PARLIAMENT

Hokitika Guardian, 10 July 1920, Page 3

PARLIAMENT

(PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.- -COP.YRIGHT.) WELLINGTON, July 9. THE HOUSE. The House met at 2,30 p.m. The Agricultural and Pastoral Societies Amendment Bill, (Hon Nosworthy) was read a first time. The Native Trust Bill, (Hon Herries) was road a second time, and" referred to the Committee. The Address-in-Reply debate w as continued by Messrs G. Smith, A. S. Malcolm, W. T. Jennings, G. Witty, Atrooro and Seddon. The debate closed with a brief reply by Mr Hockley, and the House agreed.to the presentation of a respectful address to his Excellency. The House rose at 10.24 p.m.

JOTTINGS FROM THE LOBBY (Oar Parliamentary Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, July 9. STANDING ORDERS. To-day’s proceedings in the House following yesterday’s rather stormy controversy have been quiet. Mr Hamilton (Awarun) one of new members, asked Mr Massey if the standing orders could he amended to prevent the waste of time. Mr Massey repliod that he agreed that amendment was desirable, Inst he did not indicate in what direction it should proceed. PRIVATE MEMBERS PRIVILEGES. Mr Malcolm (Cluthn) remarked a tie later- that an amendment of the Standing Orders ought to take the form of increased privileges for private members, whose powers were exceedingly limited. They ought to lie able to initiate and carry through legislation. Mr Massey's idea appeared to be that the powers should be restricted. The fact is that private members possess scarcely any effective rights at all, be yond speaking and voting on Government’s bills, and any attempts at further restriction would be resisted hotly. NAURU ISLAND. Mr Massey read a cablegram from the Colinial Secretary stating that the amendment made to the Nauru Islands agreement in the House of Commons would not alter the general situation. DEBATE CONTINUED. The debate on the Address-in-Reply was resumed and proceeded into the evening. The speeches were unimportant and uneventful. Mr Malcolm ad- ' voeated the abandonment of the mili-, tary system and the institution of cadet training with facilities at colleges for the training of officers. He argued that the Navy was the real defensive force, and that the army could he made at short notice wjien required, THE DEBATE ENDS. WELLINGTON, This Day. The debate was brought to a close soon after ten, 'the Address-in-Repiy was adopted and the House adjourned until Tuesday. The way is now clear for some of the work of the session. , Mr Anderson’s Standard Time Bill is at present on the top of the ordei paper, but several other Government Bills ’are also ready for attention of members. MINISTER OF MINES. Mr Seddon, (Westland) asked where was the Minister for Mines. Mr Massey,—He is here, Mr Seddon,—ln the person of the Prime Minister, another role that Mr Massey has assumed. He hoped Mr Massey did not intend to retain the Mines portfolio. The country had got a young and active Minister for Public Works and now it wanted a young and active Minister for Mines. He had received representation from Westland on this pqint'. Gold miners during the war had carried on their industry under great difficulties, and they had not had the benefit of increased prices. They were entitled to some assistance. Government might offer special inducements for the discovery of a new field. The present subsidies for prospecting were not sufficient. Government stampers should be erected for the use of miners ami assistance should be given. GREY HARBOUR AREA. Mr Seddon urged Government to support alluvial mining and to proceed energetically with the geological survey. , Ho appealed to the Government for assistance to the Greymouth Harbour Board. There was to he legislation this session according to the promise of the Prime Minister ,and he understood one j of the proposals was to establish a rating area. If this should he so, he would like to have the area defined.