PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 December 1918, Page 8

PARLIAMENT.

| LEGISLATIVE COUNCILS t ,# _ . Wellington, Last Night- • Uie Council dissented from the amendment made by the House in the Legislative Council Amendment Act, admitting women to Parliament, by -26 to 5, on the ground that such an important principle should be embodied in a separate Bill to enable it to receive full consideration. The Christ's College Ordinance Amendment Bill was passed. A number of local Bills were received from the House and read a first time.

WOMEN IN PARLIAMENT. Sir Francis Bell reported an agreement with the managers of the House regarding the amendments in the War Legiflation Amendment Bill. The Council's managers had agreed to abandon the amendment permitting soldiers and their dependents to contract themselves out of future protection regarding a tenancy agreement. They also reached an agreement on the amendments to the Reformatory Institutions Amendment Bill. The Minister of Justice retains the power to remove a prisoner to a reformatory institution, But only where the esntence had less than two years to run. ; lOCAL BILLS. The following local Bills were 'passed through all stages by th» Legislative Council:—lnvercarsill Borough Rate Empowering, New Plymouth Harbor Board and Borough Council Exchange, Auckland Institute and Museum Site Empowering, Tauranga Harbor Board and Borough Council Empowering. Nawa County and Napier Harbor Board Loans Enabling. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House met at 2.30, NEW BILLS. The following Bills were introduced by the Hon. G. W. Russell and read a first time:—Orari and Waihi Rivers BUI, Rangitata River Bill, WairauHiver Bill. The Native "washing-up" Bill was introduced by Governor's Message and read a first time. REPLIES TO QUESTIONS. Replying to Mr. Luke, Sir James Allen said he would be pleased to cable to the" officer commanding the New Zealand Forces asking him to release as many medical men as po : -~u> lill the gaps in the profession ca , deaths during the influenza oReplying to Mr. » . "Apr. who said he had received a telegi_'n from the Auckland waterside workers protesting against the working of the Makura's cargo, the Premier said that all matters connected with the Makura were in the control of the Public Health Departmen, but he admitted he had suggested that the fruit on board should be unloaded, and he took full responsibility. Replying to Mr. Isitt, Sir Jame3 Allen said the report of the Commission "in connection with the cruelties practised on conscientious objectors at Wang&nui Gaol had been adopted, and the whole of the staff, with the exception of Lieutenant Been, had been removed. He was unable to say whether the removal meant dismissal.

LICENSING BILL. Mr. Massey explained the technical amendments made Say the Legislative Council in the Licensing Bill, and moved that they be agreed to. The motion was carried. He stated that a series of more important amendments would be brought down later by Governor's message.

WOMEN IN PARLIAMENT. Notice was received from the Legislative Council that the.v disagreed with the amendment made in the Legislative Council Amendment Bill admitting women to Parliament. Mr. Massey moved, and it was agreed to, that the House insists on its amendment. EXPEDITIONARY FORCES BILL. The House then went into committee on the Expeditionary Forces Amendment Bill. Mr. McCoombs moved a new clause to the effect, that after a military defaulter had served his sentence no further punishment be imposed. He stated that in several cases defaulters had been punished three times. Sir James Allen said provision wa3 made for religious objectors, and care would be taken to protect really honest men; but amongst the others there were many defiant objectors, who escape! service by a flat refusal to serve their country, and, he asked, should such men who refused to serve the State enjoy the privileges of the State? He was emphatically of opinion that they should not, and he would not accept the amendment, which was lost on the voices.