THE SESSION ENDED

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 152, 23 March 1921, Page 6

THE SESSION ENDED

PARLIAMENT’S BUSINESS COMPLETED

HOUSE WISHES MR. MASSEY BON VOYAGE

BUSINESS OF THE CONFERENCE

The session of Parliament ended yesterday after a brief sitting. The Legislative Council passed the Finance Bill, which was received from the House of Representatives, end listened to a few remarks from the Attorney-General (Sir Francis Bell), who made some references to his prospective appointment as Act-ing-Prime Minister. Members of the House of Representatives took advantage of their last opportunity to put questions to Ministers. Then the Leader of the Opposition (Mr. Wilford) wished the Prime Minister bon voyage, and Mr. Mas- - sey replied He told the House a little more about the business of the Imperial Conference. The leader of the Labour group (Mr. Holland) made a final protest against the prorogation of Parliament, and the adjournment was carried against him by 45 votes to 15. Then the House sang the National Anthem and the session was over.

ACTING-PRIME MINISTER SIB FRANCIS BELL AND HIS CRITICS. In his final speech of the session, the Attorney-General (Sir Francis Bell) addressing the Legislative Council, replied to some of the objections made by certain members of the Lower House to his filling the position of Acting-Prime Minister during Mr. Massey’s absence frm New Zealand. Sir Francis Bell said that ho did not think the obieetors would have the sympathy of members of the Council. (Members: Hear, hear.) He - did not understand why it should bo said that the tenure of the office by a member of the. Legislative Council was objectionable—tho Prime Minister beinjf still Prime Minister and his locum tenens being merely chairman of Cabinet during his absence—unless it was to be argued that no Minister of any seniority should hold a place in the Council. The suggestion was made that for some reason or other the Council was not representative of the people. He did not understand that either. Apart from the Maori members, the Councillors vumbered forty, and of the forty twentythree had been members of the House of Representatives by popular election. All the others, by , popular choice, had held most important positions in the local administration of the n(fairs of the country. The members of the Conn cil were as truly a body representing the public by the service that the public had called upon each of them to perform as were the members of the House of Representatives. Of the twentythree who had occupied seats in the ot'her place were two who had held the highest office in the land-that of ' Prime Minister. He was protesting ,on behalf of the Council far more than on his own behalf against tlhe objection and the arguments offered m its favour. ft> far as his personal inclinations, went, e could have wished that the objection had prevailed. Long enough ago he had ceased to be ambitious, and if ho could logically and honestly have supported the objection and the argument he would not have been averse from doing so. He hoped he might be able to retain the confidence with which i Council had so long honoured him To the besi of his ability he would endeavour so to conduct tho office of chaiiman of Cabinet that the ■C?« ncll sl “" ld have no reason to regret that a member of that body had been chosen for the position. . NAVAL DEFENCE \ STATEMENT BY MR. MASSEY. The Hon J. A, Hanan (Invercargill) . stated in the House of RepreWatives that he had noticed m the Gazette ce - tain regulations in regard to the New Zealand Navy. He would like to know if'it was the policy of the Government to establish a local navy in New Zealand. Mr. Massey said that was a very bag question, and he had thought of making a statement regarding it before he left for England. The-. Government quite a long time ago made up its mind that it was necessary to ’have 'some protection for our commerce in these waters in case of trouble, and the hon. member would know that Parliament had passed a Naval Defence Act. The British Government had agreed to hand over to the New Zealand Government . a', fast light cruiser called the Canterbury, which could steam 391 knots. But she" was an oil ship, and New Zealand could not guarantee a supply of oil here, though he hoped that in a year or two the country would be able to make proper provision for oil ships. The Imperial people then said that New Zealand eould have the Chatham until a better arrangement could be made. As to the general policy, he said the Imperial Government intended to place some light cruisers in New Zealand waters as part of the defence of the Pacific.. Tho Chatham was one of these, and it was our ship. It would be a unit of the ships in the Pacific, and .it still remained an Imperial shin, but it belonged to the people of New Zealand, and they were responsible for its upkeep. New Zealand had boon paying -€lOO.OOO as Subsidy to the Navy, and that subsidy had now been merged into the maintenance of tho Chatham. It was not intended to go any further for some time to come. This was. one of the matters that would come up at the Imperial Conference, and he would have to use bis own judgment in tho matter. Tie bed the best reason for saving that the best expert advice would be placed at his disposal with a view to the discussion at the conference “CAN’T ANVWFR THAT” SHEEpn’''VMw,nfl and ArT'OMMODATTON FOP. SHEARERS. The position in which some sheepowners find ttfemselves because they havo not complied with orders to improve the accommodation ifor shearers <on their property was mentioned in the House by Mr. W. S. Glenn (Ttangitikei). While the building regulations were in force, the member stated,the sheepowners could not got the necessary permit for the work, and now that the regulations had been’ lifted, they woluld not be able to obtain the money required for the improvements. The Minister of Justice (Hon. k. J. . Lee) to whom the member’s remarks were addressed, said he supposed that Mr. Glenn wished to know whether the men in question were to be prosecuted. "I can’t answer that,” he said.

