JOTTINGS FROM THE LOBBY

Hokitika Guardian, 24 July 1920, Page 3

JOTTINGS FROM THE LOBBY

(Our Parliamentary Correspondent.) MEAT FOB AMERICA. WELLINGTON, July 23. Replying to questions in thy House today, Hon IV. F. Massey said:—"That Government hqd no. objection to the sale of meat in America, the hotter file market the bettor the price obtained, the better for the country but the Dominion had already legislated against the meat trust and he asked producers to assist the Government to maintain the legislation-

IMMIGRATION SHIPS, Hog Nosworthy replying t<> a question regarding accommodation on thy immigrant ship Maluuui, said he had received no complaints. Certain people were trying to discourage immigrants from coining to Now Zealand by raising complaints, but he intended that the immigration scheme should proceed. RAILWAY MEN’S PAYMENTS. Mr Massey stated flint- the Treasury was ready to make the additional payments to railwayinen and other public servants. Some formalities had to lie competed between the General Manager, Railways and loconion. but this meant only a few days delay, GAMING BILL PASSES. The Gaming Bill was read a third time and passed without further discussion. It goes now to the Council. The House was in a working mood tliis afternoon and it also passed the Arms Bill and Magistrate’s Courts Amendment- Bill, which increases the salaries of Magistrates.’

■ ' THE ARM,S The Primp A fillister said that the Awm* U.i'd \yas largely a consolidating measure.. Some of its provisions admittedly were drastic, hut they had been asked 'for by the police. It was now before the House at the special request of th Police Commissioner. The necessity’ for the Pill was proved by the fact that the carrying of fire arms had greatly increased in the Dominion in recent years. During the last fwo years firearms l.tuij hymn tier'd >U eight murders. t\p nftpiiipted murders, and 60 filicides,. Seventy people had been injured hv firearms. Automatic pistols had been used in tiftpf’d eases. Mr Massey mentioned certain crimes and tragedies. He said the automatic pistol was a particnlnrly deadly weapon and its possession was being made unlawful except in cases of returned soldiers. A man who wished to keep a revolver in bis house For the protection of his family, would not he interfered with, but the man who carried a revolver without a permit would get into trouble. Own. ' ers of rifles and shot guns would have to register, hut there would be no further restriction in the case ol shot-guns. Persons selling ammunition must. he. I(- ' censed and must keep record of ad , transactions.

AIK HOM/AiNH 5 twiriAHiM. The sole business of the House tonight was the clispqsal of Aly Holland’s motion disagreeing with the ruling of Air Speaker ip his refusal to accept from Ahr Holland, a motion condemning Jiritish .Administration in Ireland. All ' Holland argued that the Now Zealand | Parliament was competent to express ■ opinions on the affairs of Ireland. H, I reminded the House that it had voted objection to coercion in Ireland in 1887 and objecting to Chinese in Trauspp'.l n ; 1904. j Hon Air Atassev satd the question wa: ' ‘pn,ply. whether the House woitfd support the Speaker. He. was sure it would. > Hon. Ngata said precedents were in

Mr Holland's favour, but tlio Speaker lias the right to create n new precedent by ruling out a motion that might be interpreted as disloyal. The House was | master of its own Standing Orders, and j lie would support the Speaker’s ruling. S Mr Holland’s motion of disagreement was rejected on division by -11 votes to 1 4, the minority consisting of the four Labour members, Holland, Fraser, Savage and Parry. The other four La. . hour members, Howard, Sullivan, McCombs and Ilartram paired in favour ■ of the motion, j The House rose early without further business.