PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 July 1916, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL By t'elegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Yesterday. The Council met at 2..10 p.m. The Imprest .Supply Bill, No. 2, C!)71,N00, wus passed through all stages and the Council adjourned. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. PROVIDENT FUNDS. Mr. Fletcher asked the Minister for iTiendly Societies if he intended to call a conference of friendly societies -'tli a view to discussing the position of societies under Clause 55 of the i'lnanee Bill. There was great anxiety amongst members as to the effect of Clause Ea. Messrs. Talbot, Buddo, Glover, and Payne, urged the wisdom of holding a conference to see if something eould not be done in the direction of co-ordinfctlng the National Provident Fund and Friendly Societies. ■Sir Joseph Ward said he wanted to "Iter a word of warning to those att'liiptmir to trespass upon the domain of the National Annuities Fund. They would find the whole of the people, of the Dominion against them in the event o! such a course being adopted. There was room for botli a National Fund and Friendly .Societies Fund. Mr. A. 11. Myers said he recognised the excellent spirit in which the advocates of friendly societies had criticised t.i« National Provident Fund, which was doing great work in the Dominion, and was not antagonistic to Friendly ■Societies. Mr. Poland advocated an amendment of the National Provident Fund Act in the direction of giving greater benefits. He thought the maternity bonus, given under the Finance Act, should be given to I'very woman who needs it. Or. Thacker suggested that the president of the British Medical Association should be invited to the proposed conference. ITc strongly advocated a national baby bonus. Mr. Hanaii said he would carefully rmisider the proposal to hold a conference during the recess. FINANCE BILL. Further amendments to the Finance P P were introduced by Governor's message. Sir Joseph Ward, explained that the principal one. was that of raising I be amount of the loan from .C 12,000,000 to £10,000,000. It was proposed to issue debentures to provide for an extra £4,000,000. It was also proposed to take power to increase the anount which may be spent as unauthorised expenditure from £250,000 to £350,000. as under exceptional circumstances of war time there must ba ■. lasticity in reserves. LANDS EXCHANGE. Another Lands Exchange Empowering Bill was brought down by Governor's message. CENSORSHIP OF FILMS. The Censorship of Cinematograph Film Bill was introduced by Governor's message, and read a first time. The remainder of the sitting was taken up with reports on petitions. EVENING SITTING. WAR REGULATIONS BILL. The House resumed at .7.30, when the ■Var' Regulations Bill was taken in Committee. On the short title, Mr. Payne urged the absolute prohibition of importation of German manufactured goods. Dr. Thacker condemned the. anti-lreat-i.'ip clauses in the Bill which, he said, lad been put in to tickle the palate.of the prohibitionists. He instanced the work of the Anzacs, as showing what men could do who came from a country where liquor was sold. Mr. Witty opposed the anti-treating clauses. Mr. Webb argued that the anti-treat-ing clauses would manufacture lawbreakers all ovei the Dominion. He affirmed that the provisions would be evaded, and that three times the present t.umber of police would be required to enforce the law, which was an insult to the intelligence of the people. Mr. Wright denied that the Prohibition Party was responsible for the antitreating clauses or for the agitation in favor of the early closing of hotels. I Mr. Okey pointed out that while the temperance party had presented evidence to the Petitions Committee on the anti-shouting clause, no evidence had been tendered by the trade, although i.Ucy had the opportunity of doing so. He deprecated taking up the time of the House in discussing a clause upon which the trade declined to give evidence. Sir Joseph Ward said lie had taken a p-irt in every licensing reform passed by the House far many years, and he never knew a change made yet that did not involve concession on both sides. lie was responsible for suggesting the anlis'lcuting clause, and he believed he was introducing a useful reform in doing so. He was going to stick to the I3ill as it came from the Government. If anycne had the right to say the hours should be shortened it was the people. Mr.Tsitt said the demand for the antishouting clauses came from a large body of public opinion quite outside the Pro dilution Party. Mr. Massey explained the origin of the clause dealing with anti-shouting, which wss based on an understanding that .Sir Joseph Ward said he had with a prominent member of the temperance party, tc the effect if an anti-treating clause was brought down the prohibitionists would be satisfied. He intended to start by the Bill, and hoped it would not be delayed. At 1055,' the short title was passed. At Clause :i, Mr. Herdman moved lew sub-sections milking provision by w'lich unmbers of Expeditionary Forces night grant powers of attorney. The ami'iidrur.nts were agreed to. Mr. Ilornsby moved an amendment intended to prevent the Government making regulations giving them power to arrest any person on the ground of i.nspicion that he or she was snTering from a venereal disease, e.wcpt in ac•ordancc with the process of law now in force. Mr. Herdman assured the House that the Government had no intention to arrest any one on suspicion. Whav they wanted'was the power to detain affected persons once they entered our hospitals cr gaols. Mr, Hindnur..!: isntended thai tli*

wiriest power must be given to the Govirnment to enable them to stamp out [he disease. , Mi'. Russell wanted the House to) tin* derstand that the matter was a greafe |<lcal more serious than most people sup' I'Oseil, aiid tliat the strongest power, by[ ' iemulation or otherwise, was required t(f prevent the spread of the disease, A division was then taken on sub* section 5, giving power to make regular t on for suppression of prostitution fof prevention of venereal disease. This was carried by 01 to 10. Mr. Witty moved an amendment that (he anti-shouting clause should not a]>|)]y to conditional licenses issued in connection '.villi the catering contracts. The Premier undertook to provide svfji cases by regulation. On division, the amendment was rejected by 54 to 10. The anti-shouting clause was carried by SB to li>. Mr. Wilkinson (Egmont)' toioved «f new clause reducing the hours during which licensed houses may be kept open, -.iz., from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mr. Herdman raised a point of order? that the amendment was foreign to the Hill. Mr. Malcolm held that the clause w6< in order. The Speaker's opinion was taken on' (his ruling, which was upheld. Mr. Wilford's ainndment was lo»t by; 29 to 42. An amendment by Mr. Wilfordthat the hour of opening should be 0 a-m,, wss lost by 32 to 38, and another amendnil nt by Mr Ell fixing the hour o| closing at i) p.m., was lost by 35 to 36.