PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 July 1920, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

YESTERDAY'S PROCEEDINGS. THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. By Telegraph.—Press Association. , Wellington, Last Night. The Legislative Council met at 2.30 p.m. Leave of absence for a week was granted to the Hon. R. K. Simpson. The Hon. W. E. Collins, in accordance with notice of motion, moved that' fhe Council affirm that it is desirable that the Social Hygiene Act, IAJ7, should be amended to provide for compulsory notification by doctorß and others to the Health Department of cases of venereal disease, and that this should be by numbers or symbols, and not by name, except in cases where, by failure to take precautions, it may be desirable in the interests of puplic health, that identity should be disclosed. The motion added that officers of the Health Department should be under an obligation of secrecy in respect to information of individuals given them. The Hon. Collins argued that it was imperative that the Health Department should be able to keep fully informed of the progress of. venereal disease. The Hon. L. Moore seconded the motion, urging that in the Interests of the innocent, notification Bhould be compulsory. Sir Francis Bell said that as far as he knew the Government wan in accord with the idea. There would most likely be an opportunity of achieving the desired end this session, for there would be before Parliament the consolidation and the amendment of the Public Health Act. It would be easier to put the clause in that Act than in the Social Hygiene Act. The motion was adopted.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. LOANS TO SOLDIERS. The House of Representatives met at 2.30 p.m. Replying to Mr. McCallura, the Hon. D. H. Guthrie said it was not customary for the Department to publish the reasons why the applications of certain, soldiers for' loans were rejected, because if they did so they might bo making public information detrimental to th<! soldier himself. THE SUGAR DEAL. Replying to Mr. Witty, the Premier said that as soon as the no-confidence motion wag out of the way the Hon. E. P. Lee would make a full statement regarding the agreement recently reached with the Colonial Sugar Company. In the meantime, New Zealand was enjoying the cheapest sugar in the world. Replying to Mr. Malcolm, the Premier Baid inquiries made by the Board of Trade had showif J&a'li there was practically no sugar in stock fin New Zealand on June 30. Consequently there was little prospect of profiteering on sugar bought prior to the recent rise in price. He was satisfied no hoarding had been going on in the Dominion. CUSTOMS DUTIES. Replying to Mr. Sullivan, the Hon. Sir William Herries said he could scarcely remit duties on sporting goods, when there were so many demands for remissions on the necessaries of life. EXPORT OP POTATOES. Replying to Dr. Thacker, Mr. Massey said he woud be pleased to do anything he could to induce the Commonwealth Government to permit the importation of New Zealand potatoes into Australia. So far hig efforts had not met with much success. THE LICENSING LAW.

Leave was given Mr. McCallum to introduce a State Control of Licenses Bill. He explained the Bill proposed to set up a State Department under a Minister to control licenses in the hope that licensees would be induced to provide ao' commodation for the public, In the event of licenses being reduced a compensation fund was provided, but if hotels were properly conducted he was satisfied a large majority of the people would vote for continuance. He urged the Government to set up a Royal Commission to go into the whole question with a view to reconciling the views of extremists. Our licensing law was thirtj years behind the times. Mr. Isitt thought that in view of the shortage of paper the Bill ought not to be printed, except at the cost of the mover.

' Dr. Thacker said the present licensing law compelled hotel owners to provide only six bedrooms. Therefore more accommodation was needed for the public and the Bill was necessary. Mr. Wright said the people voted on the issue of State Control, and turned it down by a large majority. No one wanted the Bill. Mr. Lysnar urged that the first reform to be effected was to take a local option poll on some other day than that of the general election. Unless that was done this question could not be impartially considered. Mr. Witty supported the Bill on the ground that hotel owners were to greater consideration. Mr. McCombs described the Bill as an insult to the House, it was bo badly drafted. i The Hon. J. A. Hanan declared there was not the slightest chance of the anti-shouting law being repealed. The Bill was read a first time.

MAORI WAR MEDALS. The Maori War Medal Bill was introduced by Mr. Wright, and was read a first time. '