JOTTINGS' FROM THE LOBBY

Hokitika Guardian, 21 August 1920, Page 3

JOTTINGS' FROM THE LOBBY

(Our Parliamentary Correspondent.) AS YOU WERE. WELLINGTON, Aug. 2\ The Legislative Council has agreed to the Gaming Bill practically in tlie form which it left the House. The proposals for publication of dividends, legislation of betting, telegrams to racecourses and reduction of races at winter meetings have been deleted. MORE JUDGES WANTE^. Tlie House has had a day on the Estimates with much talk about many matters. Members appealed during the afternoon for the appointment, of the additional judges on the ground that the present judges were overworked, and that tlie Arbitration Court proceedings were delayed by the employment of the President of the Court, in the Supreme Court. The Minister for Justice promised to investigate. WOMEN JUSTICES. A demand was made by Dr Newman ; Wellington East) for the appointment of women as Justices of the Peace. Hon Lee said this matter would receive attention later but no legislation could be introduced this session. WAR MEMORIALS.

During the evening the House discussed the question of war memorials. Parliament last year voted £IOO,OOO for a national war memorial which the Minister stated would be erected in Wellington. This money has not been spent and the vote appears again in this Year’s Estimates.

Air Craigie (Timaru) suggested, the vote should be reduced by £50,000. He considered that. Wellington had made money out of the war and that its people ought to he subscribing for a war memorial as other districts were doing. The remaining £50,000 should be used for subsidies to local memorials in other districts.

The Minister for Public Works said New Zealand was merely following the example of other countries in placing'a national memorial in the capital city. Mr Massey endorsed this view. He recognised as a citizen of New Zealand that a national memorial should he placed in the capital. It should be artistic and noble, worthy of standing for centuries to eome.

The discussion that followed indicated wide diversence of views among members on the subject. Mr JlcGallum (Wairnu) moved to reduce the vote* by £BO,OOO until Government bad made up its mind what form the memorial should take. This was negatived on the voices and the vote was passed. The House rose soon after midnight after passing several clauses.