PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 31 October 1917, Page 8

PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. TUESDAY'S SITTING. Wellington, Oct. 30. ' The Legislative Council met at 11 a.m. New managers were appointed to confer with the House of Representatives on ,the amendments to the Expeditionary Forces Amendment Bill, as follows: Sir Francis Bell, Sir Walter Buchanan, the Hons.*Aitken and Fisher. The Legislative Council appointed managers for a third conference—Sir Francis Bell and the Hons. Samuel, Morgan and Earnshaw. The Statute Law Amendment Bill wa3 passed.

On the third reading the Hon. Mr. Barr explained that the clause providing for the employment of discharged soldiers had not been dropped at the instance of the Labor members, who were willing to make such provision in proper form. i

REPLIES TO QUESTIONS. The House met at 11 a.m. Replying to Mr. Mander, the Minister of Defence said that the question of utilising the services of the Jugo-Slavs had been under consideration several times. These people held a meeting at Auckland to decide what course they should pursue and the Government was waiting for a full report of that meeting before coming to a decision. He hoped it would be possible to make arrangements to use the services /of the Jugo-'Slavs in a corps which was being raised in Australia, or in some war work in New Zealand. The only question was to be sure of their loyalty.

Replying to Mr. Wright, the Minister of Defence said that the Government made provision for men who joined the motor patrol service so far as pensions and provision for wives and children was concerned, but could not see its way to go so far as to raise the pay of single men to the New Zealand level, nor fould they go so far as to extend financial assistance to the men of that service.

1 Replying to Mr. Wilford, the Minister of Defence said that as a general rule men- who had had final leave but who were not ready to depart had been allowed to return to their homes without; pay to participate in farm work, Replying to Mr. Poole, the Minister of Defence said that the position of New Zealanders who joined the Imperial Navy Would he considered by the Government, but he desired to point out that these men were not on the same footing as men who joined the motor patrol, they having joined the navy without the knowledge or consent of the Government. Replying to Mr. Field (Otaki), the Minister said that so far as he knew the casualty lists published were cemplete up to the date of publication. Sometimes cables were delayed, but as a general rite lists were complete. The Speaker at this stage announced that the Legislative Council had agreed to hold a second conference with the House on the subject of the Expeditionary Forces Bill, and the House adjourned at 11.15 for that purpose. THE EXEMPTION DEADLOCK. The House resumed at 12 o'clock. Sir James Allen submitted tlie managers' report to the effect that the second conference between representatives of the Council and the House had been unable to come to an agreement. He moved that the Council be asked for an--1 other conference and that Mr. Myers, Sir .lames Carroll, Mr. Parr and the mover be appointed managers to confer with the Council's representatives. Mr Jennings asked if this farce was to be continued Two conferences had, already been held on the question, which was a simple request of a majority of the House >Dr Newman asked if members could attend the conference. The Speaker ruled that any members could attend the conference. He quoted authorities. The question had never been previously raised in the House, but that was the position. Mr. Massey considered that better work could he done if the conference was confined to a few members. Mr. Buick also asked how long the farce wits going on. Mr. Wilford said there could not he many more conferences as there were only 15 members in the Council. Sir Joseph Ward took the opportunity to deny the report that there had been friction and verbal fighting in the Cabinet over the question. The report was absolutely untrue. The Minister had been assisted in his effort to overcome i the difficult position. WOOL FOR KNITTING, Mr. Ell asked whether women who were knitting for soldiers could get wool from the mills at cost price under State control. Mr. Myers, (Minister of Munitions) replied that he had made arrangements that whereas wotfl had cost 8s lid per pound, it would now be supplied through the Lady Liverpool depots at 4s <!d. The House rose till 2.30. Wellington, Last Night. " NO FURTHER CONFERENCE. When the House resumed, the Speaker announced that the third conference with the Legislative Council, on the subject of the exemption of clergy and teachers from conscription, had been unable to come to any agreement. Mr. Massey intimated that it was not intended to ask for another conference, but he proposed to ask the House to adjourn till 7.30 to enable Cabinet to consider the position. The Speaker announced that the Legislative Council did not insist upon the amendment to clause 2!) of the War Legislation Bill, and on the motion of Mr. Herdman the House agreed to the amendment made in clause 10. On the motion of Mr. Ha nan, the amendments made by the Council in the Statute Law Amendment Bill were agreed to. He explained that clause 10, suspending industrial awards to enable disabled soldiers to enter trades for the purposes of tuition, had been struck out, much to his personal regret. Mr. Payne said he wished to make it clear that the Labor Party wished to help soldiers in every way possible, and he thought that the under-rate permit system gave the Minister all the power he required. The House adjourned at 3.40 TOWN PLANNING. The Housd resumed at, 7.30. The Town Planning Bill was introduced by Governor's message. Hon. G. W. Russell said the Bill had been asked iot bjr a degutajiog from aM the ghjgg

centres, and he introduced the measure at this stage? of the session merely for the purpose of getting it before the public, with a view to preparing a scheme of town planning after the war. Mr. Ell congratulated the Minister on the introduction of so necessary a measure. The Bill was read a first time and ordered to be printed. EXPEDITIONARY FORCES BILL ABANDONED. Mr. Massey announced that the Government did not intend to proceed further with the Expeditionary Forces Amendment Bill. He intimated that the Government intended to ask' the House to deal with the supplementary estimates, but as they were not yet printed he suggested the House rising till the ringing of the bell, probably for an hour. When the House resumed at 10.35, the Premier said he had ascertained that the supplementary estimates would not be forthcoming before 11.30, and possibly later, therefore suggested adjourning till 9.30 to-morrow morning. This was agreed to, and the House rose at 10.40.