PARLIAMENT

Hokitika Guardian, 19 September 1917, Page 4

PARLIAMENT

.. - [prut PItF.SS ASSOCIATION'. —COPYB M3HT.] j THE COUNCIL. j WELLINGTON. This Day. The Council met at 2.30. p.m. The Council passed the Parliamenta.iv Representation Adjustment Bill without amendment. The Registration of Aliens Bill was read a second time pro-forma'. the nousiT The House met at 2.30 p.m. WAR LOAN. Sir Joseph Ward, replying to Mr. Thomson, said he. would endeavour to arrange some means by which the Treasury would purchase War Loan Bonds from person's who subscribed to the war , and who .subsequently had fallen upon hard times. KAURI GUMThe Premier tabled the report of the Commission on the kauri gum industry. A majority of the speakers in the discussion that followed, congratulated the Government on the appointment ol a commissioner to purchase gum till the market revi rd. thereby saving the industry. Several speakers also advocated the divisor, of Auckland district, as it was too large to he efficiently worked hy J one Laud Board, j Others suggested the appointment j of a Development Board, for the, purpose of bringing the lands in the far north into pr.olit. EMMA* CLOSING BILL. At the evenin' «>tling Mr. Massey moved the second reading of the Sale of Liquor Restriction Bill. lie stressed the point that, the Bill was a strictly non-party measure, and therefore every member was responsible i for the vote he gave. As to the scope of the Bill, he claimed j that if it passed, the hours during ; which liquor would be sold would be j shorter than in England, and Victoria. J Dealing with the financial aspect Jof the ease, lie contended that eight ! o’clock closing would mean a reduc- : tiou of revenue by £300,000 and six o’clock of £000,00(1. Cabinet, during the past few days ; has been considering a proposal which j would increase the _oxpenditure by } £700,000 per an Cum. If members ’ agreed to both proposals they would I effect the finances of the Dominion to ; tho extent of a million and they would do so with their open. ■ The other speakers wero Messrs Hornsby, Harris, Jsitt, Lee, Payne, ; and Hudson. The debate was adjourned, and the HouSe rose at 11.40. p.m. {