PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 July 1916, Page 4

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, list Night The Council met at 2,:i0 p.m. Hon Sir Francis 13ell moved that the Council agree to the report of the first conference of the Military Service Bill, «o far as the conference wag in agreement. LEGISLATIVE COUXCTfj REFORM. Hon Sir F. Bell moved the second leading of the Legislative Council Amendment Bill. He traced the history of the Act, and said that Mr. Massey and the Reform Party were of the firm opinion that it should be passed into law. They were as determined in 1916 as they were in 1812, He Was disappointed that the experiment would not be made next year, but, as a matter of fair play to both sides, it could not ba made until after a general election. That was why it wa 8 proposed to amend tha Act by substituting January 1, 1920, for January 1, 1910. Every member who osSented to the formation of a National Government was bound to support tha arrangement. , Hon. J. Barr moved an amendment tcf the efleet that the Act of 1914 be re. pealed. He argued against an elective second chamber, and contended it would be preferable to repeal the Act rather t|ian to postpone it. Hon. J. T. Paul expressed himself In favor of an elective Upper House. Hon. H. F. Wigram Baid he should "pposc the amendment Hon. R. T. Maginnity supported tha «ccond reading of the Bill, as he hoped to sec it made the law of the country. Hon Sir W. Hall-Jones did not lik« the Bill. He would vote for the maintenance of the present position. Hon. W. Beehan said he would vota for the amendment. Ho favored th< nominative system. The Council rose at 4.55. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, The House met at 2,'jij p.m. Replying tb Mr. 0. Witty, the Premier said lie did not think a large profit tvas being made by the British Board or trade out of New Zealand meat. Tha Hoard had to pay very heavy charges (or storage in New Zealand. He was sait ; ,led that the price of meat locally would have been very much dearer hail .t not been for the arrangements made '.vith the Imperial Government. Hon. G. W. Russell moved that a copy of the speech delivered by him on the subject of venereal diseases in the House last night be laid on the table and printed. A general discussion followed, in which members freely endorsed the printing and circulation of the speech calculated to do considerable good. The Minister, in reply sad his'speech did not purport to be a scientific dissertation on these diseases, hut was a political pronouncement, of the intention of the fiovernmcnt on the subject. Tlu 'cotion was agreed to. Replying to questions, Ministers said it was to be regretted the privilege of a three weeks railways pass cannot be ex' tended to the wives of convalescent returned soldiers; that the Public Service Oommisisouer advises that special eon(ideration is given to all applications re"eived from dependents of New Zealand soldiers who are serving with the Expeditionary Forces, ' many such being now employed in the Public Service; that all school inspectors devote part of their time when visiting small schools to give specimen lessons, as a guide to in« experienced teachers. EVENING SITTING. WAR REGULATIONS BTLL. ' The debate on the War Regulations Hill was resumed by Mr. G. .1. Anderson, whob favored closing hotels at 8 o'clock. 'Mr. C. A. Wilkinson (Egmont) said the liquor trade was a huge and arrogant monopoly, and there was great need for reform He favored closing hotels at 8 o'clock, and in Committee ivould move an amendment to that I'll'ect. Failing that, an eO'ort would lie made to get a referendum when, bo had no doubt, six o'clock would bo carried. Mr. 0, E. Stalliam advocated compensation to publicans in the event of the hours being reduced. Mr. Isitt proceeded to point out the close association between venereal diseases and tb:■ consumption of liquor. One means of reducing these diseases would be to limit the hours during which liquors can be sold. He urged the practice of economy in regard to the four millions spent on drmrc. and the four millions spent annually on the totalisa(or. He denied that any moral claim for compensation would be involved by the reduction of the hours of licensed 'muses. Dr. Newman was utterly opposed to Ihe introduction of anything approaching the C.D. Act. In regard to the liqucr clauses of the Bill,, his opinion was they did not go far enough. If shorter hours were not granted a referendum wou'd be demanded. Mr. P. ('. Webb favored State con* trol of the liquor traffic. Mr. R. A. Wright thought too much power was placed in the hands of the Minister. lie favored a- greater re(trielioii of the liquor traffic. Mr. .T. McOomhs strongly advocated holding a referendum on the early closing question, as was done in Australia. Mr. .1. Payne, while approving the Bill, said the clauses in reference- to disease did not go to the root of the matter. He was an advocate for State control of the lirr.ior traffic.

Mr. Ilerdman, in reply, said a comevhat singular demand wns now being made fin- limited hours of licensed bars cm behalf of soldiers, which was due, no doubt, to the faet that the camp was at Wellington. The evidence they had of drunkenness was that it was very limited amongst soldiers. The object of the prohibitionists was to seize the opportunity to elose bars from the North Cape to tile Bluff at l'i o'clock. Experienced police officers had reported there was 110 necessity to make the change, and the evidence of military ■ilYicers at the camps was also in favor of hotels remaining open fill 10 o'clock. Thev had no right to deny men, who were going to fight for them, a little liberty. As to the efficiency of the men, thev had proved themselves at Gdl« lipoli, and had shown that the opening of hotels up to ten o'clock had not acect. d their efficiency. Prohibition, in his cpiiiioi!, made for evil, not for good. More drink was being consumed per head now than was the case years ngo, though the hotels were not as good as they were twenty years ago. The voice of the people was not always the voieo of wisdom. He did not believe in legal restraint in this matter, but rather in the training of their young people to exercise restraint, and by that means they would have a strong vigorous nation.

The second reading was agreed to on .the voices and the. House U.4U,