"I have always wished," said Sir Francis Bell, in the Legislative Council yesterday morning, "to repeal that part ot the Superannuation Act which requires >.ll moneys received by superannuated public servants from any branch of the Public Service to bo debited to them in their superannuation. Largely. this is necessary to prevent the employment ot pensioners to the exclusion of others who seek employment, and to prevent a pensioner adding to his pension salary from the Public Service. Put in the case of retired civil servants appomtrd to commissions it .is quite unfair that they Should, as at present, be reduced in superannuation by the amount they recmve ner diem for sitting on commissions. It is most, advantageous to the oonntry that we should be able to employ retired Civil Servants as members •2 commifleions.”

THE FINANCE BILL SEVERAL NEW CLAUSES. Clauses added to the Finance Bill in the House of Representatives on Monday night include a provision for the pay-, ment of certain fees for special services to John Strauchon, Andrew Duncan Thomson, and William Stonhani Short, without reduction of superannuation allowances. The three gentlemen mentioned served on royal commissions. Several clauses relate to patents, designs, and trade marks. The GovernorGeneral is given power to make regulations extending times, etc., in prder to give effect to international agreement for the restoration of rights in connection with industrial property affected bv the war. The term limiting the duration ot patents is extended from fourteen years to sixteen years. Any patent now in operation is to have effect as if its original term had been .sixteen years. _ If the original term of a patent has expired within the last two years, the registrar may issue an order restoring the patent for the unexpired portion of the term of two years immediately succeeding the expiry of the original term THE PUBLIC SERVICE APPOINTMENTS AND ECONOMIES. The engagement of cadets for the Public Service was mentioned in the House of Representatives by Mr. R. A. Wright (Wellington Suburbs), who asked why the Departments were taking on boys if they had to discharge men. The Prime Minister replied that for some years the Departments had been short of cadets, but they were now able to obtain all the boys they required. There was no question of discharging men to make room for boys. The Departments would retain all the men for whom they had employment. But where positions could be amalgamated that was being done. Mr. Hanan (Invercargill): You have too many Departments. Mr. Massey: Arrangements are being made to amalgamate some of them now. If any member of this House knows where' there is extravagance going on in the Public Service he ought to let the Government know. If there is extravagance we wish to put an end to it. Members have a duty as well as Ministers. If there is extravagance there should be sufficient intelligence and interest among members to detect it. THE LASTDIVISION MR. HOLLAND’S PROTEST. A session of the New Zealand Parliament always ends, as far as the House of Representatives is concerned, in a division on the motion for the adjournment. The division has no serious effect, ns the business is over, and the Speaker is going to leave the chair, anyway, and it is treated by members as a ioke. Yesterday’s final division, however, had to be taken seriously, as the leader of the Labour Party (Mr. Holland) made it the occasion for a protest against the prorogation of Parliament. He said that the House ought not to adjourn while the affairs of the Dominion were in a serious position, and many important matters were requiring the’ attention of Parliament. The House disagreed with him by 4-5 votes to 15, Messrs. Atmore (Nelson), Hanan (Invercargill), Masters (Stratford), Mitchell (Wellington South), Kellett (Dunedin North), S. G. Smith (Taranaki), Veitch (Wanganui), and Witty (Riccarton) voting with the Labour members. One Labour member (Mr. Sullivan) -was absent. EX-SERVICE IMMIGRANTS ARRANGEMENTS FOR THEIR RECEPTION. The arrangements made for the reception of ex-service men coming as immigrants to this country were criticised in the House on Monday by Mr. H. E. Holland (Buller), who brought to the notice of the Minister of Immigration (Hon. W. Nosworthy) the grievance of a particular man. This man, he said, was- a fitter, with a wife and a family of'three small children. He arrived in the Dominion with A3O in his pocket, and was now penniless. He 'would very shortly have to leave the one room that he was renting, on account of reasons belonging to the family from which he had taken it. He was prepared to go wherever work and accommodation were to be found, but at present ho could get neither. He claimed to be one of the men who had come out by the Pakera, and he alleged that of those who had arrived by that vessel and by the Corinthic not 20 per cent, had yet been provided with accommodation. The man complained, said Mr. Holland, that there was no organisation whatever tp look after, them. The man of whom he had been speaking had the offer of employment at Greymouth, but not the money to get there. Would the Department assist him, and ■would it take steps to see that there was some form of organisation to handle such cases? Mr. Nosworthy replied that every immigrant to this country was met and provided with accommodation' for the time being, and was given assistance in the matter of obtaining employment. Of course, in . the best managed Department there would always ire cases cropping up of individuals who did not have evcijthing they required. The member’ could rest pssured that everything that was fair and reasonable would be done by the Department to see that the new arrivals were cared for. Mr. Holland asked whether the Minister would permit the man who had complained to interview him. Mr. Nosworthy replied in the affirmative. ' He would do what he could, but of course there was a limit beyond which the Government ought not to go in assisting any individual case. He hoped that that limit would not lie strained to an unreasonable degree. The Minister of Defence (Sir Heaton Rhodes) put the matter in quite a new li-dit He said he had questioned the man whose complaint Mr. Holland had recounted. The man admitted having been asked by an official whether tho latter could do anything for him. He hod replied "No,” stating that he had been offered accommodation by a brother-in-law. It was owing to a change in the circumstances of the brother-in-laws family that he ultimately t.nird himself without accommodation.

