PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 31 July 1916, Page 7

PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. SATURDAY'S SITTING. By Te'egraph.—Press Association. Wellington, July 29. The House met at 2.:!0. Dr. Thnckcr said lie had received sev oral letters from soldiers in England, complaining that they were short of money for necessities. lie asked the Defence Minister for a statement. Mr. Allen said the men had money for all reasonable requirement?, and the High Commissioner had funds available for necessitous cases. It is not desired that the men should have money fo~ luxuries.

CLOSE OF PARLIAMENT. In answer to Mr. Hornsby, the 'Premier said that if there was no obstruction, he thought the business of Parliament could be finished in time to allow members to take part iu the proceedings in their constituencies' in connection 'with''Declaration Day on Friday next. FXPF.nTXTXG POSTAL ARRAYCT.MENTS. In reply to Mr. Mander, My. Allen said all arrears of postal mftter in Egypt had been cleared off. He saw 110 necessity to supplement the staff. TRAFFICKING IN NATIVE LAND. Mr. Young, chairman of the Native Affairs Committee, presented a report dealing with certain blocks of. land in North Auckland district. upon the report, Mr. Young traversed the proceedings at length. He asserted that the. history of the transaction showed that lawyer speculators were largely responsible for the closing up of lands that might otherwise be opened up for settlement. He claimed that the fullest inquiry was necessary, with a judge of the Supreme Court on the Board, and that a stop should be put to this practice of fleecing Maoris by lawyers and land speculators. The remainder of the sitting was taken up with the discussion of reports 011 local Bills.

WAII LEGISLATION AMENDMENT BILL. At Mr. Massey's request, consideration of part 1, dealing with restriction of increase ot rents, was deferred. At clause 11, giving power to postpone dates of payment of principal and interest by licensees of Crown land who are members of the Expeditionary Force, Mr. Witty expressed the .opinion that some measure of relief should be devised to meet cases #f ordinary mortgagors who were included in the force. .Messrs Forbes, Hindinarsh and Poole supported this view. Mr. Massev said individual cases of hardship would- certainly receive attention. Members must realise that it would be a diliicult matter to arrange legislation on the lines suggested. After further debate the clause was passed, and the further clauses up to Uj were passed without debate. On clause 1(1, postponement of elections of members of local authorities, Mr. Webb objected to the provision. Mr. Russell said legislation was proposed in keeping with the policy of the Imperial Government. Vacancies in borough councils would be filled by the councils, not by an appeal to the electors, It was not thought wise to have people divided on local issue* during war time. Mr. McCallum moved an amendment making it optional with local bodies concerned whether elections be postponed or not. Mr. Massey said it was not a question of policy. He was quite prepared to take a vote on the subject at once. The amendment was rejected on the voices. Mr. Pearce moved the rejection of clause lli. After further debate the clause was rejected on the voices. Clauses 17, 18, 19 and 20 were passed without comment, On clause 21, making provision for the extension of the term of indentures of apprenticeship in certain eases, Mr. Veitc-h suggested that apprentices who had broken their agreements in going to the war should be allowed to complete their term or. thcii return. Mr. Herries thought the clause was wide enough. Employers could not be expected to allow apprentices to leave their employment without notification, especially in eases such as the railways, where life might be at stake. The Premier said the point raised by Mr. Veitch would be met by regulation. The clause was passed. Several amendments of a minor nature were added, on the motion of the Premier. Part 1, restriction on increase in house rent, was next considered. The Premier submitted an amendment defining the standard of rent to be un amount equal to eight per cent, of capital value. A new clause provided for the ascertainment of capital value by a stipendiary magistrate on application either by the landlord or tenant. Discussion continued till 11.45, when clause 2 was passed, progress was reported, and the House adjourned until