PARLIAMENT

Taranaki Daily News, 16 July 1920, Page 5

PARLIAMENT

YESTERDAY'S PROCEEDINGS. - i § LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL; By Teleirraib Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The Legislative Council met at 2.30 p.m. Hons. M. Mitchelson, R. Scott, and P. J. Nerheny were sworn in. Sir Francis Bell gave notice of the Law Practitioners Amendment Bill. The Hon. G. M. Thomson gave notice of motion affirming that the time has come when the Government should adopt a definite policy for the development of the fishing industry, for the purpose of providing cheap food for the people, manure for the land, and building up a fishing population, upon which the navy could depend in case of emergency. ' The Council adjourned at 2.40 p.m. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. MR. HOLLAND AND IRELAND.. The House o£ Representatives met at 2.35 p.m. Mr. Holland (Buller) gave notice to move that Mr. Speaker's ruling in connection with the self-determination of the Irish people is out of order, and he disagreed with it. CHAIRMAN OF COMMITTEES. Mr. Massey moved that Mr. Malcolm be appointed Chairman of Committees, which was agreed to unopposed. Mr. Malcolm briefly returned thanks. THE PRICE OF COAL. Replying to Mr. Hamilton (Awarua), Mr. Massey said lie was of opinion that the transactions of the State Coal Department were having the effect of keeping down the price of coal. TlierS"was a slight loss oij, the sales in Wellington, but as a whole there was no loas on the Department's sales. LOYALTY OF IMMIGRANTS. Replying to Mr. Isitt (Christchurch North), Mr. Massey said he believed there was already statutory power to extract from immigrants a pledge of loyalty, and a promise to serve the country if .necessary. He would have the matter looked into, and, if necessary, he would' ask the House to have it put into force. RETURNS ASKED FOR. The House agreed to the following, amongst other notices of motion: That there bo laid before the House a return showing: (1) Age of each miner who is now in receipt of a pension under the Miners Phthisis Act; (2) age at whijh a miner dietl with miners' phthisis who was in receipt of a pension under that Act; and (3) such return to cover the full period of the operation of the Act.

That there be laid before the House a Teturn showing: (1) Number and value of woollen rtigs manufactured in and Exported from New Zealand since 11>12; (2) numiSEr and value of blankets exported for the same period; and (3) the quantity in yards and value of all cloth exported for the same period, each year to be shown separately. That there be laid before the House a return showing: (1) Amount of all Wool sold in New Zealand since the beginning of the commandeer to buyers within the Dominion; (2) value of such Wool. That there be laid before the House a return showing tlie amount of money loaned in each year under the Advances to Settlers Act and Advances to Workers Act, and the amount of repayments under each Act "in every year; also the amount of loans under the Advances to Settlers Act granted to settlers in boroughs or town board districts, as distinct from rural areas. That there be laid before the House 'a return showing the amount of gold coinage held by the various banks for the years 1914 and 1915. That there bo laid before the House a return showing separately: (1) Number of charges and convictions for offences, and number and age 3 of persons convicted for drunkenness in each nolicense district from January 1 to December 31, 1919; and (2) the quantity and kind of liquor sent into each nolicense district from January 1 to December 31, 1919. That there be laid before the House a return showing the estimated annual cost of providing a universal old age pension for all persons (irrespective of any property or money they possess, or any money they may earn) who reach the qualifying age and otherwise comply with the conditions laid doffn in the Pensions Acts. DESTITUTE PERSONS /BILL. Mr. Harris (Waitemata) moved the second reading of the Destitute Persons Act Amendment Bill. He said it was a simple Bill to secure the appointment Of officers of the ..Court to enforce the payment of osders under the Destitute Persons Act, 1"910, in the cities of Auckland, Wellington, Chrintehur<jji, and Dunedin. The second reading was agreed to, and the Bill was .referred to the Statutes Pensions Committee. ' NATURALISATION LAW. Hon. J. G. Anderson moved the third reading of the Revocation of Naturalisation Amendment Bill. Mr. Sidey (Dunedin South) regretted the Government had not accepted his amendment in. committee granting a right of appeal under the Bill. Our legislation was thus far behind that of other countries. Mr. Stewart (Dunedin West) could not understand the objection to Mr. Sidey's amendment. He recommended the Government to re-commit the Bill and put the amendment in. Sir WillStm Herries said the amendment was merely an attempt to get the work of the National Government reviewed. The amendment should have been moved when the original Bill was before the House, but it would not have been so popular then as now. The Hon. W. D. S. MaeDonald repudiated the suggestion that Mr. Sidey was striving after popularity. Mr. Massey said that if the amendmen was a good one there was no Teason why. it should not be considered and incorporated in the Bill by the Legislative Council if they thought fit. There was a possibility of appeal in the original Act, which provided that letters of naturalisation might be reviewed in the same way as they had been amended, buj power to do so rested with the Government. The Bill was then read a ■ third time and passed. WOMEN MARRIAGE REGISTRARS. The Hon. J, G. Anderson moved the.