THE CLOSING SPEECHES GOOD WISHES FOR MR. MASSEY THE WORK OF THE SESSION Before the House of Representatives rose, yesterday, the Leader of the Opposition (Mr. T. M. 'Wilford) said that he desired to wish the Prime Minister bon voyage and a safe return. “The Primo Minister’s visit to Great Britain for the purpose of taking part in the Imperial Conference has been assented to by this House without a division,” said Mr. Wilford. "and now that the Prime Minister is the declared envoy of New Zealand, it seems to me that all questions of party should disappear in regard to his journey, in view of the greatness of the undertaking that he has before him. I therefore would like to say that now Mr. Massey is going to London to represent us at this great conference, this Parliament desires to express its wish, sincere and heartfelt, that'he will return to the Dominion with renewed health and vigour.” (Hear, hear.) Mr. Wilford add. ed that he had no doubt, that the conference would be productive! of good to the Dominion and the Empire. He realised that the details of the deliberations of the conference would not lie made known, and that probably no more than the final resolutions and the reasons for arriving at those resolutions would he communicated to the House. The Prime Minister would realise, as he had done before, that in representing New Zealand ho was representing a country that was prepared to make any sacrifice to remain nart of the great and glorious British Empire.” The sentiments expressed hv Mr. Wilford were endorsed briefly hv Mr. G. Witty (Riccarton), Mr. J. A. Nash (Palmerston), and Mr. J. P. Luke (Wellington North). The Hon. Dr. Pomare assured the Primo Minister that the Maoris wished him well in his mission. The Maoris, he, said, w r ere not asking for self-deter-mination. They took their stand on the Treaty of Waitangi, and they were proud to be citizens of the British Empire. It was just as well for some people that the Maoris were not seeking self-determination, because if they got it their first step would be to turn out of their country all the Bolsheviks, Red Feds, and other disturbing and disloyal elements. He desired the Primo Minister to carry to Britain an assurance of the Maoris’ continued loyalty ■to the Crown.

The Prime Minister thanked the Leader of the Opposition and the other speakers. He had not desired to go to Britain this year. He would have preferred to stay in New Zealand during the next few years and help to steer the country through any difficulties that might come along. But he did not anticipate, any serious difficulties during '.he next few months, and he believed that the legislation passed by the House during the session had laid the foundation of secure conditions.

