PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 1 October 1920, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. IMMIGRATION Off BGY3, , By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night, The Legislative Council met at 2.30' p.m. Sir Francis Bell (Leader of the Council) moved the second reading of the Master and Apprentice Bill. The Hon. J. Barr supported the Bill, claiming that boys were the best form of immigration. He thought, however, that it woufd be well to provide for a minimum period of ftpprenticeship, for if a boy came out at 19 he would have only one year's training. The Hon. P. J. Nerheny supported the Bill as a means of giving boys chances they would otherwise not have. The Hon. 11. L, Michel said the only suggestion he had to make was that boys shquld have the right to make a complaint to a J.P. instead of to the Minister, as that would be a quicker way of dealing with the matter. The time was fast approaching when it would be necessary to secure apprentices to trades by immigration. The Hon. W. Earnshaw advocated the bringing out of girls in addition to boys. The Hon. Sir W. C. Buchanan supported tlie Bill, and urged that steps should be taken to protect boys against interference by extremists. Fjvery protection should also be given boys against a possibility of being placed under an unfair employer. Sir Francis Bell said a complaint was to be made the Minister because the Minister h.\.. power to assign an apprentice to another farmer, whereas under th,e principal Act, if a complaint was made to a J.P. the latter bad power to discharge the indenture, and the turning loose of boys in that way was not desirable. The Bill was read a second time, and referred to the Labor Bills Committee. RULE OF SAMOA. Sir Francis Bell moved the second reading of the Treaties of Peace Amendment Bill, which continues for another year the method of governing Samoa by Order-in-Council. i The Hon. W. H. Trlggs deprecated the attempt of the Labor Party to make political capital out of Samoa. He regretted that Chambers of Commerce had not ascertained the facts before accepting what had been said by a deputation from a section of the Samoan population. Chambers would be much better employed if they spent their time impressing merchants with the need for adopting different methods, if they desired to secure Sa,moan trade. He emphasised the necessity of paying special attention to the health of the natives. . The debate was adjourned, on the motion of the Hon. G. J. Garland! The Council rose at 4.51 p.m.

PRODUCTION OF TIMBER. The House of Representatives met at 2.30 pjfl. The Hon. J2. IJ.1 J . Lee, as Minister in Charge of T-itl" and Commerce, laid on the table of the House a statement showing that during the year 1919-20 there were produced in the Dominion 145,554,203 feet of-riinu timber, of which 10,101,000 feet were exported, and 135,483,203 feet, or 93 per cent., were placed on the New Zealand market. Of all timbers, there were produced 200,417,489 feet, of which 10,4)03,000, or 5.3 per cent., were exported, and 189,954,489, or 94.7 per cent., were placed on the New Zealand market. MILITARY SERVICE BILL. The House went into committee on the Military Service Amendment Bill. On the motion of the Minister of Defence (Sir Heaton Rhodes) an amendmfent was added abolishing, for the purposes of this Act, the limitation of six months imposed by the Crimes Act during which a charge can be laid against military offenders. With this exception the Bill passed its committee stage without amendment. Later the Bill was read a third time and passed. VALUATION OF LAND. The Valuation of Land Amendment Bill was next taken in committee. The Prime Minister' stated he had been informed by the Valuer-General that it was not possible to carry out a suggestion by Mr, G. H. Forbes (Hurunni) to give objectors direct representation on the assessment court. . Mr. T. M. Wilford (Leader of the Opposition) raised the point that one president, as proposed, would be unable to get thrpugh the business that would come before the assessment court. Mi. Massey stated that the ValuerGeneral was of opinion that one president would be able to do the work. He would look into tho point, and, if necessary, a second court would be established. . , Clause 6 was amended, on the Premier's motion, so as to provide that assessors shall be appointed by local bodies from time to time as required. This was in substitution for the provision that appointments be for two years. The remaining clauses were put through committee, and the Bill was read a third time and passed. The House rose at 10.54 p.m.