JOTTINGS FROM THE LOBBY

Hokitika Guardian, 8 November 1920, Page 1

JOTTINGS FROM THE LOBBY

(Our Parliamentary Correspondent.) PASSING THE BILLS. WELLINGTON, Nov. G. Tlie House of Representatives passed six of the Government Bills during this morning and this afternoon, and brought the end of the session appreciably nearer. Eirst came the Births and Deaths Registration Amendment Bill which provides for the registration of births that were not registered wit. the legal period. A provision of this kind is required every few years for tho use of caheless parents. The Rabbit Nuisance Bill produced a long debate. The Act of 1919 provides in effect that if ah inspector Btatcs tlm a fariiief has failed to destroy rabbits, r conviction liiust bo recorded, regardless of any other evidence. Some southern meihbei-s objected to this provision although they were ready to admit tlm' as administered by the present Ministei for Agriculture it worked well ehoiigli Tho Miistcr insisted on the retention of tlie drastic power given to the inspectors as far as court proceedings arc concerned, but ho consented eventually to tho insertion of a proviso embodying the actual practice of tho Department that at least, two inspectors shall visit the property, and that the case shall b referred to the Director of Agriculture before a prosecution is undertaken.

HOSPITAL BILL. The Hospital and Charitable Instill tions Amendment Bill as orginally in troduced in tho House was a fairly ini portaht measure embodying a new schertie of subsidies. A out the schedule of subsidies and accompanying clauses, and the Minister told the House, to-day that he was go in to set tip a 1 Commission of inquiry to consider the problems of Hospital control and . subsidy. The present scheme admittedly was inequitable since high rates meant a low subsidy and vice versa. The scale in the Bill had also contained some anomalies. He woulC prepare comprehensive legislation foi next session, after receiving tho report of the Commission. DIVORCE. The Divorce Amendment Bill makes somo very important amendments in the Divorce Law. It restores the power of the Court to grant divorce on th« ground that pne of the parties to the marriage has failed to comply with an order for the restitution of conjugr rights. It authorises divorce in cases whore parties have been judicially separated for at least three years. Tho Minister said to-day that he believed it to be in the interest of public morality that married persons who had been separated by the Court, and were likely never to come together again, should ho given complete freedom. The Bill further provides: (1) That divorce may bo granted if the respondent has been sentenced to imprisonment for seven years or upwards for wounding or attempting to murder the petitioner or a child of the marriage, and. (2) that a decree may be issued if the respondent, has been of unsound mind for at least three years. OTHER BILLS. The other bills passed to-day were the Railways Authorisation Bill and the Greymouth Harbour Board Bill. The Government has taken over Westport Harbour altogether and now it is coming to the assitance of the Greymouth Harbour and is establishing under this Bill a system of subsidy and joint control rendered necessary by the unfinan. cial difficulties i'fFWhich the board finds itself. NEARING THE END. “We are getting through tho business very satisfactorily and I think it is quite certain that we will be able to finish the session on Tuesday evening,” said tho Prime Minister in the Hooso of Representatives this afternoon. The House had passed six Bills. Mr Massey added that the Finance Bill would he ready for the consideration of the House on Monday morning. It was a Bill of about forty clauses, a sort of “Washing-up” Bill and it contain provision for a loan for hydro-electric purposes. The other Bills to be dealt with were the Legislature Amendment Bill, the Law ■ Practitioners’ Amendment Bill, a portion of the main “Wash ing-TTp” Bill and the Appropriation Bill with tho supplementary estimates. The House adjourned until Monday morning.