JOTTINGS FROM THE LOBBY

Hokitika Guardian, 11 November 1920, Page 1

JOTTINGS FROM THE LOBBY

(Our Parliamentary Correspondent.) GETTING A MOVE ON. WELLINGTON, Nov. 11. The Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Amendment Bill which caused 0 long stonewall in the House, was passed by the Council without debate. The House passed four bills within an .hour this afternoon, providing for registration of apiaries, inspection of bush tramways, observance of Anzac Day as a national holiday, and appointment of commissions of inquiry to review proceedings of a court martial where required. Then, consideration of the Finance Bill was begun and this debate was continued. ANZAC DAY. The Bill declaring Anzac Day to he a national holiday, was passed by the House this afternoon. The original bill provided that Anzac Day should be observed in all respects as if it were a Sunday. Mr Massey moved to strike out this provision and to substitute a clause requiring that licensed premises should be closed on Anzac Day and that totalisator permits and racing permits should not be issued for Anzac Day. This amendment was adopted, and the Bill was passed without debate, after Mr Mitchell bad thanked .the Prime Minister, .on behalf of returned soldiers for the facilities given for the commemoration of Anzac Day. HOUSES DISAGREE. WELLINGTON, This Day. The .disagreement between the two houses as to granting civil servants the. right to stand for Parliament led to the. loss of the clause. The House inserted the provision in the Legislature Amendment Bill., and the Council objected. The spirit of the conference of managers failed .to reach an agreenint and tho conference agreed that tho clause should he dropped. Mr Massey said he would introduce legislation on the subject early next .session, QUESTION QF PENSIONS. The House sat till two this (Thursday) morning .on the Finance Bill which is the last big Bill of the session. Most of the time was .occupied with a .debate on pensions. .Opposition and Labour members asked for more money for various classes of pensions, and of .course they were able .to make out a .strong case. Mr Massey was ready to admit that old people, widows and .superannuated public servants could do with more money. He insisted that he could not go beyond the increases already proposed. The .time had .come to resist increases in public expenditure in view of a possible decline in revenue owing to the falling prices add the revenue was already being affected. Members retorted that Ministers should, talk of •economy when non-essen-tial expenditure was being proposed,: rather than when appeals wore being made for the helpless and necessitious. Eventually an amendment moved by Mr Holland in favour of increased pensions was defeated by .38 votes to 20 tho voting being almost, entirely on party lines. FINISHING TO-DAY. Mr Massey stated before the House rose that he expected to finish the session to-day.