After - referring to some (>f the business to be considered hy the Imperial Conference, the Prime Minister said that he had intended to pay a visit to Samoa during the present year. The call to London had interfered with that plan. He had thought that he might lie able to visit Samoa on his way to London, but that seemed scarcely possible now. But he would take an opportunity of visiting Samoa as soon as possible, and he wished to say to the people of Samoa that the Government and the Parliament .of New Zealand had their welfare at heart, and wished to make them realise that they would be happier, most likely more prosperous and he hoped in years to come more contented under the control of New Zealand than under the control of any other nation. The Maoris were well content under British rule, and be believed that in years to come the Samoans would have the same feeling. “The session has been a short one, it is true,” Mr. Massey continued, “but it has been a strenuous one. I think members will agree with me when I say we have done very important work. lam thinking particularly of the fact that the interim financial report and the discussion thereon must have satisfied the people of this country that the Government’s finances are perfectly sound, and that we shall be able to meet our liabilities, whatever they may be, for quite a long time to come. lam quite certain that that will be the case. With regard to the amendment of the moratorium, let me say this: while it is quite likely that arising from the passing of thftt provision there will be a certain amount of inconvenience to many people throughout the country, there will be no hardship, so far as it is possible for me to judge, and ■ there will bo no loss. I believe—and I probably know more about the position than anyone elee in Parliament—that by the legislation of last evening we have avoided what might have been for this country very serious financial trouble. We have done our duty, and we must ask the public to understand that we have done it. 'because we considered it necessary —absolutely necessary. lam particularly pleased that there was no division on the measure, and that both branches of the Legislature agreed unanimously to it.” Mr. M'Combs (Lyttelton): There were voices given against, it. Another member: Only one voice. Mr. Massey: "A voice doesn’t count much unless it is backed up by o vote. We will take it for granted that it was carried unanimously, as I think the official returns will show. I conclude by quoting the words of Sir Henry Parkes: 'Wherever I may be, and in whatever circumstances I may be placed, I shall never do anything to sever, but rather to strengthen, the crimson tie of kinship which binds us io the Motherland.’ ” (Applause.)

HIGH COMMISSIONER’S CABLEGRAMS

MR. MASSEY PROMISES INQUIRY"These cablegrams appear to me to be indefinite, and not sufficiently clear to convey to the producers the real values of New Zealand produce,” said Mr. E. Newman (Manawatu) in the House of Representatives, when referring to the commercial cablegrams received from the High Commissioner’s office. A recent cablegram, for example, had quoted crossbred wool, 40’s, at Is. 3|d. The latest cablegram regarding meat had quoted mutton at 9d., and lamb at Is. Id. The local price for wether mutton was 3d., and he did not think that the companies were buying lamb at all. If the cabled prices were correct, there was no apparent justification for the, local prices. Mr. Newman hoped that the Prime Minister would give this matter his attention in London. Mr. Massey said that he had noticed the discrepancies, and he would look info the matter if he got an opportunity. The High Commissioner’s office contained a very excellent officer who looked after this side of the business. He was a thoroughly reliable man, one of the best men in the employ of the Government. and the statements that appeared to bo misleading probably wore capable of explanation.

IMPERIAL BUSINESS THE ANGLO-JAPANESE TREATY PROBLEMS OF DEFENCE Some of the, matters that are likely to bo discussed at the Imperial Conference in London were mentioned by the Primo Minister (Mr. Massey) in the House of Keprosentatives just before the session ended yesterday. Mr. Massey indicated that he could not say exactly what matters would be discussed or what lines the discussions would take. Much interest had been taken recently in the proposed renewal of tiro AngloJapanese Treaty, said Mr. Massey. His own opinion was that so long as the British States were allowed to choose their own citizens, the Empire had a great deal to gain and nothing to lose by the renewal of the Anglo-Japanese Treaty. He could not forget that the Japanese were thoroughly loyal to the British Empire during the war. There was n point that had not been generally Tecognised, and that was that according to the existing treaty Japan was not compelled to enter the war. The treaty contained a special limitation to ' the effect that it referred only to possible troubles in India and the Far East. If trouble had come to Britain in India and the Far East, then according to the treaty the Japanese would have been bound to assist. On the other side, if trouble had to come to Japan in the Far East, then Britain would have- been bound to assist the forces of Japan. But Japan had not confined herself to the letter of the obligation, ■ She entered war on the side of the Allies, and her naval strength undoubtedly had proved verv useful. Mr. Massey referred to the assistance given by Japan in the convoying of Dominion troops. There were other matters to be. consulted by the conference on which he could hardly express a definite opinion nt that stem?. A much-discussed subject ™! the relation of the. Dominions to the Empire and to each other. Ho had said something on this subject during the session. Whatever- might be done, no effort would be spared on his part to strengthen the ties that bound the Dominion to the Empire. . The defence of the Empire would be discussed, added the Prime Munster. Very interesting discussions on the subject had taken place within the last few days in the House of Commons. Ho hoped that the matter would be dealt with satisfactorily, and that 1 would be made. The people of the Em- | pire were not looking for war, but they I had a perfect right to defend themse Ives. I By leaving themselves undefended, they would be inviting attack. Then there was the matter of migration. The arrangements.that had been made were not all woikmg quite smoothly, and it would.be the task of the conference to straighten them out.