HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 December 1918, Page 7

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

The House met at nootj REPLIES TO QUESTIONS: Replying to Mr. Luke, the Minister for Defence said that all rifles now ill use by the Expeditionary Foice have to he re-barrelled and p 11 fc in perfect order before being returned to the Dominion, and he hopes to hare sufficient in hand at an early date to satisfy the requirements of rifle clubs. Replying to Mr. Jennings,, the Minister for Defence said that so f ar a3 ji 8 'rnew the facts given by him tn House regarding tiie release of the German doctor Endletsberger for the purpose of attending a patient at ißotorua were still correct, notwithstanding the contrary statement by the local Rotorua doctor. Dr. Pomare said the request for the release of Dr. Endletsberger to attend Mrs- Rayner came from him to the Minister for (Defence, and he was sorry to notice the crit 1 \nn arisen in connection with the matter, as he thought it was a humanitarian act to save her life, even if it had to be done 'by a German doctor. He was quite prepared to take the whole responsibility for the incident. Replying to a question, the Hon. G. W Russell said that whether orphans who had lost their parents through the influenza epidemic should be treated differently to orphans from other causes was a matter requiring careful consider*, ation. He wouH consult with the Minister for Education, under whose charge such children "would come, Replying to Mr Hudson, the Premier smd the peace celebrations would probably be observed in March or April. The local bodies would be advised. Sir James Allen, replying to Mr. Jennings, said that where it could be shown that a soldier died from influenza, the pension would be paid. Replying to Mr. Pearce, the Premier said he had not yet received a reply to his representations that tile Imperial meat contract should be extended for another year. The House rose at 1 "o'clock. The House resumed at 2 30 Replying to Mr. Witty, Sir James Allen said members of tiie Expeditionary I-orces woul& return on the basis that those Wiio went first will be the first to eome hack. Replying to Mr Stewart, Sir Joseph Ward said he was not able to say that the temporary employees in the Post Office would be kept on after the retarn of those at the front, but they would be considered in every way, i n view of the necessities of tho service. Mr. A S. Malcolm brought under the notice of the Minister for Public Health the deplorable" condition of affairs i» the Catlins district owing to influenza, where, he said., people were dying for want of assistance, owing to lack oi railway communication. The Minister said this was the first time the matter had been brought under htg notice. He would communicate with the health officer in Otago, and help would be sent. The Hon. W. H. Herries also said that railway facilities wouTti •be placed at the service of the sick. *w P A yin " t0 a the Minister that that a large number of proTesrivo educaional proposals had been drafted for the Education Amendment Bill, but Cabinet had decided that such a' Bill could not be proceeded with this session. To deal with tiie complaint of some of the technical teachers regarding superannuation required legation. He had submitted for the consideration of Cabinet proposals for increases in teachers' salaries. This matter and that of •bonuses would be dealt with by Cabinet when the Supply estimates were settled | LAND LOANS. The Land Loans Amendment Bill was introduced by Governor's Message. Mr, Massey said it was purely a formal mea- [ sure intended to meet some proceedings i in the Privy Council. The Bill was read a second time pro forma, and sent to the Lands Committee. REPATRIATION. The House then went into Committee on the Repatriation Bill. Mr. Ell resumed the discussion on' the lines that there must be one Minister to whom appeals could be madeMr. Witty reminded Sir James Allen that yesterday progress had been reported on the Bill because it,was unsatisfactory to tiie House, and it was fully expected that when it came up for consideration again it would be in a modified form. He was disappointed, for the Minister had not given any explanation a.s to the Government's intention regarding the Bill. The Minister said it was not intended to alter the Bill, but the Committee could do so. If the objectionable clauses were knocked out. no doubt the Government would meet the position. He asked the C'oimniftee to come to a vote on the clause. Later, the Minister said that neither the Government nor himself were going to be driven. Tf the House wanted the Bill it would have to be passed to-day, and, after a protest from Mr. McComhs, the first clause was passedAn amendment was inserted making the Bill applicable to the motor patrol service. Mr. Downie Stewart moved an amendment appointing one Minister as Minister for Repatriation instead of a board of four Ministers. Sir Joseph Ward opposed the amendment, and said no Government could agree to deposit such an important matter as repatriation in the hands of a single Minister. Personally, be was not prepared to delegate his side (the ifaftsdal sideV to any one Minister, no mhaihat MkistarmJtfit J».^rhe

