PARLIAMENT.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXX, Issue 79, 6 July 1916, Page 7

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. (Per Press Association). Wellington, July 5. The Council met at 2.80. On the motion of Hon. Sir I<\ Bell, it W*h resolve! that the Standing Orders be suspended for the remainder of the session to allow Government Bills to pass all stages at one sitting; also to alloAV local Bills, after being reported from the Local Bills Committee, to pass the remaining stages in one day. The Land and jfefonnjc .BjJJnWfi" read a first time. The Cohnciil v )iQ^e/nt l ..2.>iQ ( ;p.i».-,; :, .i.fJ}

HOUSE |oF REPRESENTATIVES, i ' The House* at 2.30 p.m.» ' Replying to. questions Ministers said: The Government do not see their way to introduce legislation in the direction of providing.for the continuance of the House of Representatives for five years, in lieu of three years. The Government will make an iumouneement with regard to extending the- term of' the present Pariia* ment in case.of the War not coming to' an end in the near future. It 'was' not. intended at present to introduce a tax on amusements, as under the proposals contained in the FjinuVco Bill a. large amount of revenue would be drawn from owners and lessees of this class of business. It is not practicable to provide carriages for the whole 5 of tho troops travelling between Wellington aud the Upper TJutt. .._,Samp-,, los of liquor have ~been .taken ,froqi licensed houses in Wellington, but the, report of the analyist halt not yet been received. The Government do not consider it advisable' ur invest money in shipping at the „ present time.

On the motion of Hon. Homes, Messrs Mander and Smith were added to the Railway Committee. The Minister explained that as a special ease wafe coming before the committee, it Mas desirable to strengthen the committee by members having a knowledge of the working of timber. This course had been agreed upon between himself and the member who presented the petition. J -Mr Wilford said he had no objection to the course proposed, but he wanted to have the circumstances placed on record, so that if any other member got into a similar position he should have a like concession made to him. Replying to Mr Webb, the Minister of Agriculture said he had given instructions to have a geological survey made in certain districts in the South island, with a view, to discovering if. they contained lime deposits suitable for agricultural purposes. ABOLITION OF TOLL-GATES. The M to Z Petitions Committee, reporting on the petition of the Taieri County Council, praying that the collgate erected by the Green Island Borough Council at the bridge over the Kaikorai stream be abolished, recommended that the petition be referred to the Government for favorable consideration. A lengthy discussion on toll-gates followed, most of the speakers favoring the abolition of toll-bars and Government assistance to local bodies in maintaining main arterial roads. The report was adopted, and the remained of the sitting was devoted to discussing answers to questions. MILITARY SERVICE BILL. The House resumed at 7.30, when alterations made by the Council in Military Service Hill were considered. Hon. J. Allen explained the amendments, and indicated that several would be objected to, the principal of these being the clauses providing for the conscientious objector, and constituting a final court of appeal. He proposed that certain of the amendments be agreed with, and that certain others be disagreed with. Mr Isitt appealed to members to deal in a broad spirit with men who had religious objections to bearing arm, and he asked for charity and breadth of view and sympathy for men with religious convictions on this

mint. He moved to om"t from the •a.alscs disagreed with those relating to the conscientious objector. Mr Hornsby assented that the Quaker, attitude had not been correctly stated because some of that body had been, guilty of endeavouring to prevent recruiting. He held that it a man would not fight for hi* country ho should be kicked out of it. Dr. Thacker held that there should he provision for the conscientious o\o lector.

Mr Toole also (supported the amendment, and argued that, in objecting to the provision for the conscientious objector we were looking-for trouble. JLv.Hindmarsli said Quakers were 'net ;'iirl:ers. They were only small In ',i.;!i!it,rtv. iiiid were entitled to ton* ■lifjcivt:.'\i*. He thought they might iollow' the example of England nnd exempt them. Mr MeCombs also favored exempt!-in Upon the ground of religious convie-

Dr. Newman supported the clause as passed by the Council. |, 'Mi- Webb thought that after the elo*,K«nt address of the member for Christchurch North the pbjection to the clause would have disappeared. He supported the amendment. Mr Feild thought the Government would be unwise if it refused to accept Ihe amendment inserted by the Legislative Council. M- Payne pleaded for a- spirit of toiei-uce in religious matters. He supiy■-■ i>.;l the amendment. Mr Wilford contended that the member for Ch'ristdhurch'North had not 'accurately represented tjie, sentiment iei the Quakers of New Zea)and. He j..-lid the clause contained a slur on members of that body, which he strongr H w'a' 1 ? that the Quakers would do anything bitfc "i'iht. TTo knew a number.' oi members of that body who wore now fighting in France. Mr Walker supported the amendment. Mr Isitt's amendment was rejected on a division by 35 to 19. Hon. Allen and Herdman and Mr Forbes were appointed managers to confer with tlie Legislative Council with reference to the rejected amendment, and the House rose at 11.20 »m. ■ «,'