THE HOUSE

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2508, 8 July 1915, Page 7

THE HOUSE

; The House of Representatives ' mot at 2.30 p.m. . .• . : JIB. .SPEAKER read a letter from Mr. H. OttersonjV'resigning his position as Clerk of the House. Mr. Speaker' expressed high appreciation of Mr, Oti terson's faithful service for forty years ■as an officer of the House. . ' ' ■ The RIGHT HON. W. I'\ HASSEY (Prime Minister) moved a; resolution acknowledging the services of.Mr.vOttcrson. aid added that he hoped Mr. Ptterson would have ahead of. him many years of happy life in retirement. ; SIR; JOSEPH WARD (Leader of the Opposition) supported the motion, paying .his .tribute Otterson as. a Valued and courteous officer, an ornament.tothe Service.. V 1 The inotion was carried. ' 1 MR. t SPEAKER announced, that consequent on the retirement of Mr. Ottersou. ' certain - promotions had been made.' Mr. A. T. Lowe had : been .appointed Clerk of the Jtlouso, Mr. E. W. Kane, clerk assistant, and Mr. W. E. Dasent second clerk assistant. These gentlemen had all Keen long ill the service of the. House, and he was sure that they would all fill their new positions well., Mr. Speaker announced, also, that _ Commander Home had been appointed Sergeant-at-Arms. . Mr. IH: R. H. Balneavis had been appointed acting-interpreter to tlio House of Representatives, during the present session. t . ■ • • . . ; Mr. W. T. JENNINGS (Taumarunui) gave notice to ask whether the time had not arrived when a permanent camp should be'established oil the Waimarino Plain... He. stated that the plain was ten miles long by four or five miles wide, the soil pumiceous and always dry underfoot, and the climato wholesome. Dr. A. K: NEWMAN (Wellington East) gave noticc to ask the Minister of Defence whether he would in future provide every officer of the Expeditionary Force with a revolver and a binocular. He added that an appeal to the people in .England by the Army authorities for binoculars had met with a good response. FIRST READINGS. V The Lights on Vehicles Bill (the Hon. D. Buddo), tho Waiapu County Council (Tokomara Bay Harbour) Grant and Empowering Bill (Mr. W. D. S.. MaeDouald), TWe Expeditionary Forces Bill (the Hon. J. Allen), and the Tauranga Foresliore Vesting and Empowering Bill (the Hon. AV. H. Herries) were introduced and road a first time. CHAIRMAN OF COMMITTEES. Mr. A. S. Malcolm wna reappointed Chairman of Committees of tho House,.

THIRD READINGS. Tho Statutes Compilation Amendment Bill (tho Hon. A. L. Herdman) and the Enemy Contracts Bill (the Hon. A. L. Rerdman) were read a third time and passed. PAYMENT TO SOLDIERS, SALARIES DURING ABSENCE. Hon A. L. HERDMAN (Attor-uc.y-Gc.neral) moved tho second reading Tj-ii Authorities Empowering 13iII. He explained that during -this war time many local bodies had decided to pay salaries to employees who had go no on. active 1 ; service; oven during their, absence from the Dominion, and that it had been discovered that these local authorities had 110 power to mako any such payments. The Bill would validate any such payments already made, ajidmalre them legal iu future J[r - r . T : M. WILFORD (Hutt) asked the Minister whether ho would add to the Bill a clause to enable local bodies to make and sell broad for the people. Ho stated that the Petone Borough Council wished to supply the residents or . retoiiG with machine-made bread, bub could nob':legally do so. -.rP?' (Hawke's Bay) asked the ■Minister whether he . would inquire as to whether there was any power under the law-to remit the rates on properties banded over, to the Government for convalescent homes." These properties might be occupied by the Government, for S6mb considerable time. 1 Other members suggested that the law should, be amended . to give" municipalities ■ and other ■ local bodies wider powers to enter into trading activities. ■The Hon. A. L. HERDMAN, in reply, said that a number of interesting topics had been raised, but they were not Herman© to tho'contents of the Bill, and- would not be introduced into it. He was not sure whether the Minister of Internal Affairs would introduce a General Amending BiU to give effect to the proposals; some of which ' wore worthy, of consideration. The Bill was read a second time. MINOR BILLS. Hon. A. L,■ HERDMAN (Attor-ney-General) moved the sccond reading Of: the Laiv Practitioners Amendment Bill--He'explained that the object of the Bill was to increase the contribution of'members; of the Law Society to the; society from 10s. to £1 Is. per year in order that .the Law Reports might be edited without loss. Tho Bill was read a second time; and referred to the Statutes Revision Committee- 1 ■ ■ Iho Hon. A. L. HERDMAN' moved the second reading of the Arbitration Amendment Bill which ho said was a small technical ■ Bill dealing with arbitrations and the method of making them. ' Tho Bill was read a second time.Tho Hon. A. L. HERDMAN moved the second reading of the Settled lLand Amendment Bill, which lie said wa-s a technical' Bill,, about which there could be no dispute. i' \ The Bill was read a second time, and referred ito. the Statutes 'Revision Com-' mittee. ■ : .. The Education Amendment Bill was received ' from;' the Legislative Council and read a first, time. ' The Houso rose at 4.35 p.m. 1