PARLIAMENT.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXX, Issue 99, 28 July 1916, Page 3

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. (Per Press Association). Wellington, July 27, The Council met at 2.3 U jmu.v The Imprest Supply Bill, No. 2, £971,800, was passed through all stages, and the Council adjourned, . HOUSE Of. REPRESENTATIVES. Mr Fletcher asked the Minister for Friendly Societies if he intended to call a conference of friendly societieswith a view to discussing the position of societies under Clause 5o of the Finance Bill. There was great anxiety amongst members as to the of' foct.of Clause Ea. Messrs Talbot, Bucldo, Glover, and Payne, urged the wisdom of holding a conference to see if something could not be done in the direction of co-ordi-nating the National Provident Fund and Friendly Societies. . Sir Joseph Ward said ho wanted to •offer a word of warning to those attempting to trespass upon the domain of the National Annuities Fund. They would find the whole of the people of the Dominion against them in the event of such a course being adopted. There was room for both a National Fund and Friendly Societies hjund. Dir A. M. Myers said he recognised tlio excellent spirit in.which the advoof friendly societies had criticised the National Provident Fund, which was doing great woi'k in the Dominion, and was not antagonistic to Friendly Societies. Mr Poland advocated an amendment of the National Provident Fund Act in the direction of giving greater benefits. He thought the maternity bonus, given under the Finance Act, should be given to ev t ery woman who needs it.

Dr. Thacker suggested that the president of the British Medical Association should be invited to the proposed conference. Hie strongly advocated a national baby bonus. Mr Han an said he would carefully consider tho proposal to hold a conference during the recess. N FINANCE BILL. Further amendments to--the Finance Bill were introduced by Governor’s Message. Bir Joseph Ward, explained that the principal one was that of raising the amount of the loan from £12,000,000 to £16,000,000. It was proposed to issue debentures to provide for an extra £1,000,000. it was also proposed to take power to increase the. amount which may be spent as unauthorised expenditure, from £250,000 to £350,000, as under exceptional circumstances of war time there must be elasticity in reserves. LANDS EXCHANGE. Another Lands Exchange Empowering Bill was brought down by Governor’s message. CENSOBSHIP OF FILMS.

The Censorship of Cinematograph Film Bill was introduced by ■ Governor’s Message, and read a first time. I’lio remainder of the sitting was taken up with reports on petitions.

EVENING SITTING. WAR REGULATIONS BILL. i ANTI-SHOUTING CLAUSE CARRIED. The House resumed at 7.30, when the War Regulations Rill was taken . in Committee. On the short title, Mr Payne urged the absolute prohibition of importation of German manufactured goods. Dr. Thacker condemned .the antitreating clauses in the Bill, which, ho said, had been put in to tickle the palate of the,prohibitionists. He in'stanced the work of the Anz?cs, as showing what men could do who came from a country whore liquor wa ,-i sold. Mr Witty opposed the anti-treating clauses. Mr Webb argued that the anti-treat-ing clauses would manufacture lawbreakers all over the Dominion. He ■ affirmed that the provisions would he evaded, and that three times the present number of police would ho required to enforce the law, which Was an insult to the intelligence of tho people. Mr Wright denied that the Prohibition Party was responsible for tho an-ti-treating clauses or for the agitation in' favor of the early closing ol hotels.

Mi* Okey pointed oilt mat while the temperance party had presented evidence to thq .Petitions Committee on the anti-sliptiling Clause, no evidence had heou tendered by the trade, although they had the opportunity of doing so. He. .deprecated taking up the time of the 'House in discussing a clause upon which “The Trade” declined to give evidence. Sir Joseph Ward said he had taken a part in every licensing reform passed by the House for many years, and ho never know a change made yet that did not involve concession on both sides. Hie was responsible* for suggesting the anti-shouting clause, and ho believed ho was introducing a useful reform in doing so. *He was going to stick to the Bill as it came from the Government, if anyone had the right to say the hours should be shortened it was the people.

■ Mr Isitt said the dem'and for the anti-shouting clauses came from a large body of public- opinion quite outside ,the Prohibition Party. Mr Massey explained the origin of the clause dealing with antkshouting,_ which was based on an understanding that Sir Joseph Ward said he had with a prominent member of the temperance party, to the effect if an antitreating clause was brought' down the prohibitionists would ho sati fled. Ho intended to sta id by the Bill, and hoped it would not be delayed. At 10.55, the short title was passed. At Clause 3, Mr Herdman moved new sub-sections making provision by which members of Expeditionary Forces might giant powers of aitoruey. j The amendments were agreed to. Mr Hornsby moved’ an amendment intended to prevent the Government making regulations giving them power to arrest any person on the ground of suspicion that ho or she was suffering from a venereal disease, except in ac.cbrdanco with the-process of law now in force.

