JOTTINGS FROM THE LOBBY

Hokitika Guardian, 24 September 1920, Page 1

JOTTINGS FROM THE LOBBY

(Our Parliamentary Correspondent.;

WAR REGULATIONS.

WELLINGTON, Sept. 23

Amendments made'by the Legislative Council in the War Regulations Bill were considered during the evening. The most important amendment was the re-enactment of regulations relating to control of wharves and exclusion of aliens from wharves. Labour members objected, but Mr Massey insisted that the exclusion of aliens from the wharves was considered desirable by the police, in the light of experience. The amendments were eventually agreed to. TREATIES QE PEACE.

The-Minister for External Affairs moved the second reading of Treaties of Peace Bill, late in the evening. This Bill provides for continuing the present arrangement for administration of Samoa, pending receipt .of a mandate, and it provided the Labour members with an opportunity for making another protest against indentured labour m Samoa. The debate followed familiarlines, and occupied much time, before the Bill was read a second time. DIVORCE BILL. Hon Mr McGregor’s divorce amendment Bill was partially considered m Committee by the Legislative Council. This Bill provides that a failure o comply with an order of the court for restitution of conjugal rights, may bo a ground of divorce, thus restoring the position that existed,until the law was amended some years ago. The Bill also proposes that divorce may be granted where the parties have been legally separated for three years. ' “DR COLLINS’ MOTION.

The Council carried Dr Collins’ motion as moved yesterday, after some further discussion. Councillors evidently were imbued with the idea that the Government ought to do something to promote social welfare. Sir Wm Fraser assured them that Government was in sympathy with their wishes, hut could not do everything in a moment. RELIGIOUS INTOLERANCE.

Hon MacGregor’s Marriage Amendment Bill proposing that Catholic priests shall not be authorised to perform marriages while the Ne Temero decree is in force ,was read a first time in the Council, after Mr Geddes had made a protest against the spirit of religious intolerance and bigotry. He proposed that the .Bill should be read this day six months, but did not press his amendment to a division. THE LOCO MEN.

Mr Massey- told the House that he did not think any serious action was contemplated by the locomotive branch of the railways service. It was true that the loco men had not. accepted the agreement recently drafted, and were not satisfied but he believed the majority of men were sensitive enough to avoid further industrial trouble.