PARLIAMENT.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1923, 4 December 1913, Page 7

PARLIAMENT.

A DAILY SUMMARY.

'A number of important matters came, iip for consideration in the Houso of Representatives yesterday, but everything clso was overshadowed by tho debate upon Naval policy, which" began in the middle of tho afternoon and continued for tho rest of tho sitting. Soon after the Houso met Mr. 6. M. Thomson presented tho report of tho Education Committee upon the education system of the Dominion and tho findings of the Education Commission. The Hon. Jas. Allen stated that legislation would bo introduced early next session dealing with teachers' salaries, superannuation, grading, and other subjects touched upon in the Committee's report.

Tho. Prime Minister gave notice to introduce tho Labour Disputes Investigation Bill. Another measure introduced was the Apiaries Act Amendment Bill, which is to bo circulated this session, but not proceeded with until next year. It was referred to the Agricultural and Stock Committee. ' '

A petition by the widow of the lato Dr. M'Artliur, S.M. for a compassionate, allowanco was referred to tho Government for favourable consideration, although ono or two members raised some objection.

Another petition reported upon came from licensees of hotels which havo lost their licenses by reason of the alteration of electoral' boundaries.' Tho Petitions Committee made no recommeudation'on tho ground that a matter of policy was involved. Mr. W. H. D. Bell pointed out that these licensees were denied all hopo of redress since they could not seek compensation cither by legal process or by petition: The Labour Bills Committeo reported upon tho Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Amendment Bill, recommending that only the clauses dealing with strikes and lock-outs in which unregistered unions wero involved, and with voluntary agreements, should bo gone on with this session.

An opportunity was afforded of discussing Ministerial replies to questions, but not a single member sought to avail himself of it.

The second-reading debate upon the Naval Defcnco Bill was opened by tlio Hon. Jas. Allen shortly after thrco o'clock, and it was not until 1.25 a.m. that a division was taken. Mr. Allon gave an. elaborate exposition .of tho Government's policy, and of tho considerations upon which it was based, and also dealt interestingly with tho attitude of tho Admiralty towards the oversea Dominions, tho abandonment of tho 1909 naval agreement and various other details of his subject. Tho Leader of the Opposi6itiohi and his principal followers objected to the Bill on the ground that it instituted a local navy, and .would inaugurate an era of liuge and unnecessary expenditure. These contentions were mot and rebutted by tho Prime Minister and several of 'his colleagues, and finally by Mr. Allen himself. ' The second reading was carried at 1:25 a.m.'by 31 votes to 21. Afterward tho Houso went into Committee on the Bill, and a number, of hostile- amendments moved by tho v Opposition wero defeated in rarrid succession.

The Legislativo Council did only ■preliminary business and adjourned at 3.20 p.m.