Mr Herdman assured the House that the Government liad Ho intention to arrest any one on suspicion. What affected persons once they entered our they wanted was the power to detain hospitals or gaols.

Mr Hindmarsh contended that tin widest power must he given to the Go veriiment to enable thorn to stain] out the disease. M r Russell wanted the House t< understand that the matter was a great deal more serious than most people supposed, and that the strongest power, by regulation or otherwise, -was required to prevent the-spread of tin disease. i A division was then taken on -subsection 5, giving power to make Regulation for suppression' of prostitution for prevention of venereal - dis ease. This was.carried by 01 to 10. Mr Witty moved an amendment that the anti-shouting clause 1 should not apply to conditional licenses issued in connection with the catering 'contracts. The Premier undertook to provide such cases by regulation. On division, the amendment was rejected by 54 to 16. Tho anti-shouting clause was carried bv 56 to 15.

Mr Wilkinson (Egmont) moved a new clause reducing the hours during which licensed houses may he kept open, viz., from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Mr Herdman raised a point ol order that the amendment was foreign to the Bill.

Mr Malcolm held' that the clause was in order.

The .Speaker’s -opinion was taken on tills ruling, which was upheld. Mr Wilford’s athhndmcnt was lost by 29 to 42. ’

An amendment by Mr Wilford that the hour of opening should be 9 a.m., was lost by 32 to 38, and another amendment by Mr Ell filing l the' hour of closing at 9 p.m., was lost by 35 to 36. THE HOURS OF CLOSING. BILL REPORTED WITH AMENDMENTS. Wellington, July 28. Alter the Telegraph Office closed, Mr. Anderson moved an amendment providing for the taking oi a puli’Jn regard to the limitation of hours during which licensed houses -hall lie kept open. Mr Wilford argued that the pro? Dosed amendment was valuejesc. and would place some members in a rape position* as to • referendum, Mr I'sitt deplo*'ed the face than ‘he National Government was’ placing itself as a buttress and barrier;.’between the people and their wishes. If a referendum were taken on-the' sunjeet, the opponents of prole bit-ion would be “snowed under” thrice over. ' Mr Wright commented adversely on the attitude of the National Government on this question. Mr Wilford defended the Government, and said that if the leader of tho prohibitionists would consent i.o a referendum on State control, he (Mr Wilford) would'agree to a ref erendum on the question of hours. Mr Wright approved of tho amend-

ment. Messrs Hdndniarsh and Field (Nelson) supported the idea of a retorendum. Mr Payne said ho had not heard a word in justification for the heavy expense which limpid be necessitated by taking a referendum. Air Anderson’s amendment was rejected by 26 to 41. Mr Wilford then moved that the opening hour for hotels ho 8 o’clock. This was lost by 31 to 38. Mr Hindmarsli moved that the opening hour should bo seven o’clock, exi plaining that lie did so in the interest of employees.—Lost by 31 to 38. Mr Herdman moved a series of amendments, giving power to make * regulations for the cancellation of publicans’ licenses in certain cases. — Agreed to. The Bill was reported uith amendments, and the House rose at 3.20. The division was as follows: Against 9 o’clock closing (36) : Bollard, Brown, Bnick, Coates, Colvin, Dickie, Dickson (Parnell), Field, Fletcher, Fraser, Glover, Guthrie, H enure,. Herdman, Homes, Jennings, McOallnm, MacDonald', Massey, Myers, Xose.vorthy, Parata, Payne, Pomare,, Bhodes (2), Bussell, Scott, Smith, Statham, Stewart, Thacker, Veitch, Ward, Wolib, and Witty. For nine o’clock closing (35); Allen, Anderson, Anstey, Bnddo, Ciaigie, Dickson (Chalmers), Ell, Field (Nelson), Forltes, Hanan, Harris, Hindmarsh, Hbrnsby, Hunter, Hudson, Isitt, McCombs, McNab, Mander, Newman (2), Ngata, Okey, Pearce, Poland, Poole, Sidey, Sykes, Talbot, Tbonve’ l Walker, Wilford, Wilkinson, Wright, and Young.