tho Judicature Amendment Bill, providing for tho appointment of additional Judges of tho Supremo Court. An amendment moved by tlio Hon. A, L. Hordman to provido that only ono additional Judge, instead of two, should tio appointed, was agreed to, and several other important amendments wero incorporated in tho Bill. Other Bills put through their final stages wero: Tho Education Reserves Amendment Bill, tho Distress and Replevin Amendment Bill, and tho Mutual Firo Insurance' Amendment Bill. The House rose at 11.30 p.m.