PARLIAMENT.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXX, Issue 72, 29 June 1916, Page 3

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. (Per Press Association). Wellington, June 2S. The Council met at 2.30 p.m. Consideration of the Military Service Bill, in committee, was resum-

ed. Considerable discussion took place upon an amendment to clause 18 in favor of conscientious objectors being allowed the right to appeal for reason of a conscientious objection to the undertaking of combatant service. The amendment was rejected by PI votes to 3. Two minor amendments dealing with the clause were rejected on a divison, and the clause then passed. Clause 34a, providing for non-mili-tary service for conscientious objectors, was passed. Progress was reported, and the Council rose at 5.15 p.m.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

TRADING WITH THE ENEMY. Mr L. M. Isitt brought under the notice of the Attorney-General a case of trading with the enemy, which lie thought warranted further consideration. The man in question was a Greek, who was endeavoring to send a bank draft of £2O to his wife, living at Sidon, he being under the impression that Sidon was under British protection. The man was a pronounced enemy of the Turks, was loyal to Britain, and had acted in ignorance, but the police, who seized the money, hath 'informed him that .ignorance was no defence, anjd had not returned the YV the meantime Ids wife .arid children in Sidon are without sfipport,. and, he (Mr Isitt) wanted to know if some relief could not be given to one about whose loyalty there was no question. Mr Herdman, in reply, said it was a clear case of trading with the enemy, and he doubted if any exception could he made. He would, however, look into the case and let Mr Isitt know wlint could be done. DEFENCE MATTERS. The Minister of Defence made a statement regarding .Major Sehwitzer, whose- nationality had been called into question. He himself had previously stated that Major Sehwitzer’s par- , ents were German, but he was pleased to say this was not correct. Major Sehwitzer was born in England, where his forefathers had lived .Hor m|hV centuries, and to make tins p tary pri sonOrs,ti / ho%.,il#m#' s j^| i 'b; press for pijP?ca“trojy i ; dh|| explained thatifthia,.had been dqne. uninteritiorially, and. the mistake would not occur again GOVERNMENT business. On the motion of the Premier, it was agreed that, on and after Juno 26, the House meet at 7.30 on Mondays for the transaction of Govern-! ment business. Mr Witty asked I be Premier to say whether the business on the order paper represented the business to come before the House, atul if there were other Bills to pome down! Tlie Premier said, there were a loti of Bills to come down yet. Mr Voitch asked whether, the Go- j vornment proposed to priyatpmembers facilities for thejfc Bills after the Government Bills had been dealt with. Mr Ell asked what the Government proposed to do about the Daylight Saving Bill. 1

The Premier: “That is a private .members’ Bill.” i Mr Ell said he knew that, but at a time like this it should he a Government measure. This was a time when we should exercise economy. It was well known there was a {treat shortage of coal in tin's Dominion, and anything that would economise heat and light should ho encouraged. Mr Webb objected to an attempt to close up the business of the House before a practical attempt was made to deal with the cost of living. The cables yesterday stated that a line of steamers had been purchased by the Commonwealth Government to help the people of Australia. That was something practical. The Premier: “I do not believe the cable.” Mr Webb: “Can you deny it?” The Premier: “No, I eamjiot deny iit, but I do not think it is correct.” Mr Payne wanted to know what the Government intended to do about the list/ of little Bills he had introduced. There was, for example, the Baby Bonus Bill. Nearly every country was doing something to encourage the birth-rate. The Premier: “HaVeißt>• you read the Budget?” ! Mr Wilford: “They have put your Baby Bonus Bill into the Budget.” i Mr Payne: “That is a dirty trick.” j The Premier, in replying, said the Government Bills on the order paper would be gone on with, and there was , the Finance Bill yet to I>e introducled. There would also he a WashiiigVp Bill, and another, the title of I which had not vet been decided on, in j which a great variety of matters will he dealt with. Then there was the 1 Public Works Statem’ontf • v: a i rid Estimates, the Appropriation Bill, and the ■Supplementary Estimates. After that ia number of small Bills ' That 'vibe urgently required would he submitted to the House. Continuing, Mr Massey said the shortage of coal was largely due to the demands made for transports and the* Admiralty. The difficulty in getting it from Newcastle was the shortage of shipping, but this difficult! was now being overcome, and he could assure the House that the Government was making every effort to get coal. Referring to the purchase of>,steamers by lh(| Commonwealth Government. the [Premier said ho had met Mr HhghetJ, who was. a very, phaewd ! man, and ho could not believe he would vqake an extensive purchase of ships, considering the present pujHJg rates for shipping. REPLIES TO QUESTIONS ■ M' iiHftpying; to questions, Ministers Several applications bad been } jJ|&>Jived from discharged soldiers for j|frkers’ dwellings, and preference waft being given to them over oilier applicants. Applications from widows of soldiers would receive special consideration. It was not proposed < o extend the provisions of the Discharged Soldiers’ Settlement Act in the direction of including the men who wore j under fire in South Alrioa. Ihe question of preventing alietis acquiring freehold land in the Dominion was one which must come before the Imperial Conference, as any such legislation must he uniiorm throughout, the Empire. There would be considerable difficulty in differentiating be-' {tween earned and unearned income in • New Zealand, and it was not proposed , to attempt‘it at the present time. Ihe question of making subsidies for public libraries available for the current year would lie considered when the j Supplementary Estimates wore being j framed. i

THE ESTIMATES. The House resumed at 7.30, and west into Committee of Supply on the Estimates. Class Vlll.—Mines Department, £31,613. Considerable discussion took place, the speakers ranging over aim ferous areas, coalbearing seams, ironsand deposits, German control over the iron markets, wages of employees, and kindred subjects.—Mr Okey, referring to a grant of £6OOO towards prospecting, asked that portion of that sunt should be devoted towards developing the oil industry.—The vote lln'ally passed at five minutes to 1-. and the House then proceeded with Class IX., Department of Internal Affairs (including Menial Hospitals. Hospitals and Chain tablcv Anl Public Health Departments), £403,723. Mr Hornsby moved that the vote oi £IOOO to the war correspondent be reduced by £IOO, as a protest agamsl the continuation of his appointment. This was lost on the voices. The Minister intimated that the census would be taken on-October lo of this year.