PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 October 1917, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL By Telegraph.—'Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The Council resumed to-day. The Shops and Offices Bill, and the Mutt Road Amendment Bill were read a second time, and the Council adjourned at 2.40 p.m., until 8.15 p.m. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES The House met at 2.30 p.m. REPLIES TO QUESTIONS. Replying to Mr. Hudson, the Premier said lie had received a number of com. plaints regarding the want of community of interests in connection with the new electoral boundaries, but the position was not sufficiently emphasised to warrant the Government introducing legislation on the subject this session. If the Boundary Commissioners, through their chairman, expressed the opinion that some legislation was necessary, that opinion could be considered, and legislation would be introduced next session. Replying to Mr. McCombs, tho Minister of Railways said the Department was granting special railway facilities in connection with agricultural shows, as they were consdered to have an educative effect, and were on a different plane to race and sports meetings. Replying to Mr. Glover, the Premie* said it was not proposed to introduce further licensing legislation this session; therefore no provision could be made to enable billiard rooms in connection with lintels to remain open after 0 p.m. Replying to Mi. McCalhinV. Sir Joseph Ward said the question of the dilution of spirits was under consideration by the Cabinet, and it had been decided to permit dilution to the extent of 331-3, or it might be 50 per cent. There was no reason why people should not have weaker whisky if that used was too strong, and the balance could he further considered. There was nothing in the law to prevent hotels keeping soft drinks in a room apart from the bar. Replying to Mr. MeCombs regarding the stoppage of work on the North Auckland railway tunnel, the Minister of Public Works said the men had adopted a "go-slow" policy, and he had given them the option of working on the co-opera-tive principle. They could accept that offer or leave it alone, but he was not going to allow the men to appoint liis officers or run his department. STATE ELECTRICAL SUPPLY. The State Supply Electrical Energy Bill was introduced by Governor'.; message and read a first time. lion! \V. Eraser explained that the Bill only defined how accounts in connection with the sale of electrical energy should be kept. The sale of energy hart grown to such dimensions that it became absolutely necessary that a proper system of accounts should be kept in connection with each electrical scheme. INDUSTRIES COMMITTEE'S REPORT- . Mr. Wilkinson, as chairman, brought down the report of the Industries Committee, in which they recommended closer attention should be given by the Government to trade with the South Sea Islands. Messrs Glover and Poole urged tlie Government to take immediate action to prevent the Island trade being captured by Australia. Mr. Massey, in the course of his reply, said the great difficulty in fostering trade was the shortage of shipping. Ho quoted from his remarks at the Imperial Conference to show that the Islands trade had not been forgotten. He was thoroughly convinced that New Zealand ought to be the centre of a great Island federation, which would, of course, be an integral part of the British Empire. The report was adopted. FURTHER REPLIES TO QUESTIONS. In reply to questions, Ministers gave the following answers: That it is not considered advisable to n ike any representation to the Imperial Government, whereby any alteration should be made in the more of repayment for meat, which, as a whole, worked very satisfactorily. That if an Imperial Cabinet was convened in 1918, arrangements would be made for New Zealand to be represented. That proposals were now being formulated for the establishment of a separate prison for all military offenders, so that these may be kept entirely apart from the ordinary criminal class. That the appointment of Mr. Thomson as Assistant Commissioner "under the ■Public Service Act, 1912, was for the term of seven years, and there is no intention to make a change at present. That amended regulations in connection with black leg amongst young cattle will appear in this week's\Ga7.ette. The House adjourned at 5.30 p.m. SOCIAL HYGIENE. The House resumed at 7.30 p.m., and went into committee on the Social Hygiene Bill. On the short title. Hon. R. H. Rhodes moved to strike out the title "Social Hygient," and call the measure the Venereal Diseases Bill. Mr. McCallum supported the amendment. Hon. G. W. Russell said he could not accept the amendment, as the title had been carefully selected. The Bill not only dealt with health, but dealt with it from a social point, of view, and that to a very remarkable extent. Mr. Isitt opposed the amendment, on the ground that every adult would understand what was meant by social hygiene, while it was not advisable that children should understand.. The amendment was rejected by 45 to 18, and the short title agreed to. At clause 1, Dr. Newman advised the Minister to withdraw his Bill, and, during the year consult medical men and women and agree upon some common line of action. The Bill had been hastily drawn, and in its administration it would be found it was only the old CD. Act under a new guise, and that it would apply to only the female sex. Thoughtful women of the country were against the Bill, as evidenced bv meetings held all over the country. In ordei to" give time for further consideration, he moved that progress be reported. Mr. Wilford said the Minister himself had moved 49 amendments to his own Bill, which was the best evidence of tho measure being hastily drawn, and that it required more mature consideration. He suggested that the Bill be referred to a special committee of the House, and he approved of reporting progress for that purpose. Sir .1. Findlay said he was bound to advise the Minister to report progress. Hon. G. W. Russell denied that there was nnv more compulsion i" his .Bill than was already on the Statute Book. His

Bill provided greater safeguards for women, but if program was reported, and the Bill swept out of existence, then tll« compulsory powers which were already on the Statute Book, but which had never been enforced, would be brought into force within a month, and it was for the House to say whether they would have compulsion, with safeguards for women or without them. While gome women were opposed - ; to the Bill; the great majority were favorable to it.iand most anxious to see it in operation, E[e was not going to set up a fuke eensjs of security, but as a matter of health his policy was to sweep the disease right away.

At 11 o'clock a motion to report progress was defeated on the voices, and the discussion on clause 1 is proceeding, but the wealth of detail with which (ft« clause is being canvassed indicates a certain amount of organised opposition to the Bill, and that the progress of the measure will be slow. The discussion on clauno 1 was eontinned, no progress being made until 12.30, when tho Premier interposed. He explained he was a very busy man, and could not possibly be responsible for every clause in every Bill. He, however, was convinced there was a large amount of support in tho House for the principle of this Bill, and, as he had other business to bring before members, he suggested they should pass clause 1 and then report progress, but he made the suggestion only on the understanding that the contending parties should come together during the next few days and arrive at a common understanding as to what should go on the Statute Book. He intended to stand by the Bill and by the Minister, but he made the suggestion with a view to facilitating progress. The Hon. Russell Baid lie would accept the suggestion, but on the understanding that if the compulsory clauses of tho Bill were struck out then the present law must stand and be enforced. If members would meet him on Tuesday morning he would be prepared to discusß the position with them. So long as he had the power to continue the legislation now on tho Statute Book he would be satisfied. This effort to arrive at an understanding does not appear likely to have a satisfactory ending, as discussion proceeded on the former lines until 1 o'clock, when clause 1 passed and the Minister moved to report progress. THE LIQUOR BILL CONFERENCE The Premier announced that tho managers appointed by the Legislative Council and the House had come to an agreement on clauses la, 3a, and 4c of the Sale of Liquor Restriction Bill, but not with regard to clauses 4d and 4e. He moved that the House agree with the first part of the report, but requests another conference with regard to clauses 4d and 4e, the Hon. W. <D. S. MaeDonald, Messrs Witty, Parr, and the mover to be managers to confer witli the Council. This was agreed to, and the House rose at 1.15.