THE HOUSE

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 26, 25 October 1918, Page 7

THE HOUSE

The House of Representatives met at 2.30 p.m., and the SpeakerJSir Frederick Lang), accompanied by Ministers and members, proceeded to the Legislative Council to hear tho Governor-General read his 'Speech. < I " NEW MEMBERS. AVhen the House resumed, the Speaker road the writs received from the returnins officer* in connection with tho byelections in .Grey, Wellington Central, and Tarauaki. - _■ 1T . ■ The new members, Messrs. R. Holland (Grey), P. I'raser (Wellington Central), and S. Smith (Taranaki, took the oath- in the usual form and occupied j their seats. PRIVATE MEMBiRS , BILLS, Mr. Malcolm (Clutha) gave notice to introduce the Hospital and Charitable Institutions Amendment Bill. . Other members-gave notice of their intention to introduce the following Bills: Toll Gates: Abolition Bill (Mr. llkmson), Definition of Time Bill (Mr Sidev), AVorkers' Accommodation Bill (ill. Vpitch) Legislature Amendment Bill (Mr. M'Combs), Industrial Conediaticm and Arbitration Amendment Bill (Mr. Walker) Proportional Representation and Effective. Voting Bill (Sir. Veitch), Com-, mercial Trusts. Amendment Bill (Mr. Voitch), Police Force Amendment Bill (Mr Veiteh), Dominion State Bank Bill (Mr Veiteh). Naturalisation of Subjects Bill (Mr. Brown), Business Names Bill (.Air. Brown). ■ EXPIRING' LAWS CONTINUANCE. The Prime Minister gave notice to introduce on next sitting day tho Expiring Laws Continuance Bill. ADDRESS-IN-REPLY, V Mr. Anderson (Mataurn) gave notice of his intention to movo the Addrcss-in-Hcply. ■ THE LIQUOR QUESTION. Dr. NEWMAN (Wellington East) said that as tho matter was not mentioned in the Governor's Speech, he would give notice"to ask the Prime Minister if tho .Government' intended to deal with the proposal to refer the drink question to a referendum of the people. Dr., THAClttilt . (Ch'ristchurch . East) asked the Minister of Internal Affairs, without nojice, whether he considered that the "base, squandering advertisements" published at great expense in the newspapers by. tho Prohibition Party wore in'tho int(>rpsl? of national efficieiicv at tho present time. Tho Hon. G. AV. RUSSELL, in reply, suggested that the question should he placed on the order paper. THE NEW CHAMBER. The Right Hon. W. F. MASSEY (Prime jl mister) said _ that before the adjournment ho wished to congratulate members upon being able to incut for the firsn time in tne now v'lianiIjor. No doubt, during tho present session, members would nave to submit to ii certain amount of inconvenience, but the fact that they were in the new Chamber was a pr-omjsc of better things in tho future. Judging by -present nppraraiices, the Chamber would bo the principal council hali of the Dominion for long after men of the present generation had passed away; perhaps for centuries to come. "1 hope," saiSl Mr. 51nsse.y, "that within these walls legislation will'be framed • which will be for the good of the Dominion, which will mete-out * just and equal treatment for and-.between all the different classes of the community, which will encourage national sentiment, and national ideals, and which will tend to make,this country respected not only within the British Empire, but among tho whole of the nations of tho world." The House adjourned at 3.40 p.m. until 2.30 p.m. to-day.