Parliament

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 72, 14 August 1914, Page 4

Parliament

—■ »i LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Per Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The Council met at 8 p.m. The llawkc's Hay Uiver Board Amendment l!ill wiuj read a iirst time. Leave was grantel lor the remainder of the session'to the lion. .Mr. O'Uotfko. TUie Loral elections t'roportional Representation Jiill was riad a second time and referred to the statutes Revision Committee. Th« Council went into committee upon the Public Revenues Bill and Civil Service Officers' Guarantee Repeal Bill,' and reported the same without amendments. The Bilk, weio read a third time and passed. The Council considered tlhe Harbors Amendment Dill in committee. Amendments made were not of a material nature, and the Bill was read a third time. and passed. Amendments made on the Mortgage Extension Bill by the House of Representatives were agreed to, and the Council rose at 10.45 p.m. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House met at 7.30 p.m. ' Leave was granted to Mr. Davey to introduce the Chrißtehurch Tramways District Bill,, which was read a first time and referred to the Local Bills Committee. RELEASE OF STRIKE LEADERS. Mr. Bradney brought up a report of t/lie A to L Petitions Committee on petitions asking for the release of strike prisoners, recommending that the petitions be referred to the Government for favorable consideration. Mr. Bradney stated that -tlie cominittte was unanimouse in coming to the decision. WAR TELEGRAMS. The Premier read a telegram received , by tlhe Governor to the effect that war I had broken out with Austria-Hungary. Mr. Massey remarked that this news was not altogether unexpected, and a proclamation would be issued that night regarding the departure of a contingent now on board steamers in the harbor. The Premier said (he could not eay. when they would sail, T>ut he did aot think they would go to-morrow. That was the most he could say at present. THE PATRIOTIC FUND. • After reading the usual list of contributions to the patriotic fund, tlhe Premier stated that within a few days thu Government would have sufficient funds in hand to purchase all the horses required. \ RELIGIOUS BILLS. On the motion of the Premier, tlhe Roman Catholic Biehop of Auckland Empowering Bill was classified as a public Bill, and, on the motion of Mr. Bradney, it wa9 introduced as such and read a first time. A similar motion was moved regarding the Presbyterian Social Service Association Vesting Bill, but Mr. MalcTolni described the Bill as a most extraordinary one, and warned the House against accepting it as a public Bill. Mr. Clark described the Bill as a perfectly innocent one, and regretted the attitude taken by tlhe member for Clutha. A point of order was raised by Mr. Malcolm, that the Bill had not been properly reported on by tho joint committees on the Bill, and on this point further consideration of the Bill was deferred. DISAPPOINTED RAILWAY EMPLOYEES. . In reply to Mr. Russell, who enquired into the position of a number of railway employees who had come to Wellington to enlist in the contingent, but had been rejected, Mr, Allen said it was considered advisable to enlist a company of 200 specially-trained men from the Railway Corps. The men had been selected by Mr. Hiley, but the men referred to by Mr. Russell had .not been selected. He understood they had come away without leave and broken orders. Personally, he was sorry they could not be taken, but perhaps they could put in their applications in the ordinary way and get away later. Discussing similar requests from Territorials on the West Coast, Mr. Allen stated that v it was contemplated strengthening the defences at Westport Speaking on the question, Mr. Herries said as Minister of Railways he had nothing to do with the management of the Railway Corps, which was under Colonel Hiley, who was controlled by the Minister for Defence. /The railwayservants serving with the colors would receive half pay in addition to war pay, and if physically fit they would 'be reinstated on their return. He would make enquiries into the position of the men mentioned by Mr. Russell and report to the House to-morrow. WAR EMERGENCY MEASURES. Mr. Herdman introduced an amendment to tho Mortgage Extension Bill, protecting savings banks and building societies. . Sir Joseph Ward generally approved of the amendments, but sucirested thac the policy holders of life assurance associations should also have some protection for a limited time. Industrial policies should be kept alive. Tlhe Hon. Herdman, in reply, said it was impossible in framing an original measure of this kind to include all cases that might be deemed worthy of assistance. The Government had endeavored to take a broad view of tlie matter, and if necessary the Bill, would be further amended from time to time. The amendments were agreed to. The Local Bodies Indemnity Bill was introduced by Governor's Message and read a first time. -The Bill validates payments by local bodies to the patriotic fund. FUTURE BI'Sf.VESS. Sir Joseph War;! asked the Premier if he would :t.iie what course he proposed to adopt with regard to the business of the House. Mr. Massey said there were one ,v two Bills necessitated bv tlie war wh;;Si must 'be passed. These he would ask the House to consider to-morrow. After that he proposed to ask the House to a/ljourn until Tuesday week. After proposed to go on with the business of the country. The Estimates had to be got out of the way. A Loan Bill would also have to be dealt with, besides other important matters, such as the Education Bill. Sir Joseph Ward said he did not consider the proposad adjournment long enough. The necessary legislation must be facilitated by the Opposition, but they were not in a position to give the requisite attention to other measures. The country was not thinking of partv politics. The times were abnormal. He did not thinl the proposed adjournment long enough to allow matters to get back into a lonnal condition. Mr. Massey said he would consider a proposal to extend iflie length of the adjournment, as he realised that a week was too short to enable «omo members to get home and ? 9ack again. " '