PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 June 1916, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. MILITARY SERVICVE,, Wellington, Last Night. Tlie Council met at 2.30 p.m. Consideration of the Military Service Bill; in committee, was resumed. Considerable discussion tool; .place upon an amendment to clause 18 in favor of conscientious objectors being allowed the right of appeal for reason of a conscientious objection to ihe undertaking of combatant service. The amendment was rejected by 1!) votes to !!. Two more amendments dealing with the clause were rejected on a division, and the clause then passed. Clause 34a, providing for non-military service for conscientious objectors, was passed. Progress was reported, an<l the Council rose at 5.15 p.m. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS. The House met at 2.30 p.m. The annual departmental reports of the Tourist, Justice. Mines, Police and Geological Departments were laid on the table. The Minister of Finance laid on the table a statement of public accounts, a paper comprising thirty-nine large volumes. A HARD CASE. Mr. L. M. Isitt brought under .the notice of the Attorney-General a case of trading with the enemy, which lie thought warranted further consideration. The man in question was a Greek, who was endeavoring to send a bank draft for £2O to his wife, living at Sidon, ho being under the impression that Sidon was under British 'protection. The man was a pronounced enemy of the Turks, was loyal to Britain, and had acted in ignorance, but the police, who seized the money, had informed liim that ignorance was no defence, and had not returned the money. In the meantime .his wife and children in Sidon are without moans of support, and lie (Mr. Isitt) wanted to know >f some relief could not be. given to one about whose loyalty there was no question. Mr. Herdman. in reply, said it was a cleai case of trading with the enemy, and he doubted' if any exception could be made. Be would, however, look into the case and let Mr. Isitt know what could be done. DEFENCE MATTERS. The Minister of Defence made a statement regarding Major Schwitzer, whope nationality had been called into question lie himself had previously statea iliat Major Schwitzer's parents were German, but he was pleased to say this was not correct. Major So'hwitzer was born in England, where his forefathers had lived for many centuries, and he was glad to be able to make this fact known. With regard to the name of military prisoners, whose names were given to the press for publication, the Minister explained that this had been done unintentionally, and the mistake would not occur again. GOVERNMENT BUSINESS. On the .notion of the Premier, it was agreed that, on and after June 20, the House meet at 7.30 on Mondays for the transaction of government business. Mr. Witty asked the Premier to say whether the business oi> the order paper represented the business to eome before the House, and if thero were other Bills to come down. The-iPremier said there were a lot of Bills to come down yet. Mr, Veitch isked whether the Government proposed to give private members facilities for passing their Bilk after the Government Bills had been deait with. _ , Mr. El' asked what the Government proposed to do about the Daylight Saving Bill. The Premier: ''That is a private members Bill." Mr Ell said he knew that, but at i time like this it should be a Government measure. This was a time when we should exercise economy It was well known there was a great shortage of coal in this Dominion, and anything tiiat would economise heat and light should be encouraged. Mr. Webb objected to an attempt to close up the business of tlte House before a practical attempt S was made to deal wjth the cost of living. The cables vester|lay ' tatcd that a line of steamers had been purchased by the Commonwealth Government to help the people of Australia. That was something practical. The Premier: "I do not believe the cable." Mr Webb: ''Can you deny it?" The Premier: "No, I cannot deny it, but I do not think it is correct." Mr. Payne wanted to know what the Government intended to do about the list of little Bills he had introduced. There was, for example, the Baby Bonus Bill. Nearly every country was doing something to encourage the birth-rate. The Premier: "Haven't you read the Budget?" Mr. Wilford: "They have put your Baby Bonus Bill into the Budget." Mr. iPayne: "That is a dirty trick." The Premier, in replying, said the Government Bills ou the ord<?r paper would he gone nn with, and there was the Finance Biil yet to be introduced. There would also be a Washing-up Bill, ajid another, the title of which had not yet been decided on, in which a great variety or matters will be dealt with. Thou there was the Public Works Statement and Estimates, the Appropriation Bill, and the Supplementary Estimates. After that a number if .nnall Bills that were urgently required would be submitted to the House. Continuing, Mr. Mn-ssey said the shortage of coal was largely due to the demands nrnde for transports and the Admiralty. The* difficulty in getting it from Newcastle was the shortage of shipping, but this difficulty was now being overcome, and he could assure the House that the Government was making every effort to get coal. Referring to the purchase of steamers by, the Commonwealth Government, the Premier said he had met Mr. Hughes, who was a very shrewd man, nnd he could not believe he would make an extensive purchase of ships, considering the present ruling rate* fw sfcipptoft

REPLIES TO QUESTION'S. Replying to questions, Ministers said? Several Applications had been received frotn discharged soldiers for, workers' dwellings, and preference was being given to them over other applicants, Applications from widows of soldiers woujd receive special consideration. It was not proposed to extend the provisions of the Discharged Soldiers' Settlement Act in the direction of including the men who were under fire in. South Africa. The question of preventing aliens acquiring freehold land ; ji the Dominion was one which insist come before the Imperial Conference, as any such legislation must be unifurm throughout the Empire. There would be considerable difficulty in differentiating between earned and unearned income in Xew Zealand, and it was not proposed to attempt it at the present time. The question of making 'subsidies for public libraries available for the current year would be considered when the Supplementary Estimates were being framed. THE ESTIMATES. The House resumed at 7.30, and went into Committee of Supply on tlie Estimates. Class Vlll—Mines Department, £31,(113. Considerable discussion took place, the speakers ranging over auriferous areas, coal-bearing seams, ironsand deposits, German control over the iron markets, wages of employees, and kindred subjects, and was still proceeding when the House rose for the supper adjournment. After (he supper adjournment the debate was cont'iuii'd. Mr. Webb conpratulat'.l the Mini-icr on the energr shown in conducting his Department, particularly in borins for coal. Mr. Poland referred to the of the JJepartn.i nr in dealing <vith | the prospectors in (he Oliinemuri oisIriot, which vear, produced gn!d to the value of £750,000, while under £3OO had oei n expended in an endeavor to develop new mining areas. Mr. Okey, referring to a grant of £OOOO towards prospecting, asked that portion of that sum should be devtoted towards developing the oil industry. The vote finally passed at five minutes to 12, and the House then proceeded with Class IX., Department of Internal Affairs (including .Mental Hospitals, Hobpitalp and Charitable Aid, Public Health Departments), £403,723. Mr. Hornsby moved that the vote of £IOOO to the war correspondent be reduced by £IOO, is a protest against the continuation of his appointment This was lost on the voices. The Minister intimated that the census would be taken in October 15 of this year. \ Considerable progress was made with tlie individual votes, but the class was unfinished at 1.45.