PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 October 1920, Page 5

PARLIAMENT.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. JSB-SAMOAN QUESTION, By Ttlctrtiib.—Press Associate. Wellington, Last NightTfce Legislative Council met at 2.30 p.m. The Military Service Amendment Bill the Valuation of Land Amendment Bill, the Electric Power Boards Amendment Bill, and the Health Bills were received from the House and read a first time. The debate on the Treaties of Peace Amendment Bill was continued by the Hon. G. J. Garland, who said indentured laborers should not be allowed to take root in Samoa. The Hon. G. M. Thomson said it was unfortunate that one section of the Parliamentary Party went to Samoa with pre-conceived ideas, and with a view to seeking evidence to fit in with those ideas. He regretted Inspector Bird's report on education in Samoa had not been made public, and he urged attention to tropic diseasesThe Hon. W. J. Geddis said Chinese laborers in Samoa were well off, but first and foremost must come the welfare and happiness of Samoans. Male Sftmoans had a great objection to Chinese association with Samoan women to establish a half-caste population in Samoa, which might prove a danger in the future. The Hon. H. L, Michel moved the adjournment of, the debate, ami tiie Council rose at 4.15 p.m. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. THE SUGAR MARKET. The House of Representatives met at 2.30 p.m. Replying to Mr. R. Masters (Stratford), tho Hon. E. P v Lee said there was no first grade sugar now being placed on the ■■marked by the Board of Trade. Third grade sugar was being put on the market at the same price as first grade, viz., £47 10s per ton. This could not be otherwise, because the Government had been put to considerable expense in conEsction with sugar wages having gone up, and the Government had to pay them. So soon as refined sugar was again available, raw sugar would be reduced in price, as there would be no great demand for it. P. AND T. SERVICE. Replying to Mr. H. Atmore (STelson), the Hon. J. G. Coates said he was not prepared at the moment to make a statement with regard to thß proposal to bring the Post and Telegraph Service under the control of the Public Service Commissioner. Something of the kind was anticipated, but he could not e&y at present just how far it proposed t»ga EXCHANGE OP TEACHERS. Replying to Mr. E. Newman (Manawatu), the Hon. C. J. Parr said tho Education Department was organising a scheme under which there might be an exchange between teachers of the Dominion and other countries. It was proposed that Bis; teachers should be exchanged every year, and under this system two Canadian teachers had arrived in Auckland a few weeks ago. JAPANESE SHIPS. Replying to Mr. P. Fraser (Wellington Central), Mr. Massey said the Government had nothing to do with the freight paid to Japanese vessels bringing coal from Australia to New Zealand. The Railway Department bought the coal c-i.f., and the sellers paid the freight. He did not think such ships were subject to the New Zealand shipping Jaws, but he would inquire. POLICE FORCE PRAISED. Discussing the police report, which was laid on the table of the House, Mr. Massey said he regarded the police force as equal in quality to the London police force, or the Irish constabulary, which were supposed to be the best in the world. With regard to increased payment inquired about by the Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Massey desired to say that just before he handed over control to tho Minister of Justice he arranged that these should be paid each an additional guinea a week in the same way as increased payment was given to the railwaymen. TE AROHA LEASES. ■ The Hon. D. H. Guthrie moved the second reading of the Te Aroha Crown Leases Bill. He said the Bill sought to confer on residents of Te Aroha the same privilege as was conferred on the people of Taumarunui and Te Kuiti. The land on which Te Aroha was situated was originally a mining reserve, bat that fact tended to keep the town back, because if, a person failed to reside on hie section it could be "jumped" bv someone else. To obviate this objection' the. Government purchased the land from the Maoris and leased out the land again on a tenure of fortytwo years, with a right of renewal. This arrangement did not satisfy the residents, and they repeatedly petitioned the House, to grant them the freehold. An attempt had been made to do this last year in the "Washing-up" Bill, but that course had been objected to, and now a special Bill'was being introduced to which lie invited members to say yes or no. The Bill was read a second time by 30 vote* to 15, and was put through committee without amendment.