PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 November 1919, Page 7

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. A MORNING SITTING. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—CowrtfiMWellington, Nov. 4. The Legislative Council met at 11 a.m. Amendments were brought down to tlie Expeditionary Forces Toting Bill. Sir Francis Bell explained the impossibility of making provision for absent soldiers to vote at the election of members of Parliament for reasons given to the House. To avoid the trouble and misrepresentation which occurred at the licensing poll the distinction between soldiers recently returned and others was abandoned ancr the right given every soldier to vote as if he bad an absent voter's permit. Soldiers absent from New Zealand were given a vote nt the licensing poll, as this was not attended by the same difficulties as the election of members.

Amendments of the general electoral law were also made to provide for voting by declaration, votes to be sealed in an envelope and sent to the returning officer for verification. Another section permitted registration as electors of persons who had been absent, because of the war conditions, and had not the residential qualification. Hulk-lceepers' wives were given a vote and the seamen's qualifications here extended to include all men on ships trading exclusively in territorial waters or to New Zealand ports at intervals of not more than three months. Another amendment allowed absent voters to obtain permits up to election day.

The amendments were agreed to and the Bill was passed. '

HOUSE OP REPRESENTATIVES,

Wellington, Nov. 4. Replying to Mr. W. H. Field (Otaki) Sir James Allen said the whole question of rifle ranges was now under consideration with the view of encouraging rifle shooting in the Dominion. Replying to Sir Joseph .Ward, Mr. Massey said he was afraid nothing could be done this session to afford relief to the wine-makers of Waitemata. whose premises had been placed by representation commissioners in tlie Eden electorate, which was a dry district. It was a serious matter to interfere with the work of the representation commissioners and required careful consideration before any steps were taken in the direction suggested. Replying to Mr. Holland, Sir William Fraser said he would not order the prosecution of the managers of tlie Pukemiro and Nightcaps coal mines for certain breaches of the law, because he was satisfied those breaches were not intentional and lie considered the miners' request for prosecution as vindictive. Replying to Mr. Ell, the Hon. J. B. Hinn said that New Zealand had a lot of leeway to make up in the matter of town-planning and it was the intention to appoint an expert to advise the Government. Tliev also intended to get the best man whether he was in the Dominion, or outside it. The House rose at 1 o'clock till 2.30.

After the telegraph office closed this morning the debate on the third reading of the Finance Bill was carried on bv (Mr. Holland, who resented the Minister's remarks on the second reading regarding the "go slow" policy of the working men.

Mr. P. Fraser made a final appeal to the Minister to increase the widows' pension. Mr. Ell and McCombs also spoke.

The Minister briefly replied, and the Bill was read a third time and nassed. A further 26 clauses to the Washingup 'Bill were brought down liy Governor's message and referred to the Lands Committee. The House Tose at 2.32 till 11.30 a.m. The House met at 11.30 a.m.

Replying to Mr. Poole. Mr. Massey said he would ask the Commonwealth Government to release dried fruits on export to New Zealand. At the same time he desired to point out that we were not always successful when we made requests to the Australian Government. Replying to. Sir Joseph Ward, Mr Massev fjaid there was no reason why the increased salaries for ■ teachers should not be on the due date. Reply to Mr. Young, the Hon. .T. G. Coates said he proposed to consult the Premier to see what could be done in the direction of ante-dating the vight of appeal which it was now prooosed to grant officers of the post and telegraph service.