PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 25 October 1919, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

IEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Niglit. The Legislative Council met at 2.30. NEW MEASURES PASSED. The Statutes Revision Committee reported the Housing Bill with amendments. The same committee, reporting upon the Bills of Exchange Amendment Bill, recommended that as the session was so tar advanced it was not desirable to proceed further with the Bill. The reports were adopted. The following Local Bills received from the House of Representatives, were read a first time: Greytown Borough Loan Empowering Bill, Vv ellingtoa City Abattoir Charges and Renewal Fund Bill, Wairon Harbor Board Empowering and Loan Bill, Westport Technical School Site Bill, Waimakiriri Harbor Board Reserve Bill, Tolago Bay Harbor Bill, ferriage Amendment Bill, and Hutt Railway Road Improvement Bill.

The National Provident Fund Amendment Bill was read a second time, pro. forma, and was referred to the Statutes Revision Committee.

On the second reading of the Police Offences Bill, the Hon. J. T. Paul suggested that clause 2, making it an offence to incite, encourage, or procure disorder, violence; or lawlessness, might well be deleted. Ho hesitated to say tfiat New Zealand should assume a dictatorship and say that any new gospel might not be heard.

The Hon. J. Barr said Mr. Paul was confusing liberty with license.

In reply, Sir Francis Bell pointed out that of all the offences created under the war regulations only one, the most »erious, wag being retained. All that was desired was to prevent freedom of speech degenerating into license dangerous to the community. The Bill was put through its final stages and passed, as also were the Native Townships Amendment Bill, the Counties Amendment Bill, the State Forests Amendment Bill, and the Police Offences Bill.

The Hospital and Charitable Institutions Amendment Bill was nut tnrough all stages and passed- Tt gives the Governor-General power by Order-in - Council to abolish the Bay of Island Hospital District, and to constitute four new districts and boards as follows: Bay of Islands County, of which the Bay of Island County Council shall be the hoard: the Mqngonui County, of which the Mongonui County Council shall be the board; the Wliangaroa County, of which the Whangaroa County Council shall be the board; and the Hokianga County, of whjeh the Hokianga County Council shall be the board. Sir Francis Bell explained that the change had been asked for by all concerned. The Housing Bill as reported from the Statutes Revision Committee, was put through its final stages and passed. The principal amendment provides that a court, even when satisfied that a landlord has given proof as required by war legislation and the statute law amendment of October, 1918, may refuse to make an order for ejectment, if it is of opinion that the making of an order would cause undue hardship to the tenant. The Council adjourned at 4.45 p.m., until S p.m. on Monday. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. The House of Representatives met at 2.30 p.m. REPLIES TO QUESTIONS. Replying to Mr. Wright, Mr. Massey said the larger amount provided for workers' homes under the Housing Bill could be applied for as soon as the Bill became law, probably in a week's time. Replying! to Mr. Nash, Mr. Massey said action had been taken with regard to securing a reduction in the freights on hemp, but unfortunately) so far without effect. Replying to Mr. Glover. Mr. Massey said lie had already made representations to the shipping company with a view -to establishing a better steamer service with our South Sea possessions. Replying to Mr. Craigie, Mr. Massey said the difficulty in getting cargoes of hardwood timber to New Zealand from Australia was to some extent duo to the fact that larger cargoes of coal liad to be brought from Australia, owing to the shortage of the coal output liere. Replying to Mr. MeCombs, Mr. Massey said he was in communication with thb Imperial authorities and the shippinsr companies with regard to finding shipping space for apples. Replying to Mr. Rhodes (Thames), the Hon. W. Nosworthv said that officers of the Agricutural Department would see that every fertiliser sold to farmers is up to the quality represented. Replying to Mr. Holland, Mr, Massey said labor on Nauru Island was indentured labor and would be under the control of the commission which was to be set up representative of the three countries concerned in the island. Labor conditions would be most carefully guarded. He waß unable to say what wages the men were paid, but even before the war they were well cared for. Replying to the Hon. G. W. Russell, the Hon. D. H. Guthrie said experi. mental stations would be established on pumice lands to show the capabilities of that land. Replying to Mr. Forbes, Mr. Maa«ey said he had not yet been able to get a reply from the Imperial Government as to whether they intended to further requisition New Zealand meat, "Replying to Mr. K. Newman. Mr. Massey said that with regard to surplus wool sent to America it was proposed to sell this wool at Boston, and any profits made would come into the profit-sharing arrangement between the New Zealand and the British Government.