-Bill taought-down % Jhe National Gov. ernment should ibo adhered io 4>y members of the National Government |ian.y, for the Government was carrying on the affairs of the country under most diffi--cult circumstances, No Government would in normal times submit to have its policy measures withdrawn or changed in this manner; then Why should the National Government bend its knee and knuckle down to opposition of the "kind, raised against this Bill? Under these circumstances responsible Government would become impossible, Mr. MeCombs said the position was that, in order to avoid petty jealousies in the National Cabinet as to who was 'to be the repatriation Minister, the House, was going to be bull-dosed into accepting something which, if left with an open mind, it would not think of, accepting. Mr. Holland said the Bill should not be the policy of the National Goveigjment, but the policy of the House. Mr. Hanan all due respect ti his colleague, he did not foelieve any one Minister could overtake the work of this Department, and for that reason he Relieved the returned soldiers were making a mistake in 'their own interests in demanding a single Minister in place of a board. In reply to Mr. Witty, the (Premier said the chairman of the hoard, as in- | tended by the Government, would be the I Prime Minister, and in his absence it would be a senior Minister. If Sir James Ailen could see his way to accept it, with the other importan work he had to carry out, no one would he better pleased than himself. The chairman of the board would be the medium of communication between the members and the board, and he would be responsible for carrying on the work of repatriatioß. He had no doubt that under that system all" the members of the board and the House would work enthusiastically, in the important work' of the board. . In reply to a further question, the Premier said the Director of Kepatriation had not yet .been appointed, but he would be a civilian. A division was called on tlio amendment, which was lost by 34 to 2^ An amendmen moved by Mr. Fraser, providing that 50 per cent, of the representation on local committees should be j shared by returned soldiers and trades j unions was lost on a division by 59 to .7 Mr- McG'allum: incived an amendment to increase the amount to he lent to soldiers from £3OO to £SOO, but the Minister said the amount proposed was i ample. It must be rememlwred that j the loan 9 in many cases would be with-1 out security, and £3OO was a great enough risk to run. The discussion was' proceeding' when the House rose at 5.301, The House resumed at 7.3$ i Mr. McCallum stated that hft was pre- j pared to accept thsi verdict of the House j on the voices, and proposed to increase the amount to 1 £SOO- ! This was rejected- ' In clause 18, Mr. Fraser moved to ex- ; tend the benefits of the clause to men in 01 Camp.—Lost by S4 to 22. Tlio Bill was then reported from Committee, read a third time and passed; THE LICENSING BILE' I

'Amendments to the Licensing Amendment Bill were introduced ]>y Governor's Message. Mr. McCombs made a statement regarding the reference by him in a previous debate to the necessity of "a bribe to the trad© in order to secure the passage of licensing legislation through the House." He said this had no refei« ence whatever to the attitude of the 'New Zealand Alliance. The Hon. A. M. Myers rose toi protest against the inference that there was a •bribe to the trade itt the Bill. He reviewed the position of the trade, Tho agitation for prohibition with compensation arose not as a suggestion by the trade but from the Efficiency Board. The fact was that the trade was satisfied with their position tinder the old law, and did not want his legislationSeveral members proceeded to criticise the amendments, and asked why they could not be brought down as part of the original Bill. The Premier replied that it was not possible to put them into tho original Bill, whieh, to a great extent, was an experiment. The amendments had been drafted by the Attorney-General, who was sympathetic with tho prohibition cause, and was fair-minded'. However, he (the Premier) was quite indifferent,, and if there was any undue opposition, he was quite prepared to drop the Bill. He then proceeded to explain in detail the amendments, which deal with the manner in which compensation ia to be assessed. The amendments were agreed to without alteration NATIVE LANDS. The 'House went into Committee on the Native Land Claims Adjustment Bill, which had been revised by the Native Affair® Committee. The Bill was reported unamended, read a third time and passed. WOMEN IN PARLIAMENT.

