PARLIAMENT

Hokitika Guardian, 22 March 1921, Page 3

PARLIAMENT

[by TELEGRAPH —PER PRESS ASSOCIATION]

THE COUNCIL

WELLINGTON, March 22. The Legislative Council met at 10 , in. I

s ‘The Finance Bill was put through all j. stages and passed. The Council rose » at 10.45 a.m. until the ringing of th o 'hell. | THE CLOSING HOURS. 'j The Legislative Council met at 11.30 ? I to receive a notification that the Royal _ ! assent had been given to the last Bills 1 dealt with. , SIR F. BELL DEFENDS. Sir F. Bell took the opportunity of referring to the suggestion that he ought not to he Chairman of the Cab- , inet ill the absence of the Prime Min- , ister ill England and suggestions that wo arc not representatives of the peo,l pie. He said “I do not understand at . all,” apart from members of the CounI (41, numbered 40 members, 23 of whom I have been members of another place, ■ many for long periods and several have been Ministers of the Crown, and two bad held the highest office in the country. Many of those who had been members of the House of Representatives could still bo members if they could agree to allow themselves to be nominated. Ho was making his protest more on behalf of the Council than for himself. He had long ceased to he ambitions, and if lie could logically have supported the argument to which he had referred, he would have done so. I While in charge of affairs he would do his lrest, and predicted the Council would not regret that one of their mini- 1 her had been chosen for the position. , The Council rose at 11.40 a.m. j THE HOUSE. The House met at 11 a.m. QUESTIONS. Replying to Air Newman (Manawatu) Mr Massey said when in London ho would look into the question of the compilation of market cables with a view to making the information given < more explicit. A very capable officer in the High Commissioner’s office pre- i pared these cables, and be could not < understand the cables being unsatisfac- 1 torv. 1

Replying to Mr McCall,uni, Hon

Lee said the Trices Tribunals were neither • useless nor extravagant. The information they obtained was a very valuable and the fines imposed as a result of their investigations more than paid the cost of the tribunals. Replying to Mr Wright, Hon. Massey said if any members knew of extravagance going on in the public service they should make it known, and be would have it put a stop to. FELICITATIONS. WELLINGTON, March 22. Mr Wilford in a felicitous speech, wished the Premier bon voyage to London, and a safe return to the Dominion. Tie was confident the Premier would worthily represent us at the Imperial conference and h<‘ could go to that gathering well assured that the people of Now Zealand were prepared to make any sacrifice to remain part of the British Empire. Several members supported the Leader of the Opposition, including Dr Roma re, who spoke in behalf ol the Native Race. He asked the Premier to assure the King of Die continued loyalty of the Maoris to the British Crown, to which they had been attached for

eighty years. Mr Massey on rising to reply was received with applause. He proceeded to outline several questions which are likely to come before the Imperial Conference. Amongst these was a renewal of the A agio-J apanese Treaty, which lie was prepared to review so long ns we retained the right to choosc our own citizens. He would grasp (.very opportunity to unite the bonds of Empire. Imperial defence would hi,v o to he considered as would also some system of Empire naturalisation. I fo regretted lie would not now he able to \ isit Samoa as soon as he would like, Rut he would endeavour to go later on. In the meantime he wished to exj press the good will of New Zealand I and her people to those islands. He ! was pleased to hear the opinions ex- ! pressed by Dr Pomare regarding the position of the Maoris. Tn a few years he hoped the people of Samoa would he of the same opinion. He discussed the business of the session and he again stressed the financial soundness of the country. The legislation passed last ! night might cause some inconvenience, | hut there would bo no loss and on the 1 whole he felt they had done the right i thing. He concluded by quoting the j words of the late Sir Henry Parkes in | which he declared he would not do any- : thing to sever the crimson ties of j friendship which binds us to tlio J Motherland. (Applause). Members then rose and sang the I National Anthem. On Mr Ala ssev moving that the | House adjourn, Air Holland protested 1 against the prorogation of Parliament i and called for a division on the ques- ' tion of adjournment. | The motion for adjournment was car- ; ried by 45 to 15, and the short session of 1021 came to an end at 12.12 p.m. ! CRICKET. i PERTH March 22. j West Australia in the match against I Australian eleven have lost nine for ; 88. Thy wicket was wet and heavy rain after luncheon stopped play for . the day. ' | affairs and the Labour is a separate I control. This we believe will he essential to any chance of success in I New Zealand. j Secondly the Labour Control Board or Bureau is not a Government ecnooin but a mutually constituted Committee which has the approval and support of the Court. | (Contributed by the N.Z. Welfare League.)