PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 October 1919, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

— — —i.; LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The Legislative Council met at 2.30. WOMENS' PARLIAMENTARY RIGHTS The Council, with five dissentients, Hons. Jones, Te Heuheu Tukino, Paul, Grimmond, and Hall-Jones decided to insist upon its amendments to the Womens' Parliamentary Rights Bill. The Council adopted as its reasons for insisting on the amendments: (1) That the Bill as passed by the House of Representatives does, in respect to the words excised by the Committee infringe the privileges of the Council as defined by the Speaker of the Council; (2) That the reasons given by the House of Rep. resentatives imply insistence on such infringmemnt.. The Statutes Revision Committee reported the Board of Trade Bill without further amendment to the clause providing that a prosecution for profiteering may (be based on a charge made for one line of goods. The Divorce and Matrimonial Causes Amendment Bill, which gives the wife of an enemy alien power to secure a divorce, should her husband leave New Zealand and remain absent for at least one year, was read a second time. The Hon. Sir F. Bell explained that no important amendments to the law were involved, the Government intended to submit the measure to the Imperial authorities. The Council rose at 3.20 p.m. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. REPLIES TO QUESTIONS, v The House met at 2.30. Replying to Mr- Walker, the PemieT said he had no intention of introducing thU session a Daylight Saving Bill. Australia had given the system a fair trial and turned it down. Canada and the United States had the same experience. He thought New Zealand would be unwise to adopt the principle in face of this evidence.

Replying to Mr. Poole, the Hon. .T. G. Coatos said the Post and Telegraph Ofh'se now had over 800 men who were, back from the war. There were still about 300 men who had not yet been discharged from the forces. A few appointments had been made during the war, and there were a few to be made, but until the whole of the 800 men hadbeen re-employed it was impossible to say what appointments were to be made, but, as soon as that was accomplished, the question of appointments would bo considered. In the meantime, the temporary employees had been given notice that they muat seek other employment. At 3 o'clock, Mr. Massey moved thet tlw House go into Committee of Supply to consider the Estimates. COST OF LIVING. On this motion, Mr. MeCombs entered upon a discussion of the cost of living, declaring that while the House had been sitting the cost of living had risen 3'i points, equal to IOJd in the £. It was, therefore, evident that the Government had failed to deal with the question and would fail until they got down to the primary cause—profiteering. In Queensland, where the Government had done its duty, the cost of living was lower than in any other State. Mr. Wilford said unemployment and industrial disputes were more frequent in Queensland than in any oth.n- St.tte. iUfording to the Australian statistician's latest report, in 1914, the Queensland index figure was 1082, but in 11)19 it had risen to 1750, an increase of (!2.3, which was greater than New Zealand's increase. PRISONS. Mr. Holland contended that Hansard reporters should not be employed to do detective work, as they were employed to take reports of his speeches during the war with a view to trapping him. He also objected to Hansard reporters taking other employment, thereby competing against outside labor. He condemned the treatment of conscientious objectors in the prisons of the' Dominion. Messrs. P. Fraser, Payne and Semple condemned the various phases of our I pi isou system, the iatter declaring that the) are simply manufacturing; criminals Mr. Statham paid a tribute to the good work done by Mr. Wilford in connection with prisons while Minister of Justice. THE ESTIMATES. At 4.45, the House went into Com. rr.ittee to consider the Estimates of the Legislative Departments. 1 Mr. S. G. Smith (Taranaki) pointed out that last year a war bonus was voted for the officers of tiiis department, but tliis year no bonus was provided. He asked: Was it proposed to increase the salaries to make up on this loss? Several speakers ureed increases in these salaries instead ot bonuses. The Minister said the whole matter would be considered when the supplementary estimates were being prepared. The vote of £43,010, was agreed to. On the Finance Department's vote of £2f/o,B7'ii for miscellaneous services, Mr. Wilford raised the question of sending some of our young civil servants Home to 'become acquainted with the working of the High Commissioner's office. He urged that some of the bright young intellects should be dug out and sent Home. Likewise he criticised the fact that the understudy of the general manager of railways was an elderly man who would shortly be retiring on superannuation. Younger men should be given these positions so that they might be trained in them and till tliem for many years. Mr. Herries remarked that this could not be done under the classification scheme. Mr. Wilford: Then Ih.> classification should be altered. The curse of this country is old age. The votes were agreed to. EVENING SITTING. The House resumed at 7.30. The Pensions Vote of £37,729 was discussed, a number of members advocating raising widows' pensions to the standard of epidemic widows—2">s weekly, with 10s (id for children. Mr. Rust-ell moved a £1 reduction in the vote as an indication to the Government that widows' pensions be brought up to the standard ut the epidemic widows' pensions.

