A Parliamentary Note-Book

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 205, 18 November 1927, Page 8

A Parliamentary Note-Book

Getting On Again (TIIK SI'X’S Parliamentary Reporter) WELLINGTON, Thursday. After spending over 12 hours j, brisk debate on the Licensing Ament ment Bill yesterday, members of tb. House of Representatives were £t , on the whole inclined for unnecessary talk to-day, and good progress ** made with the business of the House four Bills being cleared off the orci e . paper. The Coal Mines Amendment Bai which contains clauses making wage, of men an equitable charge upon thassets of the mining company, providing for adequate air supply lG be distributed to all parts of the mint in accordance with the recommendation made by the Dobson Commissiowas put through the final stages Li passed. The Slaughtering and Inspectio; Amendment Bill, which gives mn;i cipalities power to raise special loans for extensions and reconstruction o‘ abattoirs, and tbe Noxious Weeds Amendment Bill, were also passed. Progress was made with the Chad Welfare Amendment Bill and amend ments made by the Legislative Counts to the Shops and Offices Amendme;; Bill were agreed to. The House rose at midnight, after the Prime Minister had introduced the Public Service Amendment Be and the Government Railways Amendment Bill. Religion in Schools Those in the House of Representatives who support the Nelson system of religious training have not relaxed in their efforts to persuade the authorities to do something toward introducing it into the Education Act. Mr. W. A. Veitch, member for Wanganui, has placed a question before the Minister of Education, the Hon. R. A. Wright asking him to place the legality of the system beyond doubt. & * m Oil Prospectors The Government is in no way connected with, and has given no special facilities to the two German scientists who are in the Dominion at present investigating the possibilities of petroleum deposits in certain parts of New Zealand. The Minister of Marine, the Hon. G. J. Anderson, explained in the House that these two men had been sent here by a company formed in Melbourne which had the right to prospect over certain portions of the East Coast. Ht Parliament’s Will Some members of the House apparently are feeling sore at the decision of the House in committee, in agreeing, at half-past four in the morning, to allow the Prime Minister to report progress on his Licensing Bill, as they fear that measure will not reappear on the order paper this session. Mr. J. McCombs evidently had this in mind when he asked the Prime Minister, in the House to-day, if he would, this session, afford an opportunity for the introduction of legislation which would restore to Parliament its authority and prestige by ensuring that the will of Parliament should be allowed to prevail. The reply of Mr. Coates was direct: “I am not aware of any circumstances,” he said, “that would lead me to believe that Parliament is not mas- ; ter of its own situation at the moment.” (Hear, hear from Reform mem, !bers.) *