PARLIAMENT.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3516, 30 June 1920, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. WELLINGTON, June 29. The House met at 2.30 p.m. Hon. G. J. Anderson gave notice that he would introduce, next sitting day, the following Bills: Standard Time, Marriage Amendment, Revocation of Naturalisation Amendment, Registration of Aliens’ Amendment. In reply to a'question by Mr Vernon Reed, Hon. Lee, Minister of External Affairs, stated that opportunity would be given members at an early date to discuss Samoa. The debate would not be restricted, and papers bearing on the matters would be furnished to members before the debate came on. Mr Isitt asked if the Government would see that the provisions of the Licensing Act prohibiting the removal of licenses from more than a certain district were carried out in their entirety. He cited cases on the East Coast where this was going on. The Premier replied that the matter was sub judice and he could not say anything further than that the transfer now under discussion had boon opposed by the Government and would bo opposed in further proceedings. Mr Isitt asked why work was permitted in the construction of hotel premises at Matamata, also why wood was permitted in the construction of buildings within a brick area. The Minister promised to inquire into the matters mentioned. Mr A. S. Malcolm was appointed Chairman of Committees pro tern. On the Speaker putting the motion to go into Committee of Supply, Mr Holland moved an amendment expressing the House’s disapproval of the Government’s failure to provide proportional representation, to deal with I the high cost, of living, to provide houses and coal for the people, and to carry out necessary public works. Mr Holland briefly enlarged upon the need for electoral reform so. as to give, the people representation in’ accordance with the way they- voted. He also stressed the need for dealing in a proper manner with the immigration question, instancing eases in which families arrived without money and became a charge upon the public funds. He also urg@i that with proper treatment and equipment of mines, plenty of coal could be obtained. Mr McCombs seconded the motion. The amendment was defeated by 39 to 16, and the Bill was put through all stages without amendment, the Premier claiming it as a matter of urgency.

Replying to questions, the Premier said he believed the coolie labour on Nauru Island in connection with the production of phosphates would be reduced at an early date. He could not say if coolies would be eliminated soon because the English, Australian and New Zealand Government were taking over all employees of the Nauru Phosphates Company who wished to remain, and he could not tell yet wluit the position of the coolies would be. Phosphates would b'c landed in New Zealand and sold fo farmers at the lowest possible price. Replying to Mr McCombs, Sir W. Kerries, Minister of Customs, said if the Customs duty on hardwood posts required by local bodies were remitted, it would have to be made up out of the Consolidated Fund. The whole matter would be gone into when the tariff came up for revision next session. Various anomalies in the Australian tariff, now under revision, which operated against New Zealand, had been brought to the notice of the Federal Prime Minister. A motion of condolence with the relatives of the late Mr Henare Haitian, a former member of the House, was passed oa the motion of the Premier, seconded by the Leader of the Opposition. A similar resolution was adopted in the case of the Hon. G. R. Johnstone, one time member of the Legislative Council. THE NO-(JONFTDENCE DIVIBION. Following is the division list on Mr Holland’s amendment: — For the amendment (Hi): Atm ore, Bertram, Fraser. Holland, Howard, McCombs, Masters.- Parry, Poland, Savage, Sod don. Si dey, s. G, Smith, Sullivan, Thacker. Veitch. Against the amendment (39): Anderson, Kitchener, Bollard, Burnett, Coates. Crai gie, J. M. Dickson, Field, Gb-mi, Guthrie. J. R. IHamiltou, Harris, Herrics. Hockley. Hudson, Hunter, Jones, Lee. Luke. Lysnar, McCallum, McLeod. Malcolm, Mander, Massey, Mitchell. Nash. A. K. Newman, E. Newman. Nos worthy. Parr, Potter, Reed. TV VV. Rhores, Strath am, Sykes. I'm, Wright. Young.