PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 July 1920, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. OTIRA WORKERS' DEADLOCK. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The House of Representatives met at 2.30 p.m. Replying to Mr. Seddon, the Minister of Pui)lie Works stated that he iiad received a report from his officers regarding the stoppage of work at the Otira tunnel. He informed the men l>y wire that ho was prepared to pay them day wages, and asked them to carry on jln the meantime. He was sending an [ officer down to maEc further' inquiry, and he hoped some satisfactory understanding would be arrived at. Replying to Mr. Holland on the' same subject, the Minister said the whole point at issue was whether the men at the Bealey end were now working in ground similar to that at the Otira end, for which higher wages had always been paid. If the. officer who was sent down t,i inquire reported that this was so, then the Otira rate of pay would be given to the men at the Bealey end. SIR GEO. CLIFFORD'S CASE. Replying to Parry, the Premier said that while he regretted the incident in which a prominent citizen like Sir George Clifford was refused a passage from Lyttelton, the Government had no nresent intention of introducing legislation this session to amend the law concerning the sport of racing in the Dominion. He could not speak definitely on the point. The Government would consider the matter, and he hoped the ';.■•>-jo 1 ;-, would soon be settled, as the incident at Lyttelton was not to the credit of the parties concerned. NEW BILLS INTRODUCED. The following Bills were introduced by Governor's message, and read a first time of Masseurs; New Zealand Institute Act Amendment; Counties Act Consolidation; Customs Act Amendment. THE VISIT TO FIJI. The Premier read a letter from the Governor of Fiji expressing satisfaction at the receni visit of New Zealand members of Parliament to Fiji, which, he trusted, would be productive of material benefit. MOTION OF SYMPATHY. The Premier moved a motion of condolence with the relatives of the late Commander Home," Sergeant-at-Arms of the House, whoso death was reported yesterday. In doing so he spoke in feeling terms of the fidelity witfc whicfi the deceased performed his duties as an officer of the House. The Tiiotion was supported by the Hon. W. D. S. Mac Donald, and Messrs Holland and Atmore, and carried. On the motion of the Premier the House adjourned till 7.30 p.m. as a tribute to the memory of the late Sergeant-at-Arms. THE EVENING SESSION, SUPERANNUATION FOR JUDGES. The House resumed at 7.30 p.m. Mr. J. V. Brown (Napier), being present for the first time this session, was sworn in and took his seat. Tim Won.j':, P. Lee (Minister of Justice) moved the second reading of the ,'ur vture Amendment Bill, which, he explained, was intended to correct an ansimaly under which a Judge of the Supreme Court who retires before ten years' service is not entitled' to any superannuation. Under the Bill superannuation applied only from the fifth to the tenth year, rising from £225 to £450, and would only be paid to Judges who were compulsorily retired owing to infirmity. » Mr. Sidey said the Bill only created another anomaly, inasmuch as a Judge retired under it would only get as much superannuation at the' end of ten years' service as another Judge at the end of eight years' service. He wanted to know if the* Bill was intended to meet the case of any particular Judge. Mr. MeCallum said the proposals of the Bill were not liberal enough, and the arrangement would not encourage an incapacitated Judge to resign, or induce the best minds at the Bar to accept positions on the Bench, because it meant a sacrifice of several thousands a year. The Minister, in reply, said the Bill did create. the. anomaly complained of, but the. question, of superannuation was very complicated, and unless "Judges' salaries, were increased the present proposal was. the. most equitable that could be made, The Bill was read a second time. NATURALISATION LAW. The Hon. G. J. Anderson moved the second reading of the Revocation of Naturalisation Amendment Bill, which gives power to the authorities to recover .letters of naturalisation from persons whose naturalisation was revoked under-the .Act. of ri)l7. Mr. Sidey sajd that some persons had suffered injury' by, having their naturalisation revoked, and he asked the Minister to consider the introduction into the 'present Bill of some provision under which such persons might have some remedy. Mr. Malcolm supported Mr. Sidey s contention. Precautions necessary during the war might well be released in time of peace, and persons who lost their British nationality during the war should at least have an opportunity of being heard in support .of their deswe to retain British citizei»hip. Mr Holland said the Revocation of Naturalisation Act. ISI7, was the beginning of a system of tearing up scraps of paper and ruthlessly breaking conIrocts. The suggestion made by_Mr. Sidey would to some extent mitigate the injustice done under that Act, but the whole policy was contrary to the spirit of the immigration laws of the Dominion, under which many foreigners were induced to come to this country. The Minister, in reply, said he would consider the advisability of giving aliens whose naturalisation had been revoked some form of appeal. The Bill was necessary because all aliens were not innocent "and "injured people, as Mr. Holland would like to make out. The Bill was read a second time, and the House rose at 11 o'clock.