A Parliamentary Notebook

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 151, 16 September 1927, Page 8

A Parliamentary Notebook

I i Controversial Measures j (THE SL .\ 'Parliamentary Reporter) WELLINGTON. Tc-cl ay . I The presentation of a large number of r ’ports occupied the time of th. i House of Representatives this after i The report of the Royal Commissw on the Dobson M ine Disaster was d‘s I cussed at some length The Summer Time .Bill was brought on for the third reading at r.SO p. m , and the debate was carried on until 12-40 a.m.. when the Bill was passed. The House rose at 12.50 a.m. The taxation Bills were passed by the Legislative Council. The Council read a first time the Marriage Amendment Bill, which was passed by ike House of Representatives in the early 1 hours of the morning. Puol'C Service Cl assification The Public Service Classification List, the advent of which is being | awaited eagerly by thousands of civil servants throughout the Dominion, has been promised by the Prime Minj ister for next week. Members’ Salaries It is stated a deputation of members of the House of Representatives waited on the Pr me Minister within the last day or two in reference to an increase in the Parliamentary honorarium. It is understood they are asking for an increase to bring the honorarium up to £6OO, or at least £550. lU -J. Mining Conditions When Colonel Symonds, an ?£nglish mining expert. was in the Dominion recently, the Minister of Mines, the Hon. G. J. Anderson, asked him to report upon coal mining conditions throughout New Zealand. He traversed the Huntly field, bit did not have time to inspect the oth;r localities. As a result of this, the question rf rescue brigades is to he investigated during the recess, a special committee having been arranged for this purpose. Colonel Symonds is to send further information upon this subject from England. Whitebait Netting Reporting on a Southern petition presented to the House of Representatives This session praying that the use of set nets for catching whitebait in the Ashley River be made illegal, the Native Affairs Committee recommended to-day that the petition be referred to the Government for inquiry. The Minister of Marine, the Hon. G. J. Anderson, said the difficulty complained of tad been experienced not only in the South, but also in other parts of the country, but he hoped to have the whole question thoroughly investigated. Soldier Settlers Information upon the position of soldier settlers is sought by Mr. H. E. Holland, Leader of the Opposition, who has asked for a return showing the number of soldier settlers whose capital value has been reduced during the four yeais ended March 31, 1927, the price at which the properties were purchased by the Government, the price at which it was sold to the soldiers, the amount written down and the net cost to the State in cases of forfeiture, the difference between the original terms and the present ones, and whether these properties are now held by soldiers or civilians. Stigma of Illegitimacy The disabilities suffered by children born out of wedlock through having to mark the word “illegitimate” upon their full birth certificates are recognised by the Registrar-General, who has recommended the acting-Minister of Internal Affairs, the Hon. Sir Maui Pomare, to promote an amending clause to the Births and Deaths Regis- 1 tration Act. The Minister has promised that this will be done. Adventures With Lift Members of Parliament are having their little adventures in secret with a certain lift at the rear of Parliament Buildings, a machine that has caused the heart of many a member to miss a beat before to day. The prectxious nature of the lift was mentioned on I he floor of the House when Mr. J. A Lee asked for a return showing the cost of repairs during the past four years and the cost of installing an efficient lift. Kf Hi =•= Mr. Glenn Peeved Politics, with reason, •will keep Ppliament a happy family, but politics shorn of conciliation do not inspire the best of feeling. A little incident in the House to-night emphasised this. Mr. W. S. Glenn, Rangitikei, was speaking strongly for the farmers and ags.inst Labour members, but when the bell rang him off. Air. P. leaser, Wellington Central, was upon his feet to move an extension of time. Mr. Speaker put it to the House, expecting unanimous consent, but the Chief Government Whip. Mr. J- S. Dickson, was the only objector. Mr. Glenn felt this keenly, and 8 note of bitterness crept into his voice as he said. “I congratulate Labour on its sporting spirit, and I regret that there are members, on my side of the House, who, when I was speaking tor the farmers, were sufficiently inconsiderate as to block this small ex-