PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 September 1917, Page 4

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCU,. By Telegraph.—'Press Association. Wellington, Last NigW. The Council had under notice tjsii afternoon questions by the Hon. 0. Samuel relating to the administration ol justice and a three-fourths majority verdict as proposed in the Juries Aci Amendment Bill. Sir Francis Bell explained that on th( previou 3 occasion, as far as he was able to speak for the Government, and as far as other legal members of the Governpent had expressed an opinion, he wa? in favor of the Bill, though not in favor of its details. , Hon. J. MacGregor moved that a return be laid before tho Council shofrina the number of persons committed for sentence and committed for trial, the number convicted, the number acquitted and other questions relating tQ the Administration of justice. At 3.26 the Council adjourned. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

The House met at 2.30 p.m. PURCHASE OF BUTTER. In answer to a question, the Prime Minister stated negotiations foa* tween the New Zealand and ImperW Governments in regard to the puralwe of butter were not complete. The latest proposal from New Zealand was that tfu Imperial Goverrpient should wureltasstti* whole output. He had no doubts in. r«gard to cheese, but butter was stjll wider consideration. Evidently th»BoMi of Trade at Home, he added, was designing to provide that refrigerated gpice available on Home ships should first be given to meat, next to cheese, then to butter, and then to rabbits.

hospital ship appointments. Notice was given by Mr. Payne to ask whether appointments on'hospital ship* should be interfered with by outside interests, or should be controlled solely by the Defence Department. He instanced the case of an appointment on-a hospital ship being cancelled by an outside auth ority who was not responsible to any. one. ■■■■■• Sir James Allen said the whol« of th« appointments were controlled by tha Dafence Department. REPLIES TO QUESTIONS. Replying to Mr. Rhodes, the Minister for Internal Affairs said Dr. Truby Kins contemplated visiting: England, wjth a view to establishing in London the *fork of the Plunket Society. He, howover, had no intention of permanently dis-v sociating himself from his work in New Zealand. to Mr. Payne, Hon, Q. W, Russell said the matter of installing wireless telephones in connection with several coastal lighthouses 'WM under consideration. At present th#r® wfta li difficulty in securing the plant. Replying to Mr. RUudei, thi Minister for Marine said he contemplated making experiments with a view to ascertain/ing whether' the Akaroa, Harbor' was suitable tor an oyster growing ground; outside Akaroa had been Droved unsuitable. The House adjourned at 5.3 Q. ' EXPEDITIONARY FORCES BILL, Tho House resumed at 7.30 and went into committee on the Parliamentary Representation (Expeditionary Forces! Adjustment- Bill. At clause 6 Mr. Veiteh moved as as amendment the excision of the first three words, which would have the effect of bringing about a general .election te.\ii yea?. j Mr. Massey raised the point of order, that the amendment, if carried, would make the elauso an appropriation clause, which could only be moved by the Qoternment. The Chairman of Comnjijt#e» ruled that the amendment could not bs put. Continuing, Mr. Massey, said hf had no desire to go back on what he had previously said, and if' Mr. Veitch would bring him a memorial signed by a majority of members in favor of a general election this ve;ar. hj« woulst <l* his best to bring it about. The Bill was reported unamended. REGISTRATION OF ALIENS,

The House went into CommiUe* oa tie Registration of Aliens, Bill, The Bill was reported with machinery amendments, and an amendment was moved by Mr. Reed prescribing that in the regulations to be made there shall be periodical reports by alien, to the rejfctration officers. During the dissuasion it iwai agrwd that tho terms for naturalisation of aliens should be tightened up, and at tke ■proper time such provisions should be submitted to the House. On the Home resulting, the Parliuuntary Representation Adjustment Sill wag read a third time and passed.