PARLIAMENT.
, LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. . By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The Legislative Council met at 10 o'clock and passed the third reading of the finance Bill after a brief debateHOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. IMPORTATION OF SPIRITS. The House met at eleven o'clock. Replying to Mr- Isitt, the Hon. Myers, Minister for Customs, said he had no authority to restrict the importation of spirits to the detriment of more necessary goods. His function was to see that the goods imported paid duty. In that respect nothing he should do had been left undone. Certain newspapers had assailed hint with charges that, lie had given preference to the .importations of spirits. This he absolutely denied. He received upwards o of six thousand applications for priority permits. Not. one for spirits was granted. Recently when tho Union Company asked for a list of goods to which they should give preference from San Francisco spirits was not on the list.
OTHER QUESTIONS. Replying' to 'Mr. Young, the Hon. Ilanan said he hoped to have valuations ready next week on which the quinquennial returns of friendly societies are based. Replying to Mr. Poland, Mr. Massey said that when Sir Joseph Ward and he were in England they would endeavor to arrange that New Zealand soldiers should have leave to visit friends in Britain before being returned to the DominionNATIONAL SERVICE. A message, was received from the Legislative Council stating that the Finance Bill had been passed with amendments. Sir Joseph Ward stated the Council had reinserted the clause regarding national service, and he proposed to accept it, but proposed to add adequate safeguards for the purpose of protecting labor. The mater was pressing, because whatever the fluctuations of the present battle the British people were not going to give in. Therefore it was necessary that the country should be organised. He hoped the House would be unanimous in the course he proposejJ, which was that regulations be framed at a conference between the parties concerned, and that these regulations take immediate effect, but if on the next meeting of Parliament the House did not approve oi the regulations, then they should cease to have effect.
Messrs. MeCombs and Payne objected to the proposal. MORE POWER NEEDED. Mr. Payne, continuing tlie debate, said that Labor's point was that they did not object to labor being conscripted for the benefit of the State, but they did object to the conscription of Labor for the benefit of private employers. Mr. Luke contended that the powers asked for should be put into operation without a day's delay. Mr. Hindmarsh argued that the Premier would not bring a Bill gravely affecting farmers without telling the country all about it, but when Labor was affected he failed to take the House into his confidence.
Dr. Newman said lie knew these powers were widely asked for, but he feared many wanted tlieni for their own gain. He therefore asked the Premier to make a elear statement what industries were going to be affected. Mr. Massey said the Government had great powers under the war regulations, but more power was needed, and the Government considered these powers were necessary when they took the responsibility of asking for them. They would affect all industries alike, and nothing would be done which ivould inflict hardship on the workers. It, was impossible to say nothing should be done in the interests of private gain, because the position was so complicated that the whole thing might be tied up after the regulations had been drawn up as the result of a conference. He thought no exception would be taken to them. When Labor in Britain realised the seriousness of the present crisis, they at once dropped all differences and went'to work to make up the leeway. The position was just as serious for New Zealand as for Britain. He had heard an attempt was being made by a member of the Labor Party to rouse opposition to this clause all over the Dominion. This he characterised as most reprehensible in the present circumstances.
Mr. McC'ombs moved as an amendment to Sir J. Ward's motion that the amendment of the Legislative Council be agreed' to with safeguards to Labor, by the following addition: "That no labor be transferred from one industry to another for the purposes of private gain." When the House resumed at two o'clock, Mr. Veiteh continued the debate on the Government's national service proposals, contending there was nothing in Mr. McCombs' amendment to interfere with national service, but it would prevent a groat deal of irritation by makin# the position clear.
'■ Dr. Thaekor advocated the appoint, mc-nt of a Ministry of Industry. Mr. Walker declared that the Labor Party would welcome the nationalisation of industry, but the Government was beginning at the wrong end. Mr. Hindmarsh doubted 'the ability of the Government to carry out the seh'emo successfully.
Mr. McC'ombs' amendment was lost by 54 to !), the following voting for it: Field (Nelson). Veiteh, McC'ombs, Hindmarsh, Payne, \yalker, Jennings, Glover, Thacker. '
The Speaker then put Sir Joseph Ward's proposals under which the regulations are to be framed after a confer enee between capital and labor, such regulations to be laid before both House or Parliament oil opening, and IT not approved shall cease to have effect. This was carried by 59 to 3, and the Bill was referred back to the Legislative Council.
MR. LOWRY'S GIFT. Sir Jas. Allen, in the course of a staleDent, said he had received a cheque from Mr. Lowrv for £1(100 towards the soldiers' hospital at Rotorua, the contribution being from the winnings of Desert Gold in Australia. INCREASED REINFORCEMENTS. Sir Jas. Allen also announced that the Ocvo-Timent had now received an answer frr.ii. *i,n \y ;l Office regarding the increase in reinforcements. He was not able to disclose what was the increase
naked for. bul, it was asked for only for five months, and their despatch would depend .to a great extent on Uie shipping available. They, however, believed the shipping in sight would do wlrnt was required. ~, , COST OF LIVING. Mr. Jlasscy read a lengthy statement covering the operations of the Board of Trade, from which he argued that the cost of living had been increased less in New Zealand than in any other part of the Empire, or in the world, the increases ranging from 211.G in Austria: to 27.4 in New Zealand. Everything possible to keep down the cost of living had been done. It was impossible entirely to succeed djiring a time of war, and the Government had simply now to grin and bear the criticism of politicians who desired to make capital out of the position. rUBLIC WORKS. During the course of a statement, the Minister of Public Works said there were | ample funds for the necessary public works, but only necessary work*, WAR LOAN. Sir Joseph Ward said he was unable to disclose the position of the War loan, but, he had just heard that the Commercial Travellers' Association had succeeded in raising .€120,000 as against £lll,OOO last year, for which he thought they deserved the thanks of the House and the country.
The House rose at .T2O to 7.30. The House resumed a"„ 7.30. The Electric Power Bill was introduced by Governor's message and read a first time. Sir Joseph Ward explained that he promised the Southland League to introduce this Bill. He was now doing so. It was likely it would not be gone on with this session. 'The Napier High School Empowering and Harbor Board Bill. Popular Initiative and Referendum Bill (McCoombs) were introduced and read a first time. Replying to Mr. Smith (Waimarino), who asked for a straight out grant towards the relief of sufferers by the recent bush fire in the Raetihi mid OJiakune district, the Premier said it was rather a matter for Cabinet. "We will be pleased to submit the request for consideration." LEAVE OF ABSENCE REFUSED. Mr. Payne askcS permission to move without notice leave of absence be granted to Mr. Webb, member for Grey, for the session. Permission was granted, but, on the motion being put. leave was refused on the voices and the House rose at 0.10, the'fourth session of the nineteenth Parliament being brought to ft close by members rising and singing the National Anthem. The 'Legislative Cmmc'il mot and received the Governor-General's assent to the Finance and Expiring Laws Continuation Acts. The session then concluded.
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Taranaki Daily News, 16 April 1918, Page 8
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1,402PARLIAMENT. Taranaki Daily News, 16 April 1918, Page 8
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