PARLIAMENT.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXX, Issue 25, 16 September 1914, Page 8

PARLIAMENT.

i v. ••u ■ » ..{ LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Vf i - ■ : I 5 :/.Bms Tbks« Amooiawon. j • • *■ ■"• Wellington, September' 15. The Council mdt'at 2.30 p.m. ' : : : The* Statutes Revision Committee reported the Imprisonment for debt, Limitation Amendment, Land Agents Amendment,-and s L6cal Elections.Prd;portional Voting Bills, without 'amend- ' ment. '• •' " *'■ ' ''' .The Coun6il rose at 2.7 p.m. mHOU6E:OF. representatives.

The 'House-met at 7.30 p.m. t ; " In reply to SiW Joseph" Ward, rthe Mmistemfor.Minek'-said 'the' 'law provided ; for tribunal being set up to enquire'intd' such "disasters as had" be curred- at Hn'ntly r ' and the ' Government vwould:-do its duty in that connection. :, He had'obtained' the Services of onei" of «the highest mining experts in to 'report on 1 the mine, and.-hoped tclay his report before the House at an early date,.'

, In-reply to Mr JVC Thomspri; "Hon. Eraser said that? if the regulations provided'that the enquiry- should' be open to the. Press, v 'it would be .open.' * In<reply to'Mr .Witty, the Minister for.' Defence would enquire whether two canteem contracts amounting to -£4Boo.liad''been-let in connection with two troopships.leaving with the Canterbury contingent.

In reply to Mr .Russell,-Hon. F.M. B, Fisher said 'the expeditionary force poll would remain open till every man had recorded his. vote. 1

Sir Joseph Ward asked 'the' Premier whether ho was prepared to-introduce legislation cancelling German, patents in-the'-Dominion.'' . .. ! -- ■ The Premier said tile matter had been ■ 'under ■ considerationj. -and< they were in communication with'the Imperial authorities on the point.

<MV■ Hanan ;< asked' <the Prime' Minister whether he did -not 'think it' desir--able in.'the' interests of the'-Empire that.vNew'•Zdaland 'should follow -the example." of Canada, and Australia and confine: the exportation 'of food sup-' .plies to Great. Britain and other Brit,-' ish possessions. • ■'- ' ' '■ '•;'"'' vV " The■'Premier said' he was doing as nruch ;in ; this*way 'as he considered' ■necessary. ; Exception had to be made in>the case;, of -some of the South Sea Islands,! which were dependent on-New.. Zealand for their supplies. Certain contracts hadvalso been entered into ■with American firms; and it had not <been thotight , advisable to interfere with these. The- matter ■ was, how-, every being watched.

A-.Bill Was introduced by Governor's message to .'provide cover against •marine ? war risks. ! i the Bill, the Attorney-General pointed out that-,after ithewar: had but great difficulty had" been' experienced ■Tn.vgetting. insurancesr; upon : cargoes. The' | Government'.' had -arranged with the-; Imperial--Government' for insur-ances-outproduce in troopships up to £13,000, and the" Bill--proposed to vali-date-this*'action. ""The* Bill'also proposed to give the Government power' to insure gold exported to Australia ,up to £loi'ooo. ' They also proposed to.-ask for power to insure small cargoes- to the 1 Old Country up to £5000.' Sir Joseph-Ward said he doubted if the BihY would effect its purpose. ."He had repeatedly drawn attention to the •matter at-the 1 outbreak of the war, but he could get no satisfaction from the Government. \\ In the meantime the s Knipara had- been -sunk. If.- the shippers by that vessel >had waited for the Government they would have lost their .consignments. -We ought .to have' done what i>he"British Government, had done, and'-iaken some of thei risk-: ourselves. The cover of •£5006 on one -vessel .was too small. It was-of. .vital importance to keep our export trade going, but this Bill would not help- to do so.

.Mr-. Massey, replying,- said the-larg-er shippers'could get-the benefit of the Imperial war risks, but this Bill, was desired to. aid small 'shippers. It might be true that the limit '. of £SOOO was tod' low, but that was a committee objection, rahd'jdid not "afreet the principle of the Bill, for the .introduction of 1 'which the • Government ought to receive' the. approbation of the Honse instead of carpihg criticism. 'The War Risks Insurance Bill was then read a first- time. THE ELECTIONS.

■i The- Premier said' he' had " understood to .make a statement to* the House.iasrfto the date of the elections. Tho -matter was one that had given him iand his- colleagues' and his supporters a considerable amount of anxiety. They had had several conferences and the conclusion that had been come to was that whatever was done, whether the elections .were gone on with or not, it was desirable that the Leader of the Opposition and the Government should be unanimous on the point. It Was therefore proposed to take'the. Leader of the Opposition into conference, and, if several ofthe'prominent mombers on that •side of the House. There was' no desire td take a-party advantage, and ha .proposed to a.sk- Sir Joseph Ward to meet him in the morning.- i

- Sir Joseph -Ward said he' would be prepared to meet the'Premier. What he' was most anxious to 1 do' wag to. avoid-party clashing at the , present juncture, and ho wanted to be assured that party-organisation was not going on- in a quiet way.. It was most important that the country should know ■the date of the'elections, and the Premier should take the responsibility of, stating it. •' ' ' i Befereneo was; made fromnboth sides of the House to .party meetings, and, the matter( was'-then dropped.