Mr. Speaker...

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 772, 19 September 1929, Page 1

Mr. Speaker...

; Session Queries and Asides (THE Parliamentary Reporter) WELLINGTON. Wednesday Questions and consideration of the various papers presented occupied tho attention of the House of Representatives this afternoon, and Labour Bills were the subject of discussion this evening. It was a very quiet, sedate day. with most members having a chance to ride their pet hobbyhorse for the space of 15 minutes each. • * • Marriage Amendment The Marriage Amendment Bill, which makes provision for the marriage of a man with the niece of his deceased wife, or of a woman with the nephew of her deceased husband, was passed this evening. The Bill was introduced by Mr. H. G. R. Mason, and is one of the few private measures to survive neglect and hostility. ... “Hear, Hear,” from Gallery Keenly interested in the words uttered by Mr. E. J. Howard, when he was speaking to his Workers’ Compensation Amendment Bill, a listener in the strangers’ gallery could not abstain from voicing a hearty “hear, hear.’.’ “I am glad to have the support of someone.’’ said Mr. Howard. “I do not know who it was.’’ “A worker of New Zealand, came the lusty reply. “Order! Order!” called the Speaker. “I am sorrlr, sir. I thought it was someone on the floor of the House, said Mr. Howard. Two policemen requested the interrupter to withdraw, which he did quietly.

Kill-and-Run Motorists That all insurance companies should bear jointly third-party compensation in cases where the driver of a motorcar killing a person is unidentified was the request made of the Minister of Transport, the Hon. W. A. \eitch. by Mr. A. E. Ansell (Chalmersl. who asked for legislation to enable this to be done, the proportion ’of companies’ payments being according to the amount of the premiums they received under the Motor-Vehicles (Third-Party Insurance) Amendment Act. * * * Cruel Wrestling | A protestor against the cruelties of • wrestling is Mr. H. G. R. Mason (AuckI land Suburbs), and this afternoon he ! infused a little sporting interest into 1 subjects which had very little bear- | iug upon sport. He gave notice to 1 ask the Minister of Justice, the Hon I T. M. Wilford, If he had noticed the words, “Wrestling is a cruel sport, and a man must get hurt some time or other,” attributed to Jack Sorenson, a wrestler whjo has competed for the world's championship, and reported in a newspaper on September 3, 1929. Also Mr. Mason directed Mr. Wilford*s 'attention to the words in a report in the Auckland Sun of Tuesday, in which the words appeared, “Vance clapped on a toe-hold. The Indian stuck it out for a while, but the pain was too ; great, and when he tapped the mat in submission the crowd roared and , yelled excitedly.” Mr. Mason wanted to know if the Minister would consider whether steps j should be taken to prohibit public ex- , hibitions in which the infliction of pain j to the limit of endurance seemed an essential element. * • • Military Exemptions ' In another question to Mr. Wilford, j this time in his capacity of Minister i of Defence, military exemptions were ! the subject of Mr. Mason’s inquiries. He wanted information as to whether j the Minister were aware that 13 applications for exemption from military training filed in the Magistrate’s Court at Auckland had been adjourned till October in expectation of the Government introducing legislation on the subject of exemption, and whether the Government would make a statement as to its policy and follow the statement with appropriate action. • * * * Civil Servants in Politics Answering the question of the Leader of the Labour Party (Mr. H. E. Holland), the Prime Minister (the Rt. Flon. Sir Joseph Ward) said that inquiries would be made into the privileges of Australian civil servants in contesting Parliamentary elections , and then the Government would dei cide as to whether New Zealand civil servants should have similar rights.

Cheap Money Asked by Mr. F. Langstone (Waimarino) when the Government was going to give effect to its declared policy of advancing up to £8,000.000 a year to settlers and workers for a 32* year term at 43 per cent., the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. Sir Joseph Ward) said that action would be taken when conditions allowed the Government to get money on such terms as would allow the State Advances Board to lend at reduced rates. Artificial Silks In an answer to a question from Mr. Clyde Carr (Timaru), the Minister of Customs (the Hon. W. B. Taverner) intimated that the question of imposing a duty on artificial silk piece-gods would be considered when tariffs were revised.