The Premier said lie proposed to asls the House to deal with an amendment put into the Legislative Council Amendment Bill, under which, women were made eligible as members of Parliament. He at first thought he would ask the House to appoint managers to confer with the Council, which disagreed with the amendment, but he now thought that course was notjjecessary. He preferred to ask the House not to insist on its amendment, which he considered had been inserted in the Bill in a, manner lightly, irregularly, and unconstitutionally. Tliis was a great constitutional question and ought not to be carried by a sidewind. It ought to be part of a separato Bill, and he gave the Hous3 the promise that the House would have an opportunity of considering this important matter next session, either by resolution or by Bill. Sir Joseph Ward said lie favored women sitting in Parliament, hut he wanted to see the change brought about in a proper manner. He also favored the ladies being put into the Legislative Council They could Hot be worse than some present members of that branch of the Legislature. Mr. Mc'Combs rebutted the Premier's statement that the amendment was unconstitutional, on the ground that the Speaker lmd ruled the amendment in order. The Premier, in declining to ask for a pursuing an irregular course. The Legislative Council bad already passed the resolution that women should be eligible to sit in Parliament so soon as the House passed a similar resolution, and it was the Council that was out of order ia going back on the previous decision. Mr. Massey, in reply, said the 'House had not an opportunity of properly considering tho question, and some did not know that the amendment referred to Parliament, and not merely to the Legis» latiyg Council. TSbouah tgclarieftSyi ia

iox'der, the amendment was improper, irregular, and mrrconstitutional. On a division,, the (House decided by 30 to IS not to :'nsist on its amendment. Ayes (30): Allen, Bollard, Calvin Dickie, Dickson, J. S. Field, Sir W. ] Fraser, Harris, Herries, Hudson, Hunter, Jennings, Lee, Mao Donald, Malcolm, Mander, Massey, Myers, Newman, Nosworthy, Pcarce, Pomare, Rhodes, 0. W. fßusssell, Scott, E. W. Smith, Stathara, Uru, Ward, Young. Noes (IS): Anstey, Craigie, J. M. Dickson, Eli, P. Fraser, Hornsby, McCallum, McOombs, Parr, Payne, Poland, Sider, S. G. Smith, Sykes, Talbot, Veitfili, Wright. MAMJFAOTTJRE OF INDUSTRIAL 1 SPIRITS. 'An amendment Bill iHon, A. M, Myers) providing for the manufacture of Spirits for industrial purposes was' put through all 3tages and passed. 1 ! ■ Wellington, Last 'Night. | ' ~ MEAT ■PURCHASE. When 1 the House resumed after wie supper Adjournment on Saturday, the Premier announced that lie 'had received a cable from the High Commissioner that he was continuing to press upon the Imperial authorities the necessity for continuing the for another yS&li' - i UOCAL' BILLS. , The following local Bills passed all gages:—Napier Harbor Board and Napier High School Empowering Bill, Thames Borough Boundaries Alteration Bill, New Plymouth HarTior Board Empowering 'Bill (Mr. S. G. Smith), Wlmngarei Borough Empowering Bill, Dunedin City Pish Markets and Empowering, Wairoft Harbor Board Empowering and Loan Bill. BABBIT JtfUISANCE. The Hon- W. D. S. Mac Donald introduced the Rabbit Nuisance Bill, which was read a second. tiiTie pro foriYifi ana. referred t~> the .Agricultural Committee. The Minister said "ffle ob|oCt of _ the Bill was to make smaller rabbit districts. The House rose at 1050 till noon on Monday.