PARLIAMENT YESTERDAY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XLV, Issue 3988, 22 July 1915, Page 6

PARLIAMENT YESTERDAY.

THE COUNCIL. (Press Association Telegram.) WELLINGTON, July 21. The Council met at 2.110 p.m. Sir Francis Hell gave notice to move that the Council appoint Wednesday, 28tlx July, as the date for the election of Chairman of Committees. The Council adjourned to Wednesday, o2Btli July. J/ THE HOUSE. jThc House met at 2.30 ]>.m. p The/ Devon port Borough Vesting f Bill (Mr Harris) was introduced and read a first time. In reply to Mr Russell, the Minister for Defence said Colonel Purdy Jiad no private medical practice whatever while in the employ of the Government. Mr Wilford moved the second residing of the State Advances Amendment Bill. lie explained that the Bill ro-cnacted a clause of the Act of 1309 repealed by the Act of 1913. That clause provided that if one branch of the Advances office transferred to another branch funds n-ot immediately required, a statement of such transfers shall bo submitted to Parliament. His desire was that such information should he available so as to enable the House to ascertain exactly the state of any State Advances Account. The second clause of the Bill provided that all borrowers from the State Department should he compelled to insure in the State Office. He explained that under the Ward Government it was compulsory upon borrowers to insure in the State office, hut the present Government modified that condition, giving borrowers the right to insure in any office. He gave reasons why the State office should In* -supported and said it was admitted that tiie office had lost .1)3000 in p l *- - miuins in one year owing to the change made by tlio present Government. Mr M ; ssev raised a point ol order, •and asked i'l' it was iiminetimt for a private member to introduce a Bid compelling persons to pay IIiOIKH into a iS’tato Department. The. Speaker said lie wouM take time to consider the point. There was, however, no need to st-op the Bill at this stage. Mr Allen said lie could not see tiiai the information asked lor was pi any value. With regard to making it compulsory that all insurance should he. affected in the State office, In' asked would the hon. gentleman support a proposal that all risks offered should be-accepted by the Statef All the inrger offices "uve borrowers- the right to insure as they directed or m some reputable office. '1 lion there were the mutual offices established by the farmers'*. H the hon. momboGs proposals were agreed to, these institutions might have to close. He could not support the proposal. Sir .Joseph Ward said that when the State Eire Department- started there was a combination of other offices. So hostile were they to the State offi e that they made a reduction of 33 1-3 in premiums so the State Department could not effect reinsurance until the S’eddon Government was able to do that through London agencies. The Department was not started with a view to (-rushing out their offices, hut to control t,h.i) rates. Personally lie could see no reason why the transfers made in the Advances ' Department should not he disclosed to Parliament. He would support the Bill. Mr Malcolm said the settler should have freedom to insure where lie pleased. lie hoped the Mouse would not he a party to tyrannise over him. Mr Pearce said the Bill was an attempt to demand a- premium of S s , 4d from farmers when they could get it from their co-operative assoc! at Gs Id. This would kill the cooperative) associations. He won'a oppose the Bill. Mr Himlmarsh said no class was >o pampered by Die .'Tate us the farmers. They should 'cck to - •’.* x■ dness by helping xiie Department- >.■ the State that hi'leod them. Mr Mine ,:ir.i it had been - ihat tlie farmers mutual asso iatims eok liromiums at a lower rate than no State office, hut it was not goner all v known there was a contingent ii-tL;!-itv attached to those mutual policies. It was true no one had been called upon to pay that- liability, but it was there. Mr Isitt- said nn honest- squaredealing farmer would regard the provisions of the Bill as unfair. Messrs Field (Nelson) and Wilkinson opposed the Bill, and Mr Payne spoke in its support-. The House rose at -5.30 p.m. The House resumed at 7.30. Mr M nssoy said lie could not support the Bill a.s a whole because it encouraged monopoly. Monopoly, even if it favored a Government Department, was wrong. If the Bill passed into law it would prejudicially affect the shareholders in farmers' mutual fire associations. Ho quoted figures- to show that the State Department made annual increased* profits under the present Government. Mr Russell remarked that there was apparently a process of evolution

going on amongst members of the Reform party. If the Premier was prepared to use the State Fire Office to further attack private) offices he would be doing a great public service. He condemned the system of paying boil-uses to fire offices. The progress made by the State Eire Department was simply due to natural evolution and did not imply better management. Mr I-lorries defended the charge that had been made in allowing borrowers to insure with outside offices-. The debate was continued by Messrs Witty, E. Newman, Anstey, Harris, I Poole, Thacker, and Webb to the I supper adjournment. After supper the debate was continued by Messrs Rhodes, Ell, Walker, Okev, stud Escott. Mr Wilford replied, and the second reading was carried on the voices; The Industrial Unions and TradesUnions Enabling Bill (Mr McCombs) was read a second time pro forma ami referred to the Statutes Revision Committee. The Minister for Health notified the House that a ease of measles was reported 'on tho hospital ship Maheno. The sufferer -and his mate had been landed at Adelaide. _ ._ Mr Russell asked the Minister for any information about soldier patients at Wellington hospital. He had received information that two men had died and two more were dying. hie Minister said he had not received any "report on the matter. The House adjourned at 1J.20 p.m.