PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 June 1916, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. DISCUSSION OX MILITARY SERVICE BILL. By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. When.the Council met at 2.30, several amendments in the War Pensions Amendment Bill were received by Governor's message. The debate on the Military Service Bill was resumed by Hon. W. Earnshaw, wild expressed his approval of the Bill. Hi.-, \ic\v was that there should be no exempt'on, except on a medical eertifirat". i'or the first five or six drafts. He firvored the appointment of a Military Bosrd of Appeal, and strongly objected to a boy of twenty years beis; taken compulsorily to serve under the Act. unless urgent necessity was shown. 110 did not see any hardships in the power given for police examination. He .bought there would be difficulty on the r;u"stini' of exemptions, and denied that any member had a mandate from the country to bpeak for Labor in the mat ler of this Bill. It was a shame and degradation *.hat men were allowed to go about, inflaming the minds of people in ii time of crisis. Any man who opposed the Government on this question was an enemy to the country and the Em; piro, and would soon be forgotten.

I-on H, F. Wis rum denied that the diy would have a "Prussianising" effect, but rellier the opposite. It.was a notice of "hands oft'."

Hon. K. Oieorgo favored the principle nf voluntaryism, but the Bill gave power to prevent mon going to the war —men of particular trades, such as coal miners, shepherds, and slaughtermen, who could not be spared, and who could not be prevented from leaving under the voluntnry ftvstem. He believed they were doing the right thing in passing the Bill.

Hon. A. T. Maginnity remarked that they had received a different idea of the attitude of Labor on this question f - om Hon. J. Barr to that given By Hon. J. T. Paul. He bad every confidence that the men who gave their assistance would meet with justice from the Government.

Hons W. Heelian, A. Baldey, T. MacGibbon, and J. Fisher supported the Bill. Hon. Sir F. 11. D. .Bell, in reply, pointed out the inconsistency of those who thought the Bill should have bee.n brought down earlier, while they now lervently hoped it would not bo necessary to bring in the compulsory clauses, Replyirg to one remark, Sir F. H. D. Bell taid that he would not have been a memhei of any Government, that was not prepared to do the very best it could : n this great crisis. It was not a case of "what we ought to do," but "what ive ean. and will, do." He reminded the Council that at the beginning of the war, the Government had offered to supply a number of artisans ;r>r munition work at Home, but the offer had been declined, no doubt owing lo the difference in the rate of wages that would be paid, as between Home and eo'onia] workmen. The Bill had been brought down as one that both Houses, later on, would feel proud in having adopted in a great emergency. The second reading was carried on Hie voices.

The Expiring Laws Continuance Bill vas read a first time, and the Council rose at 3.15 p.m., till Tuesday,

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. NEW BILLS. AND GENERAL. Wellington. Last .Night. Wher the House met at 2.30 p.m., the Otana Land Drainage Bill (Mr. Massey), Dunedin District Drainage and Sewerfige Act Amendment Bill (Mr. Statham), uml V/airoa Harbor Board Endowment Bill IDr. were introduced and road !> first lime. On the motion of the Prime Minister, it committee consisting of ten members was sf.t up to inquire and report upon matters tending to encourage and benefit the industries of the Dominion. Mr. T M. Wilford gave notice to ask tlie Prime Minister whether he will telegraph to the Economic Conference, now sittim; at Paris, a resolution favoring the roonstr.iction of the Empire on broad T mperial lines and the reorganisation of trade policy, on the basis that the Allies shall have the first claim on each uther's economic resources, Hon. A. L. ITerdman moved the second fading of tile Expiring Laws Continuancel Hill, and this was carried without debate. On the motion of the Minister the Bill was put through all stages and passed. The House then went into committee on th" Discharged Soldiers' Settlement Amendment Bill, which passed without amendment up to Clause fi. At Clause 7, Mr. ,1. Payne moved to strike out the provision exempting income from deber.i >res from income-tax. Discuscussion was proceeding at 5.30, when the Prime Minister moved to report progross.

On resuming at 7.30 p.m., the House went into Committee of Supply, when the Minister of Finance delivered his Budget, in the presence of full benches, and to crowded galleries. The reading i;f the document occupied li hours, and at the oonclir-ion the Minister was greeted with a round of applause. Ou the Speaker resuming the cliair. Sir J. G. Ward intimated that the debate .on the Budget would begin on Tuesday, at 7.30 p.m. The House adjourned at 9.17 p.m.