Mr. Massey depreeated'-an ex-Minister, who knew that the Government was sympathetic with dependents, moving a motion with the object of placing the Government in a difficulty. Mr. Russel's proposal would cost £286,000. The Government had increased the ordinary pensions by 50 per cent, during the war, and further increases were impossible without revwujf the taxation gXgtWj

i which could not be done during the (short session.

Mr. Russell said the Government could get the money easily enough by raising the death duties.

Sir Joseph Ward remarked that people would have to die first before the Government could get money from that source.

Mr. MdConibs said that according to the Government's Budget they were going to produce a surplus of several millions, which could be utilised for the purposes of this amendment.

Mr. Witty said he favored increases in the pensions, but he was 1 not go;ng to vote for the' amendment which was merely a "catch" vote.

Mr. Holland said the only question was whether pensioners could i«ve on the pension given by the State. If not, nothing should be allowed to stand in the way of it being increased. There was no logical reason why an ordinary widow and ordinary children should receive less than the epidemic widow and children.

Mr. Young declared that the passing of the amendment would not raise the pensions by a penny piece. It was merely an election dodge, and he protested against having those surprises sprung upon the House.

After supper, the Hon. W. H. Herries, who is in charge of tho Estimates, said Mr. Russell's »proposal would cost .*28G,000 extra. If the amendment was carried the Government would be forced into the position of recasting the whole of the taxation proposals. He was quite willing to place before Cabi. net the question of a Bill which would deal solely with widows pensions. Mr. Russell asked if the Government could give a definite indicotion of its proposals.

Mr. Massey said that at the very first opportunity the matter would be taken ■in hand, this session if possible, but could members indicate any one of the important Bills before the House that could be. dropped to give the necessary opportunity.

__Sir Joseph Ward, in the course of the diaussion, said he was in favor of an increase in widows' pensions, but he would not assent to a proposal involving .-£280,000 additional expenditure unless there was a Bill brought in and ample time given to consider it, and unless ways and means were provided. After the Government had given an indication that tWy were prepared to consider the question of increasing pensions,, members continued the discussion giving instances of special cases of widows which they thought should be included in any new scheme. Mr. Ell urged that, in view of the assurance given by Ministers, members ought, to accept it. For his part he would vote against the amendment as this was not a party question, the demand for the increase having come from All sides.

Sir James Alien said that unless the revenue was much better than expected, and expenditure much less than anticipated, increased taxation would be necessary to give effect to the amendment.

Mr. Semple said no one wanted to take advantage of the Government. It would be most unfair to do so on so important a matter as this, but lie pressed the Premier to give the House a definite assurance that a Bill 'would be brought down to increase widows' pensions th's session.

Mr. Russell contended that the Government figures showing that the increase would amount to £280,000 wa* ridiculous. He contended that the Government's promise to deal with it this session was too intangible to rely upon, and he absolutely scorned the suggestion that he had moved this amendment from a party point of view. Mr. Massey maintained that his figures were correct, and he resented such an important matter being sprun? upon them at a moment's notice. lie had giver, his promise that the matter would be considered by Cabinet this session, bu<: whether anything can be done this session, or whether it would have to stand over, remained to be seen. That would depend on how the Government go 1 on with their important Bills. Ha asked the House to come to a division' and let the Government see where thev stcod. J

Mr. Anderson suggested that, in the face of the Premier's promise, Mr. Russell should withdraw the amendment, otherwise he would force some members, who were just as earnest as he is, to vote against him.

Mr. Russell then announced that if the Premier's assurance meant that he would bring before Cabinet the question of increasing widows pensions, and bring in a Bil. giving effect to increase this session if possible, he would withdraw his omrndment.

Mr. Massey said he did not wish any misunderstanding. He had frequently expressed sympathy with the proposal to increase the widows' pensions, and he was prepared to bring the matter before Cabinet. If it was possible to do so, it would be dealt with this session, but if not, then, if be was at the head of the Government in the new Parliament it would he brought before the House at the eorliest possible moment. On this, the amendment was withdrawn and the vote passed. The House then proceeded to consider the Post and Telegraph v0te—£2.003,800. '

During the discussion, which was lengthy and varied, the PostmasterGeneral stated that a mail service via Patama was under consideration bv Cabinet. J

At 1.30 the vote was passed. Public buildings and domains vote, £161,100, and Native Department, £24,128, were passed without discussion. On the vote for the Justice Department, £565,128, Mr. Ell raised the question of better communication with the Cook Islands, saying the waste of fruit going on owing to want of better transit was appalling. Dr. Pomare replied that the Union Company was making improvements in the shipping arrangements immediately. The vote was- passed. (Left sitting.)