Parliament

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 80, 28 August 1914, Page 4

Parliament

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. EVENING SESSION. I By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The Council met at 2.36 p.m. The Public Bodies Leases Bill was , read a first time. The second reading of the Rivers noard Amendment was agued] to. LICENSING BILL. Hon. H. D. Bell moved tSie second reading of the Licensing Bill. He intimated his intention of moving several amendments dealing with the issue of wine licenses, regulating the importation of liquor into no-license areas, and doing away with duplication of returning officers. Hon. Louisson generally approved ol (Ste amendments. Hon. Jones approved of the proposal to deal with "beer kegging" in no-license 'areas, tout strongly objected to the issue of wine licenses. Hon. Barr supported the proposal to prevent the sale of liquor to persons under Ithe age of isl years, lie also lvged tJie abolition of all oarmaids by June, 1915. Hon. W. Beelhan urged that nothing should ibe done to interfere with the wine-making industry. Hon. H. D. Bell said he was prepajred to consider the strength percentage wine. He personally approved of She 55 per centum majority, but he Boped in toe present state of .politics the Council iwould not send the Bill\ back to another place. He was prepared to consider (the question of employing persons [.under 21. upo:i licensed premises, but n> could not agree to the abolition of barmaids by June, li) 16. The second reading was then carried. OTHER BILLS. Tlic Council went into committee upon the Fire Brigades Bill, it was reported with unimportant amendmwrtte, read a third time, and passed. The Hutt Park Amendment Bill was read a second time without dobate. The Council rose at 4.10 pan* HOUSE OP REPRESENTATIVES. EVENING SESSION. POSTPONEMENT OF ELECTIONS; The House met at 7.30 p.m. In reply to Mr. 'Wilkinson, the ■premier said Ihe knew of no request from members of the House for the- postponement ol flu elections. t INCREASED SHIPPING FREIGHT'S. <Sir Walter BuchananT wanted to knoiw if tlheiPjsmioi' would take anv sftepi* to deal with the increase a shippin™ freights. ™ ° In reply, the Prime Minister said the matter was under consideration. There was no increase in freights upon transports.' He -had lieard of .the iitt>rcase with surprise, and he thought it very ill-timed and against the mtererts of the country. In a further reply to Mr. Anderson, he said this Goveanintnt would do all it could to .reduce freights and insurance rates.' Hon. Jas. Allen said that tftere would be no space available lor shipment:* oi butter .upon til* transports.. Sir Joseph Ward said ilna thought the freight and insurance rate difficulty would .be overcome if the Government took out an crdinary war ruk over the steamers' nulls. The Premier said the Government had unidei consideration a proposal ito take over the Whole of the war risks iu the country. 'ENROLMENT OP EI.JCCTORS. The Opposition LsaAa" also pointed •ut that the system adopted of placing people upon tne rolls had proved ineffieieot in the country districts. Hon. P. M. B. PisJiCT justified the steps taken to bring tta rolls up to date. H.J admitted that mere was dnlieulty in getting names on the rolls in isolated districts. The new method was not dte- ]• signed to interfere wrtlh the work of any organisation. IMPRESx SUPPLY. An Imprest Supply BUI. provUms for •the .payment of fi>79,000 towards salaries, etc., 'wns introduced by Uovwuorr Message. REGULATION UP POOD PRICES. Sir Joseph Ward pointed out that ho had wceived a tuiegram from Malawi* stating .tJiai Hour Juul bee;!, rased to ito, and oatmeal to, il3 per ton. It was necessary to guard against the cxtraction from the pockets of one people of more than a lair profit. He hoped that ■no tune -would be lost in sett.ugup the Commission. ' Mr. Buxton quoted figure to show that there would 'be no shortage ot wheat m the country at the end of the year, Th/ere wt« no,■justification .for- increasing prices. Mr- Wilkinson said that steps should be .taken to prevent any undue increase ■ni retail prices. He nad heard itluvt Uie Government lhad been able t© purchase large quantities of Hour abroad. If tins was so, it should' keep uown any increase m the price of bread.

Mr. Hainan suggested that local bodies in whose lUstncts no public worjw ura going on ■ should be subsidised to provide work. Hon. W. Frasor sa'id tilic Government was fully alive to l»e. neves*.-y to prewat unemployment, lie agreed that there was a gireal deal of uiimicow,-' •'funk," and eoiifidenoe would be restoreu. He wa3 engaged in the preparation of the I&stimatas, and would ask for a larger sum than last year. 01 course, it remained to be seen if lop Government could the ' money. The Plrime .Minister agreed fmit there should be fair tirade and fair prices, and lie .thought the Regulation of Trade and Commerce Act would secure tuuis and prevent exploitation. ]t' they had . a BM'plus supply of wheat there 'would not be. any need for an increase in the price of bread, tat a they had to import the price would go up. Aw Government (bad 'bought wheat in Australia, Imt not ltau.r. Any ease of hardship amongst Crown' tenants would foe consideredi, hut he «vw u > reason at preslent why ten.ints net miabe their oi.jinary rent payments. H.t did not think exports winih; fall off. He even thought that gum ai'-l flax would'soon get back to normal. Sir Joseph' Ward r.-i-.i'hetl' to the- question of providing the Kxpeditionary Forces with an -fvpporl-mHv 'to cast their votes. 'He thought i" cunld be airrauged by allowing the 'men to vote' for party without inert ion of <ti!n» candidates'. There was no reason why these men could' not, before leaving, tote for their party and also on "'„• licensing issue. The Premier said 'ho had tiif matter /under consideration, u.rnl lie 'intended to make a statement o;? Paesd'.iy. Hon. Jas. Allen claimed tin; the Premier had already «'-. en. ius assurance tlwtt a vote w*>uild ibe iriven <o the men, and lie regret! c\] t'hji: the leader of the Opposition had net ac-'-'p!.cd that assurance. In proof of the Goveriiiutiit'ssin- ' cerity he era:ld tell hhe House that a • Bill had already beftn■.drafted and.was- ' wider consideration hw. C&biP.et.v .Thfe ' Jfti'H might not -.ovensitThiiV. all "the ' cutties, but ii"was an 'rtflriestilttte'fli.pt' to : ' do so. Speateng of liua.nfee, Uio deprecated pessimism", and aiiti.'ipa'ted.little interference with !j>hc rqrsratir r.& >of ski.. :