PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 June 1916, Page 3

PARLIAMENT.

4 FRIDAY'S SITTING. VORMAL BUSINESS. toy Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, June 2. t When the House met at 2.30 p.m. the f Premier gave notice to move that a _ Select Committee be appointed to enB quire into the extension of industries of k the country. T .Mr. Fletcher (Wellington Central) , hrought before the Minister of Public Health a resolution to be considered by .' the Wellington branch of the British t Medical Association that night: "That i during the present lodge dispute it shall > be deemed unethical for any member of i the Association to~meet professionally i any medical practitioner who is not a t member of the Association." . Hen. G. W. Russell replied that he ; was extremely surprised to hear that , the British Medical Association would ■ refuse to meet any fellow practitioner in , consultations,' whether he was a member ■ of the Association or not. If any such ; proposal were passed lie would bring ■ before the Cabinet a proposal to deal ■ drastically with any man who refused to i meet in consultation a fellow practi- ; tioner. ■Discussing answers given on Wednos- ' day last to questions, Mr. C. H. Poole 1 strongly affirmed that the records of ■ soldiers should be kept in a fireproof • building'/ ' Hon. W. Fraser said that the present | building was a temporary expedient, and 1 every precaution was taken to guard 1 aga ; nst fire. Mr. Harris urged the claims of friendly societies for State subventions, and ; hoped that the promised legislation would be introduced quickly so that the matter could be discussed this session. Several other speakers endorsed this •view, and Mr. Massey said.that the matter was before the Cabinet, and so far as he was concerned it would receive favorable consideration. Mr. Payne urged that the House should come to a resolution in the matter of Germans, or men of German parentage, in the Army and the Civ\l Service. Mr. Webb contended that, in view of the cost of living, old-age pensions should be increased by five shillings per week. He asserted that old peoeple could not Jive upon ten shillings per week. 1 Dealing with questions and arguments concerning the cost of living, Mr. Massey stated that his officers had made enquiries that day, and found that a 411) loaf could be purchased over the counter for Bd. He also stated that flour could he purchased that day in Wellington for £l2 a ton, less 2'/ 3 . per cent. (Hear, hear!). NEW BILLS. ~" ■ ' ' The following Bills were introduced by Mr. Payne:—War Relief of Soldiers' Dependents; Baby Bonus; Lands Act Amendment; Limitation of Area of Holding Bill; Taxation of Unearned Increment on Sale p£. Lands, were read a first time. A PROTEST AGAINST PAYNE. Mr. Isitt entered a protest against the waste of tisie and money by the attitude of Mr. Payne in introducing, day after day, Bills that had no chance of getting through. He already had fifteen upon the Order ParJer. and there was no possible chance of them ever being heard of again. If each of the SO members in the House were to act similarly, in order to get an opportunity for talking, it would cost the taxpayers £4OOO to £SOOO. Mr. Massey thereupon moved that, in future, Government business should take precedence upon all days. MILITARY SERVICE BILL. On resuming after the dinner adjournment the House went into committee on the Military Service Bill. A debate that followed on the short title was led by Messrs McCombs, Webb and Hindmarsli, who used familiar Labor arguments in opposition to the measure. , Mr. Tsitt defended the principle of the Bill, while Mr. Pearce suggested.that a census should be taken at once so that complete information as to the manhood of the country should be available. Mr. Payne protested that, on the figures obtained by the voluntary system, .the Bill was not necessary, and he argued that there was no equality of sacrifice under the. Bill, as exemptions would prove.