PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 August 1920, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. THE ELECTION SYSTEM. By TelesMDh.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The House of Representatives met at 2.30 p.m. Replying to Mr. Sullivan, Mr. Massey said his opinions on proportional representation were not in the least influenced by the fact that the Christchursh City Council had decided to re-adopt it iu connection with the election of,its members. He was not one of those who believed that whfct Christchurch thought to-day, New Zealand would be thinking to-morrow. He believed that proportional representation, when tried in New Zealand, would be found a failure, as it had already done in New South Wales. THE DUTY ON TEA. Dr, Newman asked the Minister of Customs if the Government would without delay suspend the duty on tea in order to reduce the cost of living to some extent. Sir William Herries replied: That has not come up for consideration by Cabinet yet, and it is not' likely to do so this session. ! DREDGE FOR' SMALL PORTS. Replying to Mr. Jennings, Sir William Herries said the question of providing a dredge for the smaller harbor boards had not been lost sight of, but owing'to a greait increase in price, and the difficulties of getting such a dredge out, nothing had been done in the matter. NEW BILLS. The Police Offences Amendment Bill (Mr. Statham) was introduced and read a first time. The House rose at 9.30 p.m.