PARLIAMENT

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 47, 17 August 1911, Page 8

PARLIAMENT

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 16. j HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The House met at '2.30. The Guardian Trust and Executors Company Amendment Bill was read a third time and passed. REPLIES TO QUESTIONS.

Replying •to questions, Ministers stated: That reports upon the claims of old soldiers, iieard by magistrates, were now being compiled, and it was hoped to have them read at an early date, when the Government will consider how .beat to give effect to them; that a vigorous policy of afforestation is being pursued and great extension of tree planting operations is contemplated; that Government was carefully observing the results of the State note issue in the Commonwealth; that the demands for cordite and for small arms at present are too small to warrant a heavy initial expense for plant, etc; that the question of establishing a State clothing factory will be considered; that the whole question concerning the employment of shunters ia at present engaging the Minister's attention; that the basis on which the railway superannuation fund was established will not permit of the benefits of the fund being further extended; that the proposal to allow persons to continue their contributions to the superannuation fund after their retirement from service could not be entertained; that Government is not prepared to hand over to three irresponsible men (two of whom are railway employees) the administration of the railways, which is the largest of the State departments; that the freight on imported timber could not be reduced; the question of the pay of railwaymen was now engaging the Mmisters' attention; an actuary is at piesent engaged on the examination of the public service superannuation fund and expects to have the report ready next month; the education syllabus is now under consideration and rearrangement will follow, generally on the lines suggested at last conference of inspectors; that it is not intended to make any money grant to members of rifle cluibs from New Zealand who desire to attend the New South Wales Rifle Association meeting; that it is not at pregent intended to remove the preferential duty from plant and machinery required for boring for petroleum; that revision of tariff for the purpose of equalising the tariffs between Australia and New Zealand on agricultural produce will not be dealt with tlii-. session, .but the question of adjustment will be considered with a view to entering into negotiations

with the Commonwealth Government during the recess; that the proposal to transfer to local bodies, in whose districts unoccupied Crown lands are situated, such lands as inalienable endowments could not ibe entertained; that the question of extending the guarantee ef one penny per pound to next season' 9 shipment or apples is under consideration. CORONATION INVITATIONS. Mr. Herdman moved for the Teturn ot all correspondence relating to invitations to members of Parliament to the Coronation, lie said the whole matter -was shrouded in mystery. Probably, as soma one had stated, Sir Joseph Ward, Bart., wished to he the "only pebble on the beach." The Hon. J. A. Millar said there was no one in the House who could hand the correspondence over. A portion of it was confidential. He was sure the whole matter would be properly cleared up. He was responsible for the invitations not being forwarded to members of the Legislative Council, l>ecause he thought it would be an insult to members to offer to pay their expenses. Further, it was an insult to the country. There was a condition that, though hospitality would be extended to members, there was nothing to show that the same would be extended to their wives and daughters. The invitations did not come from the Home Government, but from a committee. This country should have paid the cost cut sending members Home. As far as the Government was concerned, on Sir Joseph Ward's return the whole correspondence would be placed before the House. Mr. Massey said if the correspondeix o was to be laid on the table, Ministers ikeuld vote for Mr. Herdman's motion. He did not agree with the Hon. J, A. Millar's attitude in connection with invitations to the Legislative Council. Messrs. Arnold, Hannan, Hogg and Forbes desired the fullest information on the matter.

The debate was adjourned, and the House rose at 5.30. OLD SOLDIERS' PENSIONS. During the discussion on answers to questions this afternoon, Mr. Massey Btated that the way old soldiers were treated was a disgrace. He was quite prepared to vote ten shillings a week to all veterans who could prove service during the Maori wars. The House resumed at 7.30. DAYLIGHT SAVING. Mr. Sidey moved the second reading of the New Zealand Mean Time Bill, which was before the House last session as the Daylight Saving Bill. The measure provides that on the last Sunday in September, at 2 a.m., all clocks in the country shall be put on to 3 o'clock, and on the last Sunday .in March all clocks shall be put back one hour. He pointed out that already one of the Australian States had followed the form of this Bill, and similar Bills were before the other States of the Commonwealth at the pre-, sent time. A large portion of public, opinion in New Zealand was in favor of the proposal. A petition was to have been presented to Parliament, -for which athletic bodies were mainly responsible, in support of the Bill. It would contain some three or four thousand signatures, mai would be one of the most representative and influential petitions ever presented to the House. The carrying into effect of the provisions of the Bill ■were extremely simple. Nothing need be altered but the clock.

Mr. G. M. Thompson did not support the Bill. He would like to hear what milkmen and those engaged on morning newspapers had to say with regard to the proposal. The best scientific evidence taken by the Committee of the House last session was against the propositi.

Mr. Fisher contended that such a measure as proposed would benefit the

i- r working man and allow him to got out with his children in the daylight. It would also benefit (school children in the matter of home study. Mr. Poole strongly supported the Bill. Its economic aspects in the matter of saving of light, taken with its athletic and amusements benefits, tended to make t'he measure one which should go on the Statute Book. After some further discussion the Bill was read a second time.