PARLIAMENT.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIII, Issue 27, 30 September 1915, Page 7

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Pku Press Association. Wellington, September 29. In the Council this afternoon, m answer to Hon. G. Carson, Hon. F. H. I>. 801 l said that he thought the Government would he pleased to have an opinion of the House and Library Committees on the propriety of extending to ex-members of the Legislature certain privileges of Parliament, namely the use of Bellamy’s, of the Library, and of seats behind the Chair while Parliament was sitting. The following Bills were read a second time: —Lights on Vehicles, State Advances Amendment, Factories Act Amendment, .Military Manoeuvres, Census and Statistics Amendment Bills, reported from committee with two or three amendments, read a third time, and passed.

The Discharged Soldiers Settlement till was read a second time and reerred to the Statutes Revision Comnittec. The War Funds Bill was considered n committee, when several aniendnents suggested by the Statutes R<*ision Committee were included in tlio till, which was read a third time and jassed. Hon. Sir F. H. D. Bell moved the second reading of the finance Bill. Flo explained the purport and scope ol die Bill. , n Hon. ,1. T. Paid thought the bulk d' taxation should have come from those who had made huge profits out d the war. Too large a proportion of taxation was levied on the wage-earu-?rs. Hon. 0. Samuel said that lor the first time thc\ had in the Bill the elements of a graduated tax applied to revenue derived from mortgages. He questioned whether this was a wise step. He referred to one or two other matters which, in his opinion, required consideration. Ho did not refer to tne policy feature of the Bill, as he recognised that money for war purposes must he raised. Hons. H. F. Wigram and R. Moore also spoke. The Bill was reported from committee without amendment, read a third time, and passed. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. To Mr Craigio, the Minister of Defence, said it was not the practice to give wounded men in England their full pay. Pay that accumulates is given them when they leave the hospital. | They are, however, provided with many comforts while in the institution. To Mr Webb, the Minister of Mines said that in view of numerous fatal .accidents which had recently taken place, investigations were being made of the quality of gelignite now in use. To Mr Pearce, the Minister of Defence said he was asking the Imperial authorities whether they would permit the establishment of a canteen at the front, where our men might he supplied with their own meat and other comforts. To Mr Isitt, the Minister said it was a misconception that the pay of wounded men was reduced while the men were in hospital. To Mr Sykes, the Minister of Finance, stated that a trade circular issued by the Continental Tyre Company had been sent out under authority of the Christchurch branch of the Public Trust Office. The Company wag still under the control of the Public Trust.

To Dr. Thacker, the Minister of Defence said that the “next-of-kin” was the relative named by a soldier in his record. The Lands Laws Amendment Hill was introduced hy Governor s Message, and referred to the Lands Cominottee. Referring to a press cable from London, Mr Massey said that if Sir Rider Haggard came to the Dominion on an Imperial Commission, in reference to land for soldiers, the Government would he pleased to meet him. MIN EH S’ COM IM MINTS. The adjourned debate on the second reading of the Miners’ Phthisis Bill was resumed by Mr H. G. Ell, who pleaded for better protection for men engaged in mining. He urged that skilled medical men should bo sent to mines. He regarded the present neglect in this matter as a scandal. Mr T. VV. Rhodes said he could not offer the Minister his hearty congratulations upon the Bill, which did not go far enough in provision for afflicted men and their dependents. Mr P. Webb contended that the proper thing was to so improve the mines that the spread of disease would bo checked. The financial assistance proposed to be given under the Bill was an insult to the miners of the Dominion. Mr C. H. Poole said that the raining members had put up a great light for the benefit of those who were sacrificing their lives for the avarice ol dividend-hunters. Mr R. Scott argued that if the mining regulations were properly carried out it was almost impossible for men to contract miners’ complaints. Dr. T. J. Thacker explained the medical nature of the disease, and said the proposed reform did not start soon enough. Infected men should bo taken in hand before they became incurable, and mine-owners should bo compelled to contribute to the fund. He complained that members were unable to pass any amendment unless it received the sanction of the Minister. Pensions should be not less than 30s per week for a married man, and 21s for a single man.

Mr Colvin also favored raising tho amount of the pensions. Hon. W. Fraser said the Bill had been approved by several speakers, hut. lengthy speeches were sometimes fatal to a Bill. Ho said the Bill was a tentative measure. ff money came in freely he would he glad to increase the benefits under it. but he would not [alter the Bill in committee, no matter ! w hat amount of talking went on. Ho would rather drop it. | Tho motion lor the second reading was carried. OTHER BUSINESS. lion. \V. Fraser then moved tho second reading of the Railways Authorisation Bill. Several members spoke in terms of approval, and alter the Minister had briefly replied, the motion was carried. Amendments made by the Legislative Council in the Lights on-Vehicles Ad. Military Manoeuvres Act, and i War Funds Act, were agreed to. I H 0,,. (,J. tV. Russell moved the second reading of the Gaming Amend-! incut Bill, which provides for art unions, raffles, etc., in connection with the patriotic funds. Messrs Witty, Him?, Hornsby, Boole, Wilford, Witch. Coates, Isitt, Malcolm, McCombs, and Anstey also spoke. On a division the second reading was carried hy dl to 11. The Gaming Amendment Bill was put through all stages and passed.