PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 30 June 1917, Page 4

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL By Telegraph .—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The Legislative Council met at 2.30 p.m. The sitting was occupied by paying tributes to members who had died during the recess. The council met again at S p.m., and passed the Imprest Supply Bill through al stages without amendment, and adjourned till Thursday as a mark of respect to deceased members. Other members included in the resolutions were: Sir Maurice O'Rorke, Sir George McLean, Hon. T. Parata, Mr. Martin Kennedy, Mr. Stuart Menteath, Mr. K. P. Andrews, Mr. Murray Ainsley, Mr. R. C. Bruce, and Mr. Lee Smith. The death of Lieut-Colonel Shepher, for fourteen years sergeant-at-arms, was also mentioned. The House adjourned at 7.17 out of respect to the deceased members. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, j ' , „ Wellington, Last Night. The House, met at 2.30 p.m. Petitions were presented by various members representing over 21,000 signatures, in favor of 6 o'clock closing of hotel bars, or, in the alternative, that the question be submitted by way of referendum to the people. Notice was given to introduce the following bills:— Foxton Harbor Board Bill (Mr. Field); Tauranga Harbor and Foreshore Act Amendment Bill (Hon. Herries); Contractors' Relief Bill (Hon. Herdman). Mr. Brown (Napier) gave notice to ask the Government if in view of the fact that the war regulations dealing with the freedom of speech had not been apnroyed by Parliament, will they set aside a. day for discussion of the 'regulations. ° WELCOME TO RETURNED MINISTERS. Hon. Sir James Allen welcomed back Mr. Massey and Sir Joseph Ward. He was thankful to find that they and tlieir families had successfully evaded the dangers of the long voyage. Mr. Wilford added hia congratulatic ns. Ho specially thanked the Ministers for llici efforts they made to secure the retention as British possessions of the islands of the Pacific which had been taken from Germany. ■ He distinctly favored visits being made more frequently. Mr. Massey thanked members for their hearty welcome. When Sir Joseph Ward and himself left the Dominion ten months ago they had no idea they would be called upon to attend sittings of the War Cabinet and War Conference, and they felt they had been higlily honored in being asked to participate in such gatherings. At a future date (probably on Tuesday) they would lay before the members some of the information learned at. these meetings. It was the first time in history that representatives of the Dominions had been placel on an equality with the statesmen of the Old Country, and that they were for the time being advisers of the King on Imperial matters. Sir Joseph Ward also thanked the members for their welcome. He was ?lad to say that wherever they net New Zealanders, on the field or in hospitals, there wat a universal desire to do their duty. Men just out of the trenches came to meet tliem in tho finest spirits, and no one could toll from their manner that they were risking their lives. Such men were worthy of being remembered, and their forbears would in years to come have reason to be proud of them. He was prepared to say that extraordinary advantages had been secured to the Dominion as the result of the Ministers being in London. MR. MASSEY THANKS HIS COLLEAGUES. Mr. Massey thanked the Minister of Defence and his other colleagues for the manner in which they had carried on the administration of the country in thoir absence. He paid a warm tribute to Captain Downey Stewart, who was the first of the members on active service to return from the front. He had heard a great deal of the fine conduct on the part of Captain Stewart while in the trenches, and he hoped they would soon have an opportunity of welcoming back other members of tho House now at the front. After Captain Stewart had briefly replied, Mr. Massey announced that the debate on the Address-in-Replv would be commenced on Wednesday evening. NEW BILLS. The following bills were introduced and read a first time:—Abolition of Toll Gates (Mr. Wilkinson); Temporary Employees (Dr. Newman); Plumbers Registration Act Amendment (Mr McCallum); Revocation of Naturalisation (Hen G. W. Russell); Naturalised Subjects' Franchise (Mr. Brown). The introduction of the Definition of Time Bill (Mr. Sidey) was postponed till July 4. IMPREST SUPPLY. On the motion of Sir Joseph Ward an Imprest Supply Bill for providing £900,300 waß read a first time. Replying to Mr. Wilford, Sir Joseph Ward; said the only new itepi, in the schedule was one of £IOO,OOO for wheat'. A full statement of the wheat purchased in Australia would presently be laid before the Hpyse, , SUBURBAN TRAINS Messrs Tlmcker, Poole, Parr, Isitt, Sidey and Walker protested 1 against the curtailment of the suburban train services, . Mr. McCallum appealed to the Minister of Finance to open his purse strings arid provide soldiers on leave with something better than steerage passages on steamers. Mr. Veitch said it waa contended that the reduction of train services was due to shortage of men due to enlistments. This was not the case, according to bis information, but the shortage of men was due to resignations, and these resignations were due to bad service conditions. Mr. Malcolm entered a protest against the indifference shown by the authorities towards .the health of the nurses engaged ■ in public hospitals. Messrs Isitt and Anderson put in a claim for a revision of the whole system of soldiers' pensions, and for more generous treatment of returned soldiers generally. After further discussion of a desultory nature the Bill was passed. I VOTES OF SYMPATHY. Mr! Massey moved that votes of sym nnt.lvr be tendered to the relatives of

several members who had passed away during the recess. Speaking of the late Dr. McNab, tho Premier said he was one of New Zealand'* most e« teamed public men. He was a atrictly hon«»t man, an ardent Imperialist, and one who was ever ready to put bis country first. Sir Joseph Ward added hia tribute to tho merits of Dr. McNab, who, he considered, would bo hard to replace. Sir John Findlav said Dr. McNab's death had robbed the world of one of those strong souls whom it waa alwayi pood to know.