PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 October 1919, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, j By Telegraph.—Press Aasa.-' Copyright., ' i Wellington, Last Night. The (House of, Representatives met at 7.30 p.m. REPLIES TO QUESTIONS. Mr Massey gave notice that next sitting day he would move that the House gives its assent to the agreement made between the Imperial Government, the Federal Government of Australia, and the Government of New Zealand regarding , the administration of Nauru Island. In reply to Mr T. M. Wilford the Premier said the agreement would be printed' and circulated. Replying to Mr Poland, Mr Massey said all soldiers' gratuities would be paid before Christmas. Replying to Mr. Witty, Mr. Massey said he would consider the question of repealing the "anti-shouting" clause. He had heard all over New Zealand that the clause was a farce. Replying to Mr. Holland, Mr- Massey said there was a shortage of ships on the New Zealand coast mutable for carrying coal, but they were endeavouring to remedy that as soon as possible. Replying to Mr. Poole. Mr. Massey said he would ask the Board of Trade to inquire into the reason why rice was being sold at 3d per lb. in Fiji, while from 7d to 8d was being paid in' New Zealand. Jn doing this. Mr. Massey said it must be remembered it was much easier to supply a small papulation, : such ag that of Fiji, than it was to [ supply New Zealand's population. Replying to the Hon. A. M. Myers, Mr Massey said he did not think it would be possible to set up a committee, chosen from both sides of the House, to consider and report on Lord Jellieoc's Memorandum on Naval Defence. The information "given in the confidential report could not, of course, be disclosed to any committee. Replying to Mr. Holland. Mr. Massey said he was inquiring into the legal position under which people were being turned out of their houses, pending the accomplishment of the Government: n bousing scheme.

DEVEELOPING PUMICE LAND. On the motion of the Hon. A. T. Ngata, the Pumice Lands Development Bill was introduced and read a lirst time. In moving the introduction of the Bill, Mr. Ngata, said.one of the great problems before the people of 1 the Dominion was how to increase the country's production. The success achieved in connection with draining the Hauraki Plains was an inspiration in this respect, and if the Government concentrated on pumice lands, as they had done on the Hauraki Plains, there could be only one answer to the question: "Are these pumice lands worth developing." He quoted expert opinion to show that with cheap transport and cheap manure there were there the elements of rertility which could be quickened by proper treatment. There were five million acres of pumice land in the Taupo district in which there were great timber and hydro-electric possibilities. The keynote to the development of this country was concentration, viz., the employment of a special staff and special machinery, as was being done in the .case of the "Hauraki Plains, Mr. W. T. Jennings spoke of what had already been done in, proving the fertility of pumice lands. Mr. Young advocated that a committee of the House should be appointed to investigate the possibilities of the scheme outlined by Mr. Ngata, on the lines of the Industries Committee. This, he thought, would be more effective than a Royal Commission, Mr, Forbes emphasised the need for one department being given the control of the scheme. Mr. Anderson recommended the construction of light railways through pumice districts, so rendering large areas available for settlement. The Bill was read a first time. A NEW BILL. The National Provident Fund Amendment Bill was introduced 'by Governor's message. The Hon, W. H. Herries explained that three important matters in the Bill were the raising of the Friendly Societies'* maternity bonus to £6,' the raising of the amount which a participant could earn from £250 to £3OO, and the raising of the age of a participant from 45 years to 50. The rest of the Bill was purely of a machinery nature. PUBLIC HEALTH.

Tho official Appointments and Documents Bill was recommitted for the purpose of inserting a formal amendment. On the motion of the Minister, the amendment was agreed to, and the Bill was read a third time and passed. Mr. Massey moved the second reading of the Public Health Amendment Bill. He explained the Bill was almost entirely departmental in nature and was intended to meet cases which arose during the recent epidemic and to meet the recommendations of the Epidemic Commission. The Bill was read a second time without discussion. The House went into committee on the Public Health Amendment Bill, the Chattels Transfer Amendment Bill, and the Public Authorities Empowering Bill. The Chattels Transfer Amendment Bill was put through committee unamended, except that the Minister moved, and it was agreed to, that Clause 21) of the original Act be repealed. The Public Authorities Empowering Bill was put through committee without amendment. . In committee' on the Public Health Amendmemnt Bill, Mr. Luke expressed regret that the Bill did not confer upon City Councils full control over public health in metropolitan areas. Tft&e Would never be any satisfactory solution of the public health problem until full responsibility was fi.ved upon local authorities. Mr. Wright urged that local authority should have power to compel owners to demolish old and insanitary buildings. At present local bodies could prevent peotple living in ibem, but they have no power to compel their destruction. Mr Pearee complained that the Bill proposed to repeal the regulation which kept picture shows closed during certain hours. He considered the closing of these places was.one of the greatest safeguards in the cases of epidemics and in the interest of public health generally. Mr Massey explained that it vested power in local bodies to make by-laws regulating the opening of these places. If they did not do so the Public Health department might do so. '

Mr Reed contended that if the Bill was passed then local authorities would not close picture theatres, because they had to give reasons for what they did, and local foodies would not take the trouble. It simply meant that picture theatres would open in the morning and keep going till late at night. Mr Witty supported the Bill as it .stood. The preent law was unfair to ■picture employees. Dr. Newman thought that in newer where the ventilation was good, the restriction on hours was not necessary. In older buildings some Te--1 striction might be necessary. He suggested stricter quarantine regulations, even extending them to aeroplanes arriving from Australia. Mr JParr defended the picture show provisions of the Bill. His experience in Auckland was that the theatres were exceedingly well ventilated. Mr Pearce contended it was useless putting power into the hands of local -bodies, many of whom ran their own pictures and ran them badly. Mr Anders&n asTced for an additional health officer for Southland. Mr P. Fraser thought the placing of power in the hano» of local bodies to make regulations to meet local con* dit ions would have beneficial results. Some amendment of the present law was necessary, Mr WilfoTd said he was in favor of local option in this matter. He urged that local authorities should be given power to pull down insanitary building?. Mr. Mossey said the Attovney-General admitted the present law was defective and an amendment would lie inserted in the Bill in the Legislative Council to give the neecssary power. The Bill was then reported without amendment, and all the Bills passed throush the committee stage were read a third time and passed.

VOTES FOR SOLDIERS. Mr Maasey moved the second r#adiiiS of the Expeditionary Forces Voting Bill. He said the Bill applied only to men in the forces in New Zealand. There was no proposal to permit the wives of men who carte here and who had not been in New Zealand for a year to vo'\ Neither was there provision to enable men on "the sea to vote. That matter was most difficult. He thought it inadvisable to Jet men vote *until the names of the candidates were known. In the last arrangement the voting for partie.s worked out badly in every way. Something might be done by wireless, bnt he hoped all the men would be back before the election. Mr P. Fraser made an appeal for an extension of the seamen's vote to men serving on oversea ships trading regularly with New Zealand; also to the wives of hivjk keepers. Mr Massey said he thought the latter amendment should be made. Mr Wilford and the Hon. A. M. Myers suggested some steps should be taken to give the soldiers at sea a vote if at all nossible to do so. Mr Masspy said lie would instruct the Chief Electoral Officer and have the machinery ready to tv used in the event of it being required. The Bill was read a second time and the House went into committee on the measure, which was reported unamended. The' Ml was then read a third time and passed. The Hou-e rose at 11.34 p.m. till 2.30 p.m. to-morrow.