PARLIAMENT

Taranaki Daily News, 15 July 1915, Page 5

PARLIAMENT

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, l,ast \iyht. IJic Loiiiicil met at [j.ni. The Arbitration Amendment Jiill was referred to the •Statutes I'iumoii Committee, and the Council went into committee oil the I .oca I Authorities liinpo\ver;iiMf ]!j||, 111 Clause -I provision was made to enable a local authority to postpone the date ot fay nient of rates by member,, or t.ie e.vpedit lonary force. The additional charge »;i ID per eent., authorised by section 2S or the Mating Amendment Act, l!)lil, shall not he added Until the expiration ol mx months after such postponed date, and shall not be ,v eoverablc unless at leant fourteen days' notice in writing that same will 'he added has been given to the ratepayer. The Hill, as amended, was reported to the Council, read a third time and passed.

lhe Xew Zealand Society of Accountants liill was considered 'in committee, ami without amendment reported to Council, read a third time and passed. The Council then adjourned till Friday.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Tlie House mot at 2.30 p.m. In reply to Sir J. (Li. Ward the Prime -Minister said he was willing that rail Wily tares of all witnesses .summoned by the Irentliam lloyal Commission should bo paid |,y the State, but lie could not promise that the fares of all persons desiring to give evidence would be paid. In reply to Sir J\ (J. Ward, Hon. W. U. ilernes said that free railway passes would be given to parents wishing to visit their relatives coming bv the Willoehra, and free passes would also be issued to parents or the next-of-kin in eases where they were summoned bv the Defence Department to v,sit sick YcU tives at the camps or hospitals. On the suggestion of Mr. R. 1». Hudson, the .Minister of Defence said he would approach the shipping companies with a view to getting a refund of passages paid by parents and others coming to see relative* returning by the Wil--iochra.

The amendments made by the Legislative Council in the Local Authorities Bill were agreed to, and the following , 8 m ' r(l introduced and read a first tune:—Wyndlin 111 Recreation Re-erve Amendment; Lyttelton Harbor Board election Bill; Harbors Act, I9t)8, Amendment; Tauranga Borough Council and Tauranga Harbor Hoard Kmpowermg Bill; Christchureh Electrical Supply Empowering Ainendment.

Sir J. 0. Ward suggested the setting on foot by the Government of a movement to recognise the services of General Botha in defeating the Germans in South Africa; he favored a shilling'subscription to purchase a sword of honor. Mr. Massey said he was in communication with, the Governor. A cable had been sent expressing appreciation of General Botha's services.

Mr. G. Witty asked whether there was any intention to do awav with the detective or plain clothes branch of the police force. He said there was (lissatisfaction in the. force.

Mr. J. A. Hunan asked if tlic'Ministor would take into consideration th? construction of dwelling-houses for members of tlie force;

The Minister of Justice said the Department had under consideration a proposal to 'build houses, but money ■n'as at present required for more urgent purposes. The amount paid in house allowances was £II,OOO per annum. He thought steps would have to be tafcen to make the force more homogenous under any new system that might be instituted. The men who had prior' rights under the present system would be fairly dealt with. Mr. E. Mct'alhira asked the Prime Minister whether it is true that he, as Minister of Lands, paused to be appointed. to one of the Land Boards of the Dominion an ex-member of Parliament, who was recently unseated' for corrupt practices on an election petition tried before the judges of the Supreme Court; The Prime Minister replied that the ■gentleman who had been appointed to the Auckland Land Board will prove a valuable addition to that institution, inasmuch as he has probably a 'better knowledge of Crown lands in the north of Auckland than any; other person in the Dominion. This large and important district had not been represented on the Laud Board for some years past. A debate arose on the reply to this question, Messrs McCallum, <3. W. Forbes, and J. T, M. Hornsby condemning the appointment as a breach of the law and a gross public scandal.

The Attorney-General and the Prime Minister warmly defended the appointment as legal and in the interests of jthe. North Auckland district. In reply to questions, Ministers sairl it was too late to make any alteration in the forms sent to farmers for returns of wheat, grain, etc. The Government was not aware that Land Boards had issued threatening circulars to Crown tenants re arrears of rent. It ipvas not advisable to grant loeal authorities power to, levy rates directly for the purpose of alleviating distress. The Government was endeavoring to earrv out (by legislation the principal operative section (2) of the Treaty of Waitangi. Every precaution was taken by the Defence Department to see that horses purchased for military purposes were sound and suitable. Steps were 'being taken to give special consideration to the claims of returned soldiers for Government appointments. It was not intended to introduce legislation this session to improve or amend the Education Act. It was intended to pass legislation for the audit of all war and patriotic funds. Legislation would be introduced to provide for the exemption from death duty of estates of men killed or dying while on active service. •That it was desirable to insure retiring postmistresses a superannuation allowance of at least £1 weekly.

When the House resumed at p.m., Mr. T. K. Siiley moved the second reading of the Definition of Time "Rill. He explained that it -was proposed in the Bill to advance, clocks by one hour from Ist November to Ist February, and argued that the saving in lighting would amount to .CIOO.OW per year. Mr. (!. V. Pcaree contended that the Bill, if passed, would do a grave injustice to the fanning community, especially the dairy farmer, who worked from daylight to dark, and could not possibly save ally daylight. Mr. A. Harris said the Bill was worthy of a trial, and should be put 011 the •Statute Book. The objections to it svere, to a great extent, visionary.

Mr. T. A. Field, Xelson, said the practice of putting the clock on was in operation in a part of his electorate, and worked with the. greatest, satisfaction.

Mr. J. li. Uine said the Bill would impose a great hardship 011 school children and mothers. He moved that the Bill he lfcad that da v siv months.

Sir. J(J. Ward hoped the Bill would receive serious consideration. It would not in any way interfere with l>usine->» and any inconvenience would lie limited to the first day of its enactment.

The Bill was supported Ibv Messrs J. Payne, H. T. J. Thacker. ,T. A. Ilanan, and T. M, Wilford, while it was op-

posed by Messrs ('. A. Wilkinson, W. I -Vj-worthy, Ijiljcl, J. Atistev, and 1.. 1\ Hudson, mainly on the ground I it would prejudicial to the inI lerest.i of the fiirminjr community. ■ll/. .Si.M'.v, speaking on Uie amend■iH'iit, sail! he diil not want any sympatic v ote, but. hoped that members would vote accordii:;; to their convictions. Mews. Anderson and liseott continued the debate, and Hie fl.yt division of the •(■ssiou was ia,.cn on the amendment, ' hicii ua; lon by -11 to 20. The -econd reading was carried on the voices, and the llulise adjourned at 10.48 p.m. to 2.3(1 p.m. on Friday.