PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 30 September 1920, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

YESTERDAY'S PROCEEDINGS,

THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. JBy Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The Legislative Council met at 2.30 p.m. The Master and Apprentice Amendment Bill, :uid the Treaties of Peace Amendment Bill, were received from the House and read a, first time. The Council agreed to the amendments to the Arms Bill proposed in the Governor-General's message to the House, and forwarded thence to the Council. The Hew Plvjpouth Recreation and 'Racecourse Reserve Amendment Bill was read a second time. THE COUNCIL BILL. The Legislative Council Amendment Bill was read a aecorifi time. In committee, the Hon. J. Barr raised the question as to whether it was necessary to have in the Bill anything but a clause postponing the bringing. into operation of the principal Act. Sir Francis Bell (Leader of the Council) replied that if the Counoil elected to send down a one-clause Bill it would not be with the help of the Government. Such action would carry with it an implication that the Council repudiated the principal Act. He was prepared to take the voiceß on clause 3 if clause 2 was retained. Clause 3, providing that, members of the Executive Council may be appointed to the Legislative Council, was struck out, and a new clause postponipg the brißging into operation of the principal Act to a date to be fixed, was adopted. The Bill, as amended, was read a third time and passed. """ " ( > QTHER BUSINESS. • The Post and Telegraph Amendment Bill was further considered in committee. A new clause, dealing with the exclusive right of the Post Office to carry letters for hire, was added. * This provides that it shall not be unlawful to send or deliver otherwise than by post any trade announceinents, circulars, printed extracts from newspapers, or advertisements not addressed to any person, or to deliver any letter by a servant of the sender or by a messenger specially employed by the sender for the purpose, provided he is not employed generally to deliver letters. The Bill was reported, read a third time, and passed. The Immigration Restriction Amendment Bill was committed and reported with formal amendments.

It was read a third time and passed, after Sir Francis Bell • explained that the Bill was quite in accord with the resolution proposed by the Indian representatives at the 1018 Imperial War Conference. The Council rose at 3.55 p.m.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. THE POTATO EMBARGO. ' - The (House of Representatives met at 2.30 p.m. Replying to Mr. D. Jones (Kaiapoi),the Eon. W. Nosworthy said he understood that the Australian potato inspector was at work in the South Island. Until the inspector made his report to the Australian Government he (Mr. Nosworthy) understood np announcement would he made to the potato-growers of New Zealand. ; CUT OFF FROM SCHOOLS. ; Replying to Mr. V. H. Potter (Roskill), the Hon. 0. J. Parr said there were 3'2 lighthouses scattered along our coasts, and there were 79 children connected with these lighthouses, 6'2 of whom were getting some form of education. Seventeen were getting no education, and he waß communicating with Education Boards to see if anything can be done to give these 17 children some sort of schooling. FIGHTING GRASS GRUB. Replying to Mr. Glenn (Rangitikei), the H6n. W. Nosworthy said no great success had yet attended the experiments made by the Agricultural Department for the destruction of the grass grub, which had become very destructive on the west coast of the North Island. So far, lie&vy rolling and chemical dressing had been found most beneficial under field conditions. OTHER QUESTIONS. Replying to Mr. Kellett (Dunedin North), Mr. Massey said the D 3 list could not be placed before the House until the Railway Bill was passed, as the list was governed by the schedule of the Bill. Replying to Mr. H. Atmore (Nelson), the Hon. C. J. Parr said he understood the Public Service Commissioner had made a condition that, preferably, applicants for the position of Director of Education should be between 35 and 45 years of age. WESTPORT HARBOR. STATE CONTROL PROPOSED. Mr. Massey moved the second reading of the Westport Harbor Bill. He said experience had shown that the Harbor Board wa.B not able to carry on the administration of this harbor, which should be a great national port. The fact that he was introducing a Bill tc take over that administration was no reflection on or present boards, which had done the best under the circumstances in which they found themselves. In fact, considerable business ability had been shown by the Board's present chairman and engineer. The Bill would mean considerable expenditure to the Dominion, and it would have suited, him better if he could have avoided moving in this direction. If there had been any other way out of the difficulty he would have been very glad to have adopted it. Mr. Massey then proceeded to show that the revenue of the Board depended to a great extent upon the output of coal, which had steadily decreased since 1913, and consequently the revenue had as steadily decreased.

Mr. T. M. Wilford (Leader of the Opposition) thought the time had come when tho Government would have to take over several of the New Zealand harbors and manage them. He also suQagiy Advocated th» appQintmsnt

an expert engineer, whose sole dutiea would be to advise on harbor matters. Mr. H. E; Holland (Buller) said the people of the Westport district strongly opposed to the Bill, because they claimed the right to have their own harbor. Dr. H, T. Thacker (Christchurch,East) said the Bill should he regaVdea from a broad national point of view, and should be the beginning of' other national enterprises, including State ships to carry coal. He thought the watersiders employed at, Westport should be State appointed employees. Mr. T. E. Y. Seddon (Westland) thought the Bfll should be deferred until the question could be tested as to whether a rating area can be found in the district sufficient to provide the revenue necessary to carry on the port, thus giving the "local people a voice in. the management of their harbor. Mr. Massey, in reply, said he would not proceed further with the Bill than the second reading until the petitions against the Bill had been considered. - The Bill was read a second time, after a division was '(sailed for by Mr. Holland, by 56 votes to 6. . MILITARY DEFAULTER. NO SYMPATHY FOR THEM. The Hon. Sir Heaton Rhodes moved the second reading of the Military Servile Amendment Bill. He said the Bill merely substituted the trial of deserters and defaulters by civil process for trial by court-martial. There was, he said, a general feeling that they should get back to a civil condition as soon as possible, and this Bill was a step in that direction. The Bill did not provide for the restoration of civil, rights to deserters and defaulters, nor would he favor such a proposal. He had no sympathy with those who thus failed in their duty to the country. Mr. Holland made an appeal on "behalf of conscientious objectors, for iron convicted of ordinary breaches of uii'itary law, and a general amnesty • those not yet) apprehended. The Bill was read a second time on the voices. The Valuation of Land Amendment Bill was read a second time on the voices, and the House rose at 12.47 a.m.