Session Incidents Queries and Asides

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 421, 1 August 1928, Page 9

Session Incidents Queries and Asides

(TUB SUN'S Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON. To-day. Parliament, as If in deliberate ion* trust with the busy conclusion of last week's sittings, opened very sluggishly yesterday. The afternoon was taken up with discussion of reports. That on the Government Life Insurance report was purely on party lines. Mental hospitals were discussed hi length. Three Government Bills—the Opticians Bill, the Inspection of Machinery' Bill and the Noxious Weeds Bill—were read a first time. The House rose at 12.35 a.m. Sfc ih Bible-in-Schools The Bible-in-Schools controversy will be renewed in the House this evening when the second reading of the Religious Exercises Bill will he moved by Mr. 11. Holland (Christchurch North). Auckland Water Supply Introduced by Mr. J. S. Dickson (Parnell), the Auckland City Watersupply Empowering Bill is chiefly designed to put into effect the recommendations of the commission which investigated the subject last year. # H; These Futilities Mr. J. A. Lee, discussing new mental hospitals, or the need therefor; “Money for Singapore base, or some other futility. has undoubtedly caused the curtailment of these necessary works. Campaigning A good many members of the Labour Party were away campaigning during the week-end. Mr. H. E. Holland, Loader of the Opposition, addressed a big meeting at Palmerston North, and came back a trifle hoarse. Another Labour man has a wretched cold as a result of his efforts in a draughty hall. Mr. W. A. Veitcli (Lib.-National-ist) was another who improved the shining hour. 5F Summer Time Advocate Though Mr. Sidey is leaving Parliament. and his memories of summer time campaigns, at the end of this session, summer time will not lack an earnest advocate. Mr. A. Harris, of Waitemata, was among the most ardent of Mr. Sidey’s followers, and he has now stated that he will lose no opportunity, in future, of pressing the cause of summer time in Parliament. He will, in effect, be following in Mr. Sidey a footsteps as the leading protagonist of summer time. :* X * One-armed Motorists Speaking with the intimate knowledge of the subject that would be expected of a man who lost an arm in the war, Mr. J. A. Lee (Auckland East ) to-day stigmatised as ridiculous the departmental proposal that one-armed motor-drivers should be licensed provided they had suitable artificial limbs. To prove his assertion that artificial arms tend to be a hindrance, rather than a help, Mr. Lee offered to return to the department two that had been supplied to him. The Prime Minister, for once, agreed with Mr. Lee. “I pointed out,” said Mr. Coates, “that for a motor-driver an artificial limb would be an encumbrance, rather than helpful. We have asked the department to suggest a means whereby, at a small cost, a small contrivance on the car may serve instead of the artificial limb to show which way the car is going to go. “The Government’s aim.” he added, “was to assist one-armed drivers in every way possible. & Opticians’ Bill The Opticians’ Registration Bill, introduced by Governor-General's Message to-day, is familiar to members, as in both the 192 ti and 3927 sessions it was introduced but failed to become law. To-day, Mr. P. Fraser commented jokingly on the absence of the term “optometrusts.” Evidently the Bill had managed to survive its association with this term. The Hon. J. A. Young, sponsor of the Bill, which was read the first time, said that it was now considered that an optician would do as well as an optome trust. Budget Next Tuesday The programme of business for the week has been altered and the Budget will not now make its appearance till Tuesday next. Discussion will be taken the following Friday night.