LEGISLATION STILL WAITS

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 95, 13 July 1927, Page 13

LEGISLATION STILL WAITS

ADDRESS-IN-REPLY DEBATE “SUMMER TIME’’ SIDETRACKED (THE SUN'S Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, Tuesday. T>Y prolonging the Address-in-Reply Debate into to-day’s sitting the Government has raised the possibility of Mr. T. K. Sidey’s Daylight Saving Bill being held up at least till very late in the session. This measure is set down for second reading to-day, which is private members’ day. The Address-in-Reply debate will take precedence, however, and if “sum-mer-time” is not reached to-day it will probably be placed at the bottom of the order paper on the list of private business. As private Bills accumulate rapidly, and the usual one day a week devoted to these is, in the opinion of some members, hardly sufficient, it is likely that the coming week's accumulation will swamp Mr. Sidey’s Bill out of the immediate perspective. It is suggested that Labour will do its best to hold up the introduction of Mr. Henry Holland’s, Christchurch South, Religious Exercises Bill, and this will aggravate the delay in private members’ Bills. It is hardly likely that the Government will essay a hold-up of Sir George Hunter’s Gaming because the Prime Minister, although not actually committing himself on the question, is expected to give some Government time to the measure.

The closing stages of the Address-in-Reply debate are being characterised by a procession of Government members, Labour having withdrawn its speakers after the amendment was defeated last week. FOUR BILLS INTRODUCED Four Bills were introduced by Gov-ernor-General’s message yesterday. The Justice of the Peace Amendment Bill, which was read a first time, was stated by the Minister of Justice to be largely a consolidation measure, although there was an extra clause relating to justices dealing with theft cases. Hitherto justices could deal with cases of theft of goods to the value of up to £5. It was now proposed to allow them to deal with thefts of amounts up to £2O with th® consent of the accused person. The Public Service Superannuation Amendment Bill is purely consolidation of past legislation on this subject.

The War Funds Amendment Bill and Dangerous Drugs Amendment Bill were also brought down. The War Disabilities Removal Bill was said by the Minister of Justice to be for removing the disabilities suffered by enemy aliens entering the teaching profession, and also to acquiring land only with the consent of the Attorney-General. The Savings Bank Amendment Bill, which is being handled by the Minister of Finance, is to save people with only a few pounds in the savings bank taking probate. These Bills, together with the Marriage Amndment Bill, the Bankruptcy Amendment Bill, the Egmont National Park Amendment Bill and the Property Law Amendment Bill, were read a first time.