PARLIAMENT.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIX, Issue 89, 5 August 1914, Page 2

PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. [Per Press AseooiATio.v. 1 Wellington, August 4. The House met at 2.30 p.m. LOCAL ELECTIONS. Mr Fisher moved the second reading of the Local Elections Proportional Representation Bill. He said the idea originated with the Christchurch City Council, and the power yjiven was purely optional. .Mr Russell thought that the House should pass, the Bill in order that tlie principle might have a. fair trial. After the Minister had replied, the Hill was read a second time. CIVIL SERVICE REPEAL. Mr Herdman moved the second rending of the Civil Service Officers' Guarantee Repeal Bill. He explained that the Bill repea eltohdhrd ed that the Bill repealed the system under which the whole service was called upon to make, up the defalcations of individual members. It was felt that ns members of the public serv'co lad no part in the eho:ro ■! their comrades' it was unjust that they should be made responsible for their conduct. Sir Joseph Ward supported the Bill, which was read a second time, without further debate. DIM IGRATION RESTRICTION. Mr Fisher moved the second reading of the Immigration Restriction Amendment Bill, explaining that it was designed to further restrict the introduction of Asiatics into the Dominion. Hindus coming to New Zealand from Fiji would he regarded as British subjects, and the education test was being made more exacting. The contents of the Bill had been communicated to the Imperial authorities, and no exception had been taken . Sir Joseph Ward was strongly in favor of doing everything we could in the direction of keeping the country white. He was prepared to support the measure, seeing that the Imperial authorities had not objected to it. The Bill was then read a second time, and on the motion of the Premier, the House adjourned at 5 o'clock till 2..'50 to-morrow. The Customs Act Amendment Bill was introduced by Governor's Message, Mr Fisher explaining that it a.!;:, 'the same Bill as introduced some time' ago. It had been found necessary to follow this procedure. The IJill was read a first time, and the former Bill discharged from the Order Papor.EXPOHT OF COLD FORBIDDEN, Mi- Allen,, V'inistw of Finance, mov. ed. as a nun I,;-of urgency, that the House'proceed uith Ihu Hanking Bill immediately. The House went info committee on the Bill, and the Bill passed with machinery amendments. A now clause was added, on the motion of the Minister, prohibiting the exportation of gold during the course of the proclamation except with the consent of the Min- , ister. On the third reading, Sir Joseph Ward said he entirely agreed with the provisions of the Bill. It was a good measure in normal times, and even more so in times of panic. He paid :i tribute to the strength of the banks doing business in New Zealand, but expressed the hope that those responsible for the management would not jdo anything in the present situation to unduly force up the rates of interest. Mr Allen, in reply, said he quite agreed with what Sir Joseph Ward had said. He had seen the bank manageers, and felt sure that there would Ibe no attempt to innate the rate oi interest. He had assured himself that the banks were stronger to-day than they had ever been. If England became involved in a European -war, it might be that we would be asked to make sacrifices, but in that event he felt sure we would all make those sacrifices to assist the Empire to which we belong. The Bill was read a third time, and passed.