PARLIAMENT.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVII, Issue 76, 29 July 1915, Page 7

PARLIAMENT.

i LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. I’HU Pn Association. 1 Wellington. July 28. j In tin* Legislative Council this atternoon the Imprest Supply Bill, lor £9OB,QUO, passed all stages, and the t ouk I 1 lands Bill »vs lead a sjcomi time and referred to the Statutes Revision Committee.

1 When the Speaker rnnounced the result of the liquor poll at Bellamys, Hon. (I. Carson asked, as it was open voting, would the ballot be entered in the journals of the Conned.'The Speaker said that had not been the practice. Hon. (J. Carson said he aas aware of the practice. but he | wanted to know what was necessary under the Statute. Sir F. H. D. Bell jsaid that he thought the matter was I governed by the practice of the past, and the matter dropped. Hon. W. Carncross was elected Chairman of Committees. Sir I l '. H. I). Bell congratulated Mr Carncross on his election, and also congratulated the Council on having one so competent to till the position, and one who had been so courteous in carrying out Ids duties in the past. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. BELLAMYS. When the House met this afternoon the Speaker announced the poll taken as whether or not liquor be sold at Bellamys, and said the Speakers of both Houses had met and authorised the sale of liquor to continue NEW BILES. j The following Bills were introduced land read a first time:—Auckland City (Markets and Empowering Bill (Mr j Parr), Wellington City Empowering (.Act, 1908, Amendment Bill (Mr j Wright), Local P)lection s (Proportioned Representation) Amendment Bill (Mr McCombs), Wellington City Basin (Reserve Bill (Mr Wright), Mangawhero County Bill (Air Smith). NATIVE MATTERS. The Native Minister laid on the table the departmental report on Native Land Courts and Land Boards; Sir Joseph Ward said it would be interesting to have particulars of native lands purchased during the past two years and held for speculative purposes. Hon. W. H. Berries said no ’arge blocks had been purchased under bis Act; speculators had been “scotche I” by his legislation. Maori Councils were now composed of better class men,, and lie was certain no bind was now being acquired not in acco •'lance with the Maori land law. His endeavour was to give more purchasing power to the Crown and less to the individual. He had no knowledge of any lands being bought for speculative purposes. ADVANCES TO SETTLERS.

The Minister of Finance laid on the table the report of the Advances to Settlers Department.

Sir Joseph Ward said he was of opinion that profits on the Advances to Settlors branch was £21.000 less than last year, and on the Advances to Local Bodies branch ,£II,OOO less 'than last year. He 'would like to have some explanation on the subject. I Hon. .las. Allen replied that Sir Joseph Ward had evidently not read the report, which stated that the loss was entirely due to the unremunerative rate of interest, i Sir Joseph Ward said he had read the report, but that did not account for the discrepancy; he wanted a return showing the transactions of the office during the past two years. Mr Allen said ho was prepared to | lay on the table any report asked for. CONITTCT OF TROOPS. j The Premier read a letter from the Mayor of Albany denying the rumor that New Zealand troops had misbehaved themselves while ashore at that town. Mr Massey said it was gratifying to have such an emphatic assurance that our hoys were behaving themselves as men and gentlemen, 1 Sir Joseph Ward said that New Zealand was deeply indebted to the Mayor of Albany for standing to our boys 'in the way he had done, and he thought his action should be, suitably acknowledged. SHIPPING SPACE. The Premier read telegrams which had passed between himself and the Onion Company on the subject of shipping space for produce in the south. The arrangements he (Mr Massey) considered very satisfactory.

QUESTIONS

Replying to .Mr A. M. Myers, the Prime .Minister said llie Government noticed what was being done in Britain ami Australia with regard to national registration ; the subject would be dealt with before the session comes to an end. The matter of appointing a permanent board to inquire into matters concorning trade industries and commerce was receiving careful consideration by the Government. Replying to Dr. Newman, the Minister of Defence said arrangements were made with the fmperial authorities to send back to New Zealand the sick and wounded who would not be available again for the firing line. Replying tn Mr Myers, the Minister of Defence said discretionary powers had been exercised by examiners for some time past in the direction of accepting men for, enlistment who were slightly below the military standard of height; Replying to Mr 0. W. Russell, Hon ,(as. Allen said that the Public Service Commissioner was being consulted as to whether it is practicable to pay salaries of public servants weekly. Replying to Dr. Thacker, the Minister of Health said that men suffering from cerebro spinal meningitis 'were in the best sanitary conditions obtainable.

DEFINITION OF TIME BILL PASSED.

The House resumed at 7..'50 p.m.. ,shun the motion for the third reading if the Definition of Time Bill was called on, mem tiers who opposed the sec-

ond reading last Friday, uttered a Tual protest against the passage of the Bill. Mr Sidey replied at length, and :lie House divided ayes 12. noes .13), .uid the Bill passed. BETTERMENT BILL. After supper Mr JL MeCallum movul the second reading of the Belteruent Bill, which, he said, was similar o the Bill introduced thirty-one years igo by the late Hon. Walter Johntop. He briefly referred to the prinipal provisions, and moved the sec>nd reading. There was a brief delate. in which Hon. W. H. Berries, Messrs Wright, Wilkinson, and Coates ipposed the Bill, and Mr Isitt spoke n support of the principle. Mr Hindmarsh approved ol the Bill. ■ml Mr Barr tiiought it only fair that amis which benefited by public works hould pay something towards the ost. Mr Hanan pointed out that the Principle of the Bill had been outlined ; n the Financial Statement of 1912,

ml claimed that all who supported the iovernment then must veto for the Bill.

The Hon. W. Fraser said the betterment principle could not be applied to new lines without doing injustice, ilthough it would have been a proper provision when the Public M orks policy was initiated. Mr Young agreed that the Bill von Id. tend to aid a town v. country tv. ,,■ | -m-v i n; ■ The debate was continued by Messrs Field (Otaki), Escott, Ell, Mander, Anderson, and Harris. Mr MeCallum replied, and the second reading was carried on the voices. The Factories -Act Amendment Bill (Mr Wilford) was referred to the Laoor Bills Committee, and the House I adjourned at 12.20. NATIONAL CABINET. The Government Party held a mooting alter the House rose at 0.38 p m. for the purpose ol considering the reply received from Lie Opposition as a result of their caucus this morning. Seen at the close of the meeting, Mr j), H. Guthrie, chief Government Whip, stated that Mr Massey laid the Opposition reply before the party, which reply was a refusal of the ernis offered by the Government for i National Cabinet. General regret was. said Mr Guthrie, expressed by the party that such a reply had been given to what were considered fair anad reasonable proposals. Mr Guthrie further stated that it was unlikely negotiations would bo proceeded u itli.