WAR LAWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 August 1920, Page 5

WAR LAWS.

CONTINUANCE QUESTION. r~~r -i PAELIAMENT DEBATE CONTINUED. By IWemtii.—Press Association. . Wellington, Last Night. In the House of Representatives this evening the debate was resumed on the motion to go into committee on the War Regulations Continuance Bill. Mr. Statham urged that provisions should be made under which Syrians, whose loyalty could not be impugned, might be excluded from the restrictions imposed by the regulations dealing with aliens. The Hon. W. D. S. Mac Donald said the Libera] Party were as jealous as any of the rights, the privileges, and the freedom Of the people, but so far as he could see there was need for the measure under discussion, to prevent any small section of the community from putting its foot on the neck of the rest of the people. The Prime Minister, replying, said he had a great deal of sympathy for Syrians. These were nominally Turkish subjects, hut he knew many of them, and they proved their loyalty. The Government had done everything possible to make the Syrians' lot as easy as possible. Wherever the Government found aliens loyal to Britain they were treated with every consideration. The regulations dealing with arms were required, because the Arms Act did not come into operation til! February next, when the regulations would lapse. INDUSTRIAL TROUBLE.

So far as the Government was concerned, it did not care whether the Bill pasesd or not. The Government was quite prepared to drop the measure if the House voted against the second read* ing. The member for Buller had declared that the shipowners conspired to cause the present crisis on the Wellington waterfront. This was absolutely incorrect.

Mr. Holland: "You know it is correct."

The Premier: "I do not know it. No man has done more to make industrial trpuble than the member for Buller." Critics of the Bill, he added, were not candid. They suggested that all war regulations were to be continued, whereas the Bill really provided for the re* peal of all but such, as were required for the preservation of the public welfare.

The motion to go into committee was carried on the voices.

In committee Mr. McCombs objected to the Prime Minister's claim that the measure was a repeal Bill, despite the fact that its title was the War Regulations Continuance Bill., He declared the Bill, was unnecessary, because the original War Regulation Bill provided for automatic repeal at a stated time after the termination of the war with Germany.

The Premier enumerated the regulations it was proposed to repeal. These could not be repealed automatically till next year. CHALLENGE TO MR. HOLLAND.

Mr. Potter said the extremist menibers of the House raised a wail about the sufferings of women and children as a result of the present industrial trouble in Wellington, but they never heard that cry when the miners were striking or going slow. Mr. Holland declared that the Bill was designed to enable the Government to fight Labor organisations in cases of industrial trouble. Mr. Glenn said lie had heard a challenge issued by Labor members to the Premier. He would issue a challenge to the member for Buller to resign and contest his (Mr. Glenn's) seat against him. | (Laughter.) He represented Labor as much as the so-called Labor Party members, who, as at present constituted, would never bring any good to their followers. Mr. Holland explained that he had not challenged the Prime Minister to contest an election, but he proceeded to express his willingness to resign ahd re-contest the seat under certain conditions, when the chairman called him to order, amidst laughter. At 11.35 p.m. Mr. MeCombs moved to report progress on the Bill, but this was defeated by 50 votes to 7. Eventually the three schedules were agreed to, and the Bill was reported, with amendments, and the House rose at 1.15 a.m.