PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 25 August 1920, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

YESTERDAY'S PROCEEDINGS,

THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. By Telegraph.—Press Association, i Wellington, Last Night. The Legislative Council met at 2.30 p.m. The Legislative Council Amendment Bill was further adjourned till Thursday week. The Masseurs Bill was put through committee. New clauses were added to prevent any person, other than a registered masseur or medical practitioner, recovering fees for massage operations or advice. The Arms Bill, in committee, was amended to provide for compensation for unlawful weapons taken. The A. and P. Societies Bill-was read a second time. The Council rose at 3.5 p.m. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, TO ENCOURAGE FISHING.

The House of Representatives met at 2.30 p.m. Replying to Mr. Craigie, the Minister of Marine said the Government contemplated widening the scope of the Fisheries Encouragement Act with the object of assisting fishermen to secure nets and other plant. He was looking into the question of marine insurance to cover Ashing vessels, which at present the Fire Insurance Department could not undertake. THE OTIRA TUNNEL. Replying to Mr.. Witty, the Minister of Public Works said negotiations were progressing with a British electric company for the acceptance of a tender for the electrification of the Otira tunnel. He could not disclose the price, but competition between the different tenders wag close. Tlie tunnel should be completed in eighteen months, NEW COAL AREAS. Mr. Holland asked whether, in view of the fact that the coal supply from Australia would Be restricted under the new export regulation, the Government would push on with the Bnller Gorge railway, and open up coal measures in vhnt district. The Premier replied recognising the valu« of the Bnller coa! deposits, but if they waited till these could be made available tin people would suffer considerable inconvenience. They must do something much more quickly to deal with the coal situation

PROGRESS OF AGRICULTURE, The report of the Agricultural Department was presented, a.nd it furnished the subject for discussion during the rest of the afternoon. Members eulogised the work done by the existing experimental farms and stations, but urged the need for many more of these in different parts of the Dominion. The whole of the evening sitting was devoted to the war regulations discussion.