PARLIAMENT.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXX, Issue 92, 20 July 1916, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, | (Per Press Association). Wellington, July 19. The Council met at 2.30. Sir Francis Bell brought up a 1 report of the conference ou the Military Service Bill, which showed that while on several amendments the conference came to an agreement, they disagreed on the conscientious objector clause. i Sir Francis Bell moved that a committee consisting of the Speaker, the Hons. A. Baldoy, W. E. Collins, C. A* ,C. Hardy, B. Harris, Sir W. HallI Jones and H. F. Wigram be appointed to act with the Committee from the House of Representatives with regard to furnishing the new Parliament buildings. • The Legislative Council Act Amendment Bill. 1916. was read a first time. I The Finance Bill was put through all stages and passed.

A message was read from the House of Representatives asking for second conference on the amendments in the i Military Service Bill. The Council j agreed, and managers were appointed. The amendments made in the Land and Income Tax Bill by the House, on the Governor's Message, were agreed to. The Council rose at 3.30 p.m. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House met at 2.30. p.m. Replying to Mr. J. T. M. Hornsby, the .Minister of Internal Affairs stated that the audit of Patriotic Funds was provided for by the War Funds Act. Outside auditors had to he employed and these must be paid by the Patriotic Committees. Leave of absence was granted to Mr. W. A. Veitch on account of illness. INCREASED ALLOWANCES FOR j DEPENDENTS. The Minister of Defence stated Cabi inet had agreed to increase the allow-, ance to soldiers' children, up to five children, from 3s 6d to 5s per week, this will come into force as front July • 1. Cabinet had also decided .that married men with more thj?n three children would not be alloftd to enlist un-, der the voluntary system, except under special circumstances. The Prime Minister, Hon. W. H. Hemes and Mr. J. Cragie; were appointed managers for the House to confer with the managers appointed by the Council relative to amendments in the Military Service Bill. The A to L Petitions Committee recommended that the petition asking that cinematograph films should be censored be referred to the favorable consideration of the Government, and that legislation be introduced provide ing for a board of censors. EVENING SITTING. The War Legislation Amendment Bill was mtrodueet! by Governor's Message and explained by Mr Herdman, who said it provided legislation dealing with the question offiEtt&99>n the lines of the English Act; for «J|jbploynient, temporarily', *h| QflT Education Department, of - teachers; for safeguarding tcachers||ifc the front against loss tion; the protection of Members fiof Parliament at the front against loss of salary; for validating payments made by local bodies in aid of recruiting; for renforcing the police force by an auxiliary force of older men, and for cheap and easy provisions dealing with soldiers' wills. The Bill was read a first time. WAR REGULATIONS. Before tho War Regulations Bill wag called on, Mr Hornsby suggested that the Ladies' Gallieries should be cleared. The Speaker left it to their good sense whether they remained, and the ladies, taking the hint, left without . delav.

Mr Herdmart then moved the second reading of the War Regulations Amendment Bill. He explained that it proposed to deal with enemy traffic, and venereal disease, it being modelled largely on the lines of English legislation. Ho said that trading with the enemy since the outbreak of tho war had been limited. A black list had been arranged for, which had proved of much value. In regard to the liquor traffic, at the last election the people had voted on the liquor proposal in a very convincing manner. Since then, various contracts had been made, and if the hours were to be curtailed, as a matter of justice, compensation must be paid for the loss sustained, and goodness only knew what that would amount to. After due consideration he had decided it was better to allow licensed houses to keep open till 10 o'clock and stick to the proposals in the Bill. He considered it very creditable to the soldiers that so little drunkenness had been shown. He proposed to deal with sly grog selling, treating, and sale of liquor to women. He also intended to move a new clause dealing with licensees who were found to break the law. The Minister of Public Health then explained the proposals dealing with, the suppression of venereal diseases.

Mr. Wilford said discussion on the Bill would probably centre round the six o'clock closing of hotels. He presumed an amendment would be moved in Committee. He would hold his criticism till he saw the form of the amendment. He favored the opening of hotels from nine to nine, and would

support the anti-treathig clause. Mr. Poole agreed that the demand for six o'clock closing should receive attention.

Mr. Hornsby looked upon the abolition of treating as one of the greatest blows struck at the liquor law. The House rose at H.^s,