PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 August 1916, Page 4

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington Last Night. Tho Council met at 2.30 p.ru. Hon. A. T. Maginuity asked whether Hie appointment of the High Commissioner (Sir T. Mackenzie), to the Bar(lanellcs Commission had been made with the approval of the Government, also, whether any correspondence with the Imperial authorities on the subject would be laid on the table. Hon. Sir F. H. I). Hell said that both parts of the question asked for information with regard to communications which may have passed between the Imperial authorities and the New Zealand Government. The Government considered that at the present time such information could not properly bo given. The Council rose at 2.40 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. LAND FOR SOLDIERS. The TTouse met at 2.30 p.m Mr. Mn«sov announced that the T.anfl I'urchase Board had secured the following blocks for returned soldiers: ]OCO acres of farm land near Martnn; 1020 acres near Awahuri, nearly all in cultivation; 732 acres near Woodlands railway station, Southland, suitable for cutting into small areas. Negotiations are now in progress for the purchase of 7000 acres of sheep country in the Marlborough district, and ho had every hope that they would be succesful. MAORIS WITH THE FORCES. Mr. Allen laid on the table a return showing that fits Maoris and half-castes had left with the first Maori contingent, 311 with the second, 314 with the third, and 71 with the fourth, making a totai of 1217. There were now 150 fullblooded Maoris and 114 half-castes in training at the Narrow Neck camp, nnd thirteen respectively at Featherston, besides eight and six at Trentham, making a totai of 301. GERMAN CRIMES.

Mr. Massey read a cable from ftie High Commissioner dealing with a discussion in the House of Commons on German crimes. Referring to a statement by Mr. Asquith that "The Government repented most emphatically its resolve that these crimes should not "o unpunished," Mr. Massey said lie wan quit;? sure the Dominions would do everything in their power to assist the Mother Country in bringing to justice the perpetrators of such crimes as the murders of Captain Fryatt and Nurse Cuvell.

CLEARING THE DECKS.

The House resumed, in committee, the consideration of the Reserves and Other Lands Disposal and Public Bodies Empowering Bill. .Several clauses which had been postponed were passed, and two new clauses, moved by the Premier, wei e added to the Bill, A new clause, authorising* the Western Taieri Land Drainage Board to levy rates was also agreed to, and the Bill was then reported, read a third time, and passed. VOTES OF SYMPATHY. The Premier moved a vote of appreciation of the services of the late John Stevens, e\--51.P. for P.angitikei, and sympathy with his family. Sir Joseph Ward seconded, and was followed by Messrs. Buiek, Field, and Russell. The motion was passed in silence.

A similar vote was passed in reference to the late Wm. Barrow, ex-M.P., for Caversha m.

Tlie House adjourned at 4 p.m. for tie remainder of the afternoon sitting,, as a tribute of respect to the deceased members. The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. MILITARY SERVICE ACT. Mr. Massev stateu that the Military ■Service Bill had received the assent of Hie (iovernor niul was now the law of the land.

On the motion for the third reading: nf the War noirutotions Kill, Mr. Isitt held that the Government should have told members they were free to follow their own convictions; also, that it was wrong of the Oovcrnment to stand between the trade and the will of the people. The Bill made no adequate provision for punishing breaches of the law. The day was not far distant when this trade would be swept out of the country, lock, stock, and barrel. Mr. Payne contended there was 110 real drunkenness amongst native-born New Zealanders, and that for such drunkenness as there was, the remedy was State control. He favored the appointment of women constables.in connection with the suppression of social evils, and said that fiermun property in all parts of the Empire should be confiscated.

Mr. E. Newman (Banjntikei ), ngreed that women should be used as much as possible for police purposes, from an economic point of view, Mr. Webb admitted there was a strong vote in favor of anti-treating, but the reasons given were very weak. Mr. Wright denied that the prohibitum party was responsible for the early closing movement.

Mr. .Jennings (Taumnrmuii), advocated a system of State control for liquor in the King Country, where there was no control, resulting in a most unsatisfactory state of affairs.

Mr. Wilkinson (Kgmont) believed that as a question of national efficiency it would have been wiser to have curtailed the sale of liquor. Mr. Iknlman asked: Why single out »ne particular business for economy? The demand for the closing of hotels was not fair play. It was totally unfair to limit the hours without granting compensation. Tie bad been charged with bias, but did the member for Christchurch approach this subject without prejudice? He believed the regulation would induce further economy.

The Bill was read a third time and passed. Mr. Isitt. by leave of the House enlcgised the Prime Minister for his absolute fairness anil strict impartiality in conducting several conferences on the liquor question. CIXKMA FILMS CENSORSHIP. Mr. Russell moved the second reading of the Cinematogranh Film Censorship Bill. He said the liill had been brought about by a strong body of public opinion, which represented that pie-•-.ivih were subversive of public moralit v.

Mr. Payne considered the Bill unnecessary, as a picture show was the cleanest eiifer:ai:::nc;it si'vn in Yew Xcalam!. The Bill would iiulict gra\e hardships on the flint industry.

The motion was carried and th< House proceeded to discuss the Bill u' committee.

At Clause 4, a new sub-section was added providing for the right of appeal The Hill was reported, read a third time and paused. The Speaker moved'for the issue of the writ to fill the vacancy caused by; the death of the member for Pahiatua. The House rose at 11.45 p.m,