HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIII, Issue 19, 21 September 1915, Page 7

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

QUESTJLOiNS. I'EU PttESB ASSOCIATION. Wellington, Soptoiuoor 2d. luo iiouso met at V .o 0 p.m. iicpiyiug Lu questions, iVuiiisLei's b;uu Inal iuuest inquiries wore uemg mau© uotii as to tiie quantity auu quality 01 any lamis proposed to be set apart lor returned soldiers; fcliat no miormation lias been received iroin tlio nnponal Uovoruiuent that crossbred wool could bo exported to Allied oi' neutral countries, and it siiould bo recognised that unrestricted export to neutral countries sucli as the United States could not be allowed; that provision i a being made in the Finance Bill to exempt soldiers’ estates from death duty to a certain extent; that| the Railway Department is not in a; position to give concessions on the usual charges for conveyance of either passengers or other tralhc over the railways; that the matter ol permitting blie holding of art unions, raffles, etc., for patriotic purposes is receiving the consideration of the Government, And it is hoped to make a definite announcement this week. 1 f The following local Bills were pdt through the Committee stage, read a third time, and passed :— Papakura Beach Vesting Bill, Wellington and Karori Sanitation and Water Supply Amendment Bill, Christchurch Electrical Supply Empowering Amendment Bill, Wyndham .Recreation Reserve Amendment Bill, and Tokomaru Bay Harbour Bill. The Bluff Harbor Imrovements Bill was put through all stages without discussion. Th© Savings Banks Amendment Bill was read a second time on the motion of Sir Joseph 1 Ward, who explained that the Bill was intended to place private savings banks on the same footing as the Post Office Savings Bank. Tho following Government Bills

jluo j>ju4o were road a second time without debate :—Savings Bank Amendment Bill; Fruit Preserving Industry Amendment Bill; Scenery Preservation Amendment Bill; Swamp Drainage Bill. The motion for the second reading of the National Provident Fund Bill, making a formal amendment in the \ original Act, gave rise to a debate in which a number'of members protested against the unfair position in which Friendly Societies were put by the operation of the National Provident Fund, which was being so actively pushed by Government agents. The Bill was road the second time. An Imprest Supply Bill providing for payments of £95.3,500 was introduced hy Governor’s message, and passed all stages forthwith. The War Funds Bill, providing for the administration of patriotic funds, was read a second time and the House adjourned at 9.35 p.m.