PARLIAMENT

Hokitika Guardian, 22 October 1924, Page 1

PARLIAMENT

[bv TELEGRAFH—PER TRESS ASSOCIATION LEGISLATEVE COUNCIL. AYELLIXGTOX, October 21. In tlie Legislative Council the Pensions Amendment Bill and tlie Scalfolding and Excavations Amendment Bills were passed. The Patent, Designs and Trade •Marks Amendment Bill was read a second time, proforma, and referred to tho Statutes Revision Committee. The Council adjourned at 5.4 p.m.

until 8 p.m. on Wednesday. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. THE GAMING RILL. AA'lion the House met at 2.80 almost the first business to ho brought up was the report of the special committee set up to consider the Gaming Bill, who reported that the Bill would Ire allowed to proceed without amendment. This report was debated until 5.80 when the House adjourned, the speakers, with the exception of .Mr Glenn, opposing the report. At 7.80, when the House resumed, Air Massey moved that the standing orders he suspended in order to enable the discussion to proceed. This motion was strongly opposed hv the opponents of the hill, until 10.15, when the motion was carried by 41 to 29. The debate on the committee report was then resumed and continued until 1.5 when Air Lee moved, as an amendment, that the special committee ho revised and that the bill be referred hade to the committee for further consideration. Tlie debate was continued until 8.15 when the report was laid on the table without a division, it being impossible to take the hill any further at that stage.

The House lose at 8.50 till 2.80 p.m. END OF SESSION. WELLINGTON Oct. 20’. It now seems certain, almost certain, that the session of Parliament will not end this mouth, as was expected some little time ago. So far as the present Order Paper is concerned, there is liltlo on it that should keep the House sitting over the end of the month, hut it is extraordinary how the loquacity of members makes time fly with little result, and there are still several opportunities for the talkers to exercise their great privilege.

One such opportunity will he the further consideration of the Gaming Hill. This Bill was referred to a committee which will report to the House, and opponents of increased permits, such as .Messrs Isitt, McCombs and Wright, are likely to have a good deal to say about it on the report stage, and more still when it gets into committee. Whether or not the anti-gaming section of the House can put up on effective stonewall or not, remains to he seen, hut such a debate may occupy the House in Committee of the Whole for a couple of nights, after which there will be a third reading debate. Then there is the Public Works Statement tlie discussion on which usually occupies one evening. It is expected to b<‘ laid on the table on Friday. The .Meat Export Control Bill is well down the Older Paper at present, probably to give Air Lvsnar, who on Saturday morning promised tbo Alinistor-in-Cbarge one of the hottest half hours in his life, time to cool oil'. The Legislative Act Amendment .Mill (No 2) lias to go through its second reading, committe. and third leading stages, and there will also be the Financial Bill ami the usual “Washing-Up” Bill. Under the oiiVumstanecs members are not likely to get away from AVellipgton this month, hut a week or less in November should see the end of the session.

REPLIES TO QUESTIONS. AYELLINGTOX, Oct. 20. To-night Alini.xters gave replies to questions on the Order Paper. Among the replies were tho following. That an official circulation of English hank notes, which are not legal tender, would create economic anomalies and would affect the control of our own currency. These notes would replace New Zealand hank notes now issued, otherwise inflation and increased prices would follow. Thai arrangements already have been made for the public to invest in inscribed stock at 5. 1 , per cent, on application at any Postal Money Order office, branch of the Bank of Now Zealand,'and District Treasury Office, as from October Ist., and that remaining applications for money made in November, 1928, will probably he dealt with h.v the Stale Adv allies Dcpartent within a month this date, ’that electric safely lambs arc being installed in those sections of the Stale <o:il mines where oil safely lamps are at present in use. On July 7th. the High Commissioner for New Zealand was instructed to place an order for tlie elec trie safety lamps required, and to ship them at the earliest possible dale. That tlie position as regards agricultural education is being gone into in conjunction with the Education Department at the present, time, and in lliis connexion the setting up of a Commission or Committee to go fully into the whole matter is under consideration.

That stops limvo already hoon taken which, it is hoped, will have the effect of preventing excessive borrowing by local bodies. That the Government is not aware of any proposal on the part of the Bank of Xew Zealand to issue bonus shares. That the export trade in fresh pork and bacon has been given considerable attenton by the Mont Producers’ Hoard since its inception, and every!liing is being done to further develop if. The Board has obtained from the shipping companies a particularly low rate of freight for pork to encourage its shipment. and has reduced costs in other directions also. Further investigations are still being made in Client Britain and the Continent. That in accordance with its announced policy, the Government intends that the duty on wheat shall ho payable on all importations after February :28th. 1025. Importations before that’date will be for current consumption only, and will be strictly ••ontrolled so as not to affect the market of New Zealand wheatgrowers. That it is not proposed to amend the Highways Act this session in the direction of providing for additional representatives of local bodies on the High ways Board. That the object in endeavouring to secure the services of a fisheries expert in Cheat Britain, who has . a knowledge of pisciculture on its scientific side, as well as of practical work, is that a comprehensive survey of the fishing industry in New Zealand waters may enable the construction of a more clearly-defined policy for the improvement of the most important natural asset, not only for those concerned in the industry, lint for the people to who an adequate supply of fish at a reasonable price is so essential. That enquiries are being made regarding the possibility of reducing the cost of building, and consideration may he given to the advisability of extending Stale competition in the production of building materials.