PARLIAMENT.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIII, Issue 33, 7 October 1915, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Per Press Association. Wellington, October (3. In the Council to-day the following Hills were introduced from the House of Representatives and read a first time West Coast Settlement Reserves Amendment. Native Land Amendment and Native Land Claims Adjustment, Friendly Societies Amendment, Education Reserves Amendment, Lake Coleridge Water Power. The Counties Amendment Bill was read a first and second time, pro forma, and referred to the Statutes Revision Committee. Hon. A. T. Maginnity asked a question in reference to erroneous information being fpt-warded as to the fatal wounding of. Captain Houlker. Hon. Sir F. H. I). Bell said the late Captain Houlker was placed on a hospital ship not under control of the New Zealand authorities. It was quite impossible to avoid lapses of the kind referred to. He could assure the Council that everything possible was being done for the wounded, hut it was not easy to obtain accurate information of deaths on hospital ships, and other instances of ; t similar nature had been reported. The managers appointed to meet delegates from the House of Representatives in regard to amendments in the Mortgages Extension Bill reported that the conference had agreed to recommend the erasure of clause 8a from the Bill, and this.was agreed to.

Tn the Mining Amendment Bill an* amendment was proposed hy tlie Governor making an increase of duty from threepence to sixpence. Hon. S. George strongly opposed the altera■tiotC which was carried, on a division, jby votes to 4. An amendment proposed hy the Governor in the War Funds Bill, with a view (o making it an offence for unHuthomed persons to collect' moneys for war funds, was agreed to. The Kauri Gnm Industry Amendment Bill passed committee without amendment .and was put through the final stages. •- 4 The following hills were read a second time:—West Coast Settlement Reserves Amendment, Native Land Amendment and Native- 1 Land Claims* Adjustment, Education Reserves Amendment. The Bills were reported, read a third time, and passed. Sir id H. ,1). Bell moved the second readings of the Friendly Societies Bill; 1 ‘ - • v'l’ Tlie | Rake Coleridge Water Power Bill way committed, and a new danse added, giving borough councils power to Vaise loans up to 4‘tiOOO for the purposes of the Bill. This Bill and the Friendly Societies Bill then passed, and the Council rose. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. This afternoon the Cost of Living Bill was introduced by Governor’s Message. The Bill establishes a Board of Trade to make provision for the regulation of trade. The Minister of Education introduced the Education Amendment Bill, fixing the number of education dis-' t,rift«s at nine; and the Minister of Internal Affairs introduced the Public Service Classification and Superannuation Bill. The--Wellington City Basin Reserve Bill was referred hack to tlie Lands Committee, hy 39 votes to 22. This evening the amendments made hy the . legislative Council in the Native Land Claims Adjustment Bill were agreed to. The Prime Minister formally moved the second reading of the Reserves and Other Lands Disposal and Public Bodies Empowering Bill. Mr H. G. Ell protested against the practice of introducing into the ‘‘Washing-up'’ Bill matters which ought to lie dealt with hy local Bills. The Bill was read a second time. Hon. A. L. 'Herdman moved the second reading of the War Regulations Amendment Bill (No. 2). explaining that the measure was to consolidate all regulations under the War Regulations Act, TOIL He did not say that any of thorn were ultra vires, hut they intended making doubly sure. The second reading was agreed to, and the House went into committee on the

Bill, which was reported without amendment. ! The House then went into committee I on the Reserves and Other Lands Disposal Bill. The Premier admitted a I tendency to go too far with these ( “washing-up” Bills. For the future he intended to insist upon restrictions which will ensure many of the clauses (going before the Local Bills Committee. During rbe discussion that followed several members protested against local bodies securing the insertion of clauses in a Bill without informing the member for the district concerned. The Premier stated that if any member cared to take the responsibility for voting against ony of these clauses he would not object. Clause 9, changing the purpose of certain lands set ..aside as a recreation reserve to a water conservation area, was struck out. Clause 27. amending danse,2(s of the Reserves and Other Lands "Disposal Act, 191 1. in the direction of enabling certain local bodies to invest monies derived from the sale of reserves in mortgages, instead Of purchasing other lands therewith, was retained by one vote, a division being called for by Mr J. S. Dixon. A division was called for on clause 90, authorising lessees of certain lands in the Aroha survey district to acquire the fee simple at the original value, and the clause wa s retained by 41 After the supper adjournment dis- ■ votes to 18. mission was continued on clause 31, strong opposition being manifested. At midnight the discussion was still proceeding, with every indication of it continuing for some time. At 1215, the Prime Minister offered to withdraw the clause, at the same time stipulating that all reference to a breach of faith must also he withdrawn • by the opponents of the clause. , The danse was then withdrawn. “various BILLS. i( Wellington. October 7. After the Telegraph Office closed, the House continued the consideration of the Reserves and Other Lands Disposal' Bill. At 2.30 a division was taken on a lengthy addition moved by Air Wilford. confirming an aVrangement he- , Ijveen the Petoiie Borough Council, the lyfHtfi Park Railway Company and - the Gear Meat Company regarding » the Butt railway, and the clause,s ■ were added by 31 to 23. ' Mr Buick moved a series of clauses exempting the Manawatu and West Coast Agricultural and Pastoral As-:; sociation’s show grounds at Bahnqrs-i ton North from,payment of rates, but . the clause was rejected on the voices, and the Bill was reported at 3 o’clock from the Committee, read a third time and passed. The Mnncicpal Corporations Amendment Bill was further considered in .... • ■ • • Committee. A new danse regvdmg valuations and how they were to be made was added on the moium of the , Minister of Internal Affairs. .. Mr McCombs moved a new clause empowering the four cities to raise under the Local Bodies Loans Act 1913 any sum not exceeding £20.000 for a market place without taking a poll, hut it was rejected by 25 to 8. and tlie Bill wa s reported with amendments, read a third time aiid I passed. The War Regulation Amendment Bill was read a third time. VON SEDLITZ’S CASE. Air Massey moved the second reading of the Alien Enemy Teacher Bill. He briefly explained that it was designed to prevent an alien enemy from occupying a position in'.schools or the university. Mr Wilford thought the Bill should not he confined to teachers only, hut should include all classes. He complained of discrimination showed in interning aliens. • Dr. Newman supported this view, and also complained of laxity in insisting on interning aliens. Air Hindmarsh expressed himself as sympathetic towards Professor Aon Sedlitz whilst voting for the Bill. Mr AlcCallum defended the attitude of the Premier, and pointed out that the Victoria College Council was responsible for inducing \on Sedlitz to refrain from forwarding his resignation... Messrs Webb, Noswarthy, and Alalcohn also spoke. • The Premier, in the course of his < reply, sketched the history of the against Aon Sedlitz. He denied that any discrimination had been shown in the internment of . aliens ; at the same time, he said, we bad to be just to ourselves before, being just to others. The Bid was then committed, read a third time and passed. The House adjourned at 5.35 a.in. until uooiL I ; = =====