THE MARRIAGES BILL

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 298, 10 September 1920, Page 8

THE MARRIAGES BILL

PASSED BY THE COUNCIL NEW CLAUSES ADOPTED WITHOUT DISCUSSION The Marriages Amendment Bill was committed in the Upper Houso yesterday afternoon. In its report upon the measure, the Statutes Revision Committeo proposed tho insertion of a new clause mnkin/r it an offence to impugn the validity of a marriage celebrated in accordance. with the civil law. The committal) ako put forward a clause desinned to do away with the sections of tho principal Act which provide that in cases where the parties to be married reside in different districts two notices of marriago shall be given and two certificates issued, one b.v the registrar in each district.

The Council adopted without discussion the amendments proposed b.v, the Statutes Revision Committee. The Bill was accordingly reported with these amendments. was read a third time, and passed.

MEMBERS' SALARIES A COMMITTEE TO CONSIDER THE BILL. When Mr. Massey moved in the House of Representatives to set up the committeo that is to consider tlio Civil List Bill, dealine with members' t\nd Ministers' salaries, Mr. A. Harris (Wnitemnta) asked if the coinmittoe would consider, also, the preparation of n superannuation scheme for ex-members of Parliament. Mr. Massey: That is understood. Mr. M'Combs (Lyttelton) pointed out that tho committee as nominated by Mr. Massey contained no representative of tho official Labour group in the House. Mr. Wright (Wellington Suburbs) thought that the Labour group should have ft representative on the committee. The matter to be considered was of great importance. Mr. Massey said he wished to keep the committee small, because it was a joint committee, which would requiro to confer with a similar committee from the Legislative Council. He would not obiect to a Labour member being placed on the committee, provided that tho committee was going to avoid tho tactics that had . been experienced in the House. Ho moved that Mr. Sullivan (Avon) should ba added to tho committee. The motion was agreed to. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL BILL ATTITUDE OF THE GOVERNMENT TOWARDS AMENDMENTS. Upon the suggestion of Sir Francis J Bell, the debate on tho second reading of tho Legislative Council Amendment Bill was yesterday further adjourned for i'ourtoen days. Tho actual mover of the adjourpjpont was tho Hon. .T. B. Gow. Sir Francis-Bell gave members an indication of the attitude the Government would adopt towards proposals to amend the Bill or the principal Act. Tho Act provides for- tho election of Legislative Councillors, who, under tho present system, aro nominated by tho Government. Tho Leader of the Council said: "If the councillors desire to express an opinion on tbo subject of the Hill and the original Act. I venture to suggest that it would bo better that the majority of the Council should do so by resolution No opinion expressed.on this Bill a«amst the view of the Government will be the subject of a" motion for a third reading l>y those in charge of the Lill. js Kgest to lion, gentlemen that .they bliou d. ill the interval, consider—those who desiro to express an opinion on th « W 1 "." ■Vet—whether it will not be bettei to do so by resolution than by irn ollort to insert in a Bill matters of which obviously it is quite tbo third Tending will never be moved.

NELSON'S GUNS

A COLLEGE WITH Till! EE GENERALS.

A report that an artillerj." unit was to bo removed from Nelson was »! c "; tioneil in the House ol Leprescntatncs blir Atmore (Nelson) he member reminded the Minister of Beicneo IM Hio unit had been associated -with JNei son College njul that this school had been represented in the field during the war Rhodes replied that he could not givo details of tho defence scheme He intended ns far as possible tii avoid moving units from districts with which tliey had established associations, but 6omo changes would have to be made. Ho would give the detail!, ns soon as possible. _____

MASTER AND APPRENTICE A LATE SITITiNG. The House had a late sitting on tbo Master and Apprentices Amendment Billwhich provides a system of apprenticeship for British boys on Isew Zealand farms. The labour members _ descr bed this as "child slavory and the t>"n edge of indentured labour. They made obstructive speeches for several he>ui», in spito of occasional protests against, tedious repetition. At 1.30 a.m. tho Prime Minister suggested that Han=aid should cease to report the debate, but Tho Speaker said he had power to take this course, but would not do so at that 6ta»e. The Labour members had something to say about "child slavery in the dairying districts, and their charges drew replies from Mr. Smith (iaranaki) and Mr. Powdrell (Patea) tvwtuaUy an amendment proposing that the Bill should bo read a second time six months hence was, defeated by & votes to 9, Mr. Witty (Riccarton) voting with tho eight Labour members. , . ' ~ Tho Minister of Agriculture, spealung before tho Bill was read a second time at 2 30 «.m., said that he would bo prepared to consider in Committee suggestions for the improvement of the Bill. Ho was not altogether pleased with somo of the clauses, particularly those dealing with punishment of apprentices tor breaches of apprenticeship.

prevention of child labour During 'the debate on the Master and Apprentice Bill early yesterday morning, one or two members urged the Government to bring doivn legislation for the prevention of child labour in tlmcitics. The Minister of Education (the Hon. U J Parr) said that a measure was ready. Mr Fraser (Wellington Contra!) assured the Minister that if the Bill embodied the 'proposals advocated by Mr. Semple. former member for Wellington Soutli, it would have the entire support of the Labour members. ""Do you think I shall lie able to get it 011 this session?" asked Mr. Parr, *ceincr that Mr. Fraser was at the moment engaged in obstructionist tactics.

MEMBERS' QUESTIONS Mr. Wilford (Hutt) is asking the Minister of Finance why those temporary employees of the War Expenses Brancn of the Defcnce Branch of tlio Defeneo Department who have been; demobilised since April 1, 1920, are being deprived <„ their share of tlio grant made hv the Government to meet the increased cost of living. Mr. Wright (Wellington Suburbs) is asking the Minister of Education whether he will instruct the Department to fix a definite 6cale of salaries for technicfll school teachers commensurate with the importance of the work th?y are doill" and the qualifications required to do that work, apart altogether from the 1111 certain factor of capitation earnings. Mr. Jennings (Wailomo) lias given notice that he will ask the Minister of Defence the following question.—Whether, in connection with the warship Chatham, which lias been presented by Ihe Imperial Government to this Dominion, it is proposed to continue the training of New Zealand youth of both racos 011 thn Chatham, or whether the Amokura will still he retained for that purpose? In a note to his question Mr. JenningH alleges that the Amokura is now entirely unsuitable for use as a training vessel