PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 October 1917, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL By Telegraph.—'Press Association. Wellington, Oct. 24. The Council met at 2.30. Hon. Paul presented a petition from the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants asking to be heard in a protest against the superannuation postponement in the provisions of War Legislation Amendment Bill. The Council passed the Shops and Offices Amendment Bill with a new clause providing that no girl or woman be employed in a restaurant after 10.30 p.m. except with the written permission of the inspector of factories, who must be satisfied that reasonable provision is made for the employee's safe return home, such permission not to extend beyond midnight, or to be granted on more than thirty nights in a year. The local Bills passed by the House passed their final stages. THE WASHING-UP BILL The' Reserves and Other Lands Disposal (Washing-Tip) Bill was introduced by Governor's message and read a first time. The Premier stated it contained 13G clauses. Wellington, Last Night. The Council met at 2.30 and passed, with minor amendments, the War Legislation Amendment Bill, the Hutt Road Amendment Bill, and the Dunedin Waterworks Extension Bill. Hon. J. T. Paul protested against the suspension -of the superannuation rights of public servants, particularly as applied to the railways. Bills passed by the House of Representatives were read a first time. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES COST OF LIVING. Wellington, Oct. 24. The House met at 7.30. Mr. Statham presented the report of the Cost of Living Committee. He said the report was simply the former report with the paragraph referring to the purchase of local products deleted. The committee were unable to agree upon any other recommendation. The report was adopted without discussion. COUNCIL'S AMENDMENTS TO HILLS. Mr. Himlmarsh moved that the amendments made in the Shops and Offices Bill by the Legislative Council be agreed to. Mr. Ell moved that the amendments made by the Legislative Council in the Christehurch Milk Supply Bill be agreed to, as they were immaterial. The mo* tions were adopted. ELECTRICAL ENERGY. Hon. W. Frascr formally moved the second reading of the State Supply of Electrical Energy P.iU, explaining it was purely technical in nature. The Bill passed all stages after a brief discussion.

Replying to a question Mr. Massev said one of the first duties tc. bo undertakm by the Government early in the recess would be tha setting up of a commission to inquire into Defence expenditure.

Mr. Massey moved the reading of tli« Land Laws Amendment Bill, which was being discussed at the supper adjournment. The second reading was agreed to at 10.45, when the Bill was taken in committee and passed with amendments movent by the Premier, read thirdly, anil passed. SOCIAL HYGIENE BILL.

The House went into committee on the Social Hygiene Bill. The Hon. Russell explained the Bill had been remodelled as a result of a conference, and he would only ask the House to pass those parts in the original measure. After further discussion the Bill passed all stages with minor amendments acceptable to all parties. The House rose at 1.5 a.m. Wellington, Last Night. The House met at 2.30. Replying to Mr. lsitt, the Minister for Defence said the allowance of £25 to officers for the purpose of purchasing their kit was ample, and that anything more would only encourage downright extravagance. In raply to Mr. Witty, the Minister for Education said the question of increased grants to school committees would be considered at the first meeting of Cabinet. Replying to Dr. Newman, the Minister for Defence ' said Cabinet had decided that for the future the next-of-kin would not 'be allowed alongside transports before their departure, and the barrier on the wharf would be a barrier everybody, but the next-of-kin would probably be allowed to see men at the railway station.

Replying to Mr. Wilkinson, Sir Jas. Allen said that men classed as fit only for home service were retained in camp if they volunteered for that work, and if they were retained against their will that was contrary to instructions.

Replying to Dr, Newman, the Minister for Defence said the standard for recruits had not been lowered. Some time ago Britain lowered the standard for the Imperial army and New Zealand followed suit, but it was found inadvisabk to adopt the 'British standard, ajul we went back to our standard. This step was published in a pamphlet and, he believed, widely circulated. Dr. Newman: Have you seen some ef the recent recruits 1

Mr. Wilford: I know one who is only 4ft. Tin., and does not weigh 5 stone. He is a jockey boy. Sir Jas. Alien read n cable from Col. Chaytor, in which he said that all ranks under h(s command had ■ accepted the disappointment at the cancellation of their promised furlough to New Zealand in the finest spirit, but he trusted that an improvement in the circumstances would soon permit of a revision of the decision. Sir James Allen said ho desired to make it clear that the promised leave for the Main Body men to return to New Zealand was not cancelled by the wish of the New Zealand Government, but at the request of the Imperial authorities. MEAT TRUST. Mr. Payne resumed the debate on tbe report of the committee on the operations of the American Meat Trust, He contended that the only sure way of !combating the operations of the Trust was for the State to' get into direct touch with the consumers in Britain. Mr. Field (Otaki) urged that there should be closer co-operation between the British and overseas Government in the handling of meat. Ho did not think this would raise international difficulties,

but if the capitalists of America did have suflicient power to make troubles through the American (.Jovernmerit, we could see it through. The shipping problem would also have to be faced by the Government, even if it went to the length of a State service. Mr. Ajistey said the Bank of Ne\»- Zealand was the greatest sinner of the lot, as the finance of the Meat Trust was guaranteed through the bank.

.Mr. Field (Nelson) said this report was the first gun in a greftt struggle with the big American companies. After further debate the report waa adopted and the House adjourned. EXEMPTION OF RELIGIOUS TEACHERS. When the House resumed at 7.30 Mr. Anderson continued the debate on the Expeditionary Forces Amendment Bill. He contended that military shirkers should be deprived of any land they hold, and should not bo allowed to acquire land in the future. He gave notice of his intention to move an amendment to that effect when the Bill was in committee. Sir Joseph Ward said that at the outbreak of war all classes and creeds of our people joined 1 together for the purpose of helping the .Empire in the hour of need. A notable instance of this was the case of Ireland, where, prior to tho wur, the people were armed to thd teeth, but the moment the Empire waa in danger, the two great contending pnfties sank their party differences, joined together, were still fighting together, and are prepared to make the great sacrifice in contending against an intolerant foe. This he regarded as a valuable , lead towards toleration, and be hoped the House would arrive at a decision on certain matters in this Bill such as will climinato strife and bitterness in this country. Referring to the exemption of the clergy, lie considered that during a time of war the people should not bo j deprived of spiritual consolation, neither should educational institutions be so depleted as to deprive children of that class of education necessary to enable them to take the right view of. their duties as citizens after the war. In (this respect we might well take example from America, where President Wilson declared that no teachers shall leave the States. Much the sarao position existed in England, where up to March last no teacher of a .religious order had been asked to go to the war, He would be no party to assisting any one to shirk his duty to his country, but he did not think one could Recuse the Roman Catholic body of shirking their duty, since 9721 members of that communion had embarked on active service up to the 2Sth Reinforcements. Discussing the 'Marist schools, he said there were 2000 children attending their eleven schools, thus saving the Dominion roughly £14,000 per annum. Their teachers numbered 35, and of these only about 20 were likely to be medically fit. He wished the House to remember there was no possibility of these teachers being reinforced from other sources, and the only course these men could pursue, as the law stood, was to ,oo before the Medical Board, and if the board said they must go, then go they must; but he desired to. whether if 20, or even all the 35 of, such men, were sent, there was any likelihood of making any difference to the war, to say nothing of the deference which should he paid to the wishes of 0700 of their co-religionists now fighting at the front, who desired to have their children educated on lines which they considered necessary to their.welfare. Personally, he intended to vote for the exemption of all teachers, and if the House was not prepared to go that far he would vote to exempt the Marist Brothers-

Dr. Thacker also favored ttio exemp tioii of tlie Mavist Brothers.

Sir J. Findlay deprecated' the importation of sectarian differences into tlie debate, and he appealed to members to consider the Bill in a. spirit of toleration and sweet reasonableness.

Mr. Wright said it was not a question of religious belief, but whether any single men should remain at home while marrisd men were taken from families and sent to the front. He favored bringing everyone under the operation of the Bill, mul allowing the appeal 'boards to exempt, such a$ they think essential to the community. Mr. Craigie condemned exemptions. Mr. Hindmarsh asked whether it was worth while annoying the Roman Catholic body by sending to the front the few men whom they considered of so much valuo at home.

Mr. McCallum considered the House should hot throw on the Military Service Boards the responsibility of saying who are and who are not in holy orders. Mr. Payne favored exempting teachers of all denominations.

Mr. Glover favored the exemption of tlie Marish Brothers.

Mr. Dixon (Pnrnell) said instead of, as stated, fit) per cent, of tho Samoan force king Roman Catholics, it was only 12 per cent. He would vote against elauso 3.

The Minister of Defence, in reply, said the Bill was framed on the British law, which exempted men in holy orders, but not religious orders, and the only difference was that he had included a schedule. He was prepared to add the. Seventh Day Adventists and the Salvation Army in the schedule, but no others. Only the other day ho received a letter from the Unitarian Church, asking to be cut out of the schedule, and he was prepared to shake hands with every Unitarian minister who had shown such a loyal spirit. He favored the exemption of the clergy, because he could trust the various churches to willingly supply all the men wanted for the service as chaplains. He was bound to say that the religious orders were not exempt under clause 3. They were not exempt by the War Oilice at Home, but had not at present been called up. This course had been followed here, and now Parliament must decide whether that course is to continue. He was going to stand by the Bill, because if the religious orders were exempted, all sorts of exemptions were likely to creep in. A fcheme was on foot to exempt teachers, but he could not vote for such exemption. They had gone to the front in great numbers, and proved li valuable factor in our forces. He lmd received a letter from an officer in a high command asking that educated men be sent as officers, and lie did not think the teachers still here would like to remain and leave their mates in the lurch. Education might suffer for tlie moment, but lie was convinced tlmt botli the teachers and clergy who had gone to the front would, when they returned, make the best teachers and preachers. There were more important industries for exemption than teaching, but whatever the de. cision of the House was, he would do his best w carry it into effect.

The Bill was read a second time, and the House went into committee.

At clause 3, Dr. Newman moved to strike out the words "specified in tho schedule." This, if carried, would necessitate the striking out. of the schedule, and leaving the boards to decide who was in holy orders or a regular mtn:°tcr of a relisrious body

The tninister »aid lie had no objeitiori to the amendment, and would, leave it to the House. Military Service Board« could decide who was in holy orders, and if tliny differed in opinion, the Appeal Board could be set up. The words were struck out, sub-cluuse b beingf considered superfluous, in view of the priof amendment, was also Btruek /bufy -,t Sir Joseph Ward moved a new Subclause for the exemption of all School teachers, with a view to maintaining education at the present standard. The amendment was carried by 30 to 32, A division w& then called on the clause as amended, it being retained by 36 to 33.

Clause twelve w<us amended by depriving deserters of their civil rights. The Minister moved a new clause willdating the sentences pasted by New Zealand court-martials.

Mr. Wilford attacked the attempt, to whitewash illegal sentences. It *WOId be better to own up and pay competes.--tion